Built by Squire Boone in the early 1800's, the mill has been restored and is again grinding grain just as it did nearly two centuries ago. You can watch as the 18 foot wheel, powered by water flowing from the caverns, turns the 1,000 pound grinding stones. The miller also demonstrates how cornmeal and grits are sifted out of the ground corn.

Cornmeal can be purchased at the Grist Mill. Squire Boone's Mill is listed on the Indiana State Register of Historic Sites and Structures. The Grist Mill is open 10:00 to 5:00 everyday from Memorial Day Weekend to mid August and weekends through Labor Day. The Grist Mill is also included in the school field trip package in the spring and fall.

Onto the foundation stones of his mill, Squire Boone carved this inscription:

"My God my life hath much befriended, I'll praise Him till my days are ended."

These stones are now on display inside the mill.

GRIST MILL FACTS: Grist mills were very important because corn was the major crop for the pioneers. To be useful for baking, corn had to be ground into flour. The earliest method for grinding corn was to pound the corn in a large mortar and pestle. This was very hard, manual labor, so people looked for an easier way and thus grist mills were built wherever possible.

There are three major parts to a grist mill: the raceway, wheel and grinding stones. The raceway channels the flowing water to the wheel. The water forces the wheel to turn. The turning wheel powers the grinding stones by a series of shafts and gears. The grinding action of the stones breaks the grain into small, usable pieces like flour, cornmeal and grits.