Indiana closes site to famed WWII reporter Ernie Pyle

DANA, Ind. — The state historic site featuring famed World War II correspondent Ernie Pyle’s Indiana boyhood home has been closed.

The state agency that oversees the small museum in the western Indiana town of Dana says it has been by far the least visited of a dozen such historic sites.

Department of Natural Resources spokesman Phil Bloom said the Pyle site has averaged 1,500 visitors a year, with the next-lowest attended sites drawing about 10,000 people.

Retired site curator Evelyn Hobson says she’s mad that Indiana State Museum staffers took much Pyle memorabilia from the property to Indianapolis.

Bloom says the state museum is expanding its World War II exhibit to give more attention to Pyle and his memorabilia.