The City of Shelbyville put its best foot forward Monday in anticipation of larger-than-normal crowds visiting to experience a total solar eclipse.

What is evident nearly 24 hours later was the positive impression the city left on visitors from all parts of the United States.

“We got a lot of positive comments,” said Shelbyville Mayor Scott Furgeson on Tuesday. He spent the entire day on the Public Square visiting with locals and guests from out of state. “A lot of people stayed downtown all day on the grassy areas.”

The mayor estimated more than 300 people viewed the eclipse from downtown Shelbyville (main photo). Shelbyville Parks and Recreation Department Director Trisha Tackett confirmed just over 700 parking spots at Blue River Memorial Park, which served as a free viewing area, were filled by 1 p.m.

“About 12:30 p.m. or 1 p.m. we had to close the gates,” said Tackett Tuesday morning. “After that, the police told us we could have had another 100 to 150 cars (that were not allowed in).”

With the closed environment, the mood was festive in anticipation of the unique phenomenon.

“First off, the eclipse was very neat,” she said. “To have people in the park utilizing it and the compliments we got as to how beautiful the park was and how welcoming our staff was … shout out to my crew.

“There were kites flying, Frisbees and footballs. People had tents up and blankets and were scattered around the park everywhere.”

Furgeson confirmed the downtown restaurants were busy ahead of the mid-afternoon eclipse.

“I was on the square all day and I have the sunburn to top it off,” he said.

He spent a good portion of his time taking pictures of visitors with the oversized eclipse glasses (photo) mounted near the downtown fountain.

“I bet I took over 200 photos,” he said.

While the Cincinnati area seemed to be a common home for many visitors, Furgeson talked with people from Washington state and New Jersey. Tackett recalled a story of two college friends from Wisconsin and Georgia meeting in Shelbyville to view the eclipse.

The eclipse began in central Indiana at 1:50 p.m. Totality, or where the moon completely blocks out the sun, started at 3:06 p.m. and lasted nearly four minutes. Darkness descended over Shelby County and the temperature dropped significantly.

Daylight quickly returned and by 4:30 p.m. the eclipse was over.

“It was pretty spectacular,” said Furgeson. “It was kind of spooky and eerie when it stayed dark so long, but it was pretty spectacular.”

With the help of local law enforcement, Tackett said exiting from Blue River Memorial Park back to Interstate 74 went smoothly.

“Because we weren’t charging (admission to the park), the amount of thank yous we got made us feel good,” said Tackett (photo, viewing the eclipse). “They thanked us for letting them be here. I am glad we got to be a part of those memories for people.”

It will be 21 years before another total solar eclipse crosses the United States. It will take place on Aug. 23, 2044, and will only cross three states around sunset – Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Nearly one year later on Aug. 12, 2045, a solar eclipse will produce a path of totality from California to Florida.

Photos by Shelbyville Parks and Recreation Department and Shelby County Tourism and Visitor's Bureau.

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