8-K

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 19, 2004

                           First Financial Corporation
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its chapter)


          Indiana                       000-16759               35-1546989
(State or other jurisdiction           (Commission             (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)                File Number)         Identification No.)


           P. O. Box 540 , Terre Haute, Indiana           47808
       (Address of principal executive offices)         (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code    812-238-6264


ITEM 9.  REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

The following information is being provided under Item 9 of this Form 8-K. Such
information, including the Exhibit attached hereto, shall not be deemed "filed"
for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

On May 19, 2004, First Financial Corporation issued a press release to report
the declaration of the semi-annual dividend of $.39 per share payable July 1,
2004 to the shareholders of record on June 16, 2004. The release is furnished as
exhibit 99.1 hereto.

         The exhibit to this report is as follows:

         Exhibit No.       Description
         -----------       ------------

             99.1          Press Release, dated May 19, 2004 issued by First
                           Financial Corporation.



                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Dated   May 19, 2004            /s/ Michael A. Carty
                                ----------------------
                                Michael A. Carty
                                Secretary/Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer


                                  Exhibit Index
Exhibit Number

     99.1      Press Release, May 19, 2004 issued by First Financial Corporation

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

                                            (COMPANY LOGO OMITTED)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 19, 2004

For more information contact:
Michael A. Carty at (812) 238-6000


FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION DECLARES 16TH CONSECUTIVE DIVIDEND INCREASE


TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA - Reflecting continued strong financial performance, the
directors of First Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:THFF) have declared a
semi-annual dividend of 39 cents per share payable on July 1, 2004, to
shareholders of record at the close of business on June 16, 2004. This
represents an increase of 14.7% over the semi-annual dividend paid in July of
last year and a 15.3% increase in the year-to-year comparison. It is the 16th
consecutive year the corporation has increased dividends paid to shareholders.

Commenting on the performance of the locally owned corporation, Donald E. Smith,
chairman, credited the corporation's success, in part, to its strong community
banking focus. "Our headquarters are in the area we serve. This gives us the
distinct advantage of knowing our customers and their financial needs. We can
deliver the products and services our customers and communities need and want."

As previously reported, year-to-date income has increased 51.9% compared to the
same period in 2003. Non-interest income also increased over the same period.

First Financial Corporation is the holding company for First Financial Bank
N.A., Vigo, Parke and Vermillion counties in Indiana and Clark and Vermilion
counties in Illinois; First State Bank, First Farmers State Bank, The Morris
Plan Company of Terre Haute and Forrest Sherer, Inc. in Indiana, and First
Crawford State Bank and First Community Bank N.A. in Illinois.