McCormick's Creek State Park in Owen County, about 14 miles west of Bloomington, became Indiana's first state park in 1916 during the state's centennial year. Named for early settler John McCormick, who established himself there in 1816, the land had earlier been used by Miami Indians as hunting ground. Richard Lieber helped secure the property as part of the movement for an Indiana park system. Centered on a canyon, waterfall, ravine, sinkholes, cave, and hardwood forest, the park was further shaped by Civilian Conservation Corps construction in the New Deal era. It later pioneered a naturalist program and remains a major outdoor destination.