Articles: Acme-Evans Company The Acme-Evans/ADM Milling Company evolved from two small mills of the antebellum era to the large milling company of today.… Read More »Acme-Evans Company Air Quality There is little evidence that air pollution was ever considered a significant problem in Indianapolis from the late 1800s through… Read More »Air Quality Alternative Medicine Because of the harsh remedies of bloodletting and purging employed during the early 19th century, many Indianapolis residents avoided physicians… Read More »Alternative Medicine Amateur Sports Governing Bodies Indianapolis has been the home of eight Olympic sport international and national governing bodies. The (AAU), established in 1888, was… Read More »Amateur Sports Governing Bodies American Legion Department of Indiana The Department of Indiana branch of the American Legion is a statewide veterans organization affiliated with the American Legion and… Read More »American Legion Department of Indiana AMPATH The (IUSM) initiated a partnership with Moi University in Kenya when Doctors Bob Einterz, Joe Mamlin, Charlie Kelley, and Dave… Read More »AMPATH Arsenal Technical High School Formerly a military arsenal from 1864 to 1903, Arsenal Technical High School opened as a public high school in 1912.… Read More »Arsenal Technical High School Automobile Industry Indianapolis was an early center for automobile manufacturing and design. For a brief period early in the 20th century, it… Read More »Automobile Industry Barbasol In 1919 Frank Shields, an Indianapolis chemical engineer, began manufacturing a brushless shaving cream, naming it Barbasol after red-bearded medieval… Read More »Barbasol Thomas W. Binford (Apr. 6, 1924-Jan. 14, 1999). Thomas W. Binford played important roles as a civic and civil rights leader and was… Read More »Thomas W. Binford Block Forum Lecture Series A legacy from the estate of Edward A. Block, a member of the and heir of department stores, provided the… Read More »Block Forum Lecture Series Brendonwood Brendonwood is a historic residential subdivision situated between Fall Creek and East 56th Street at roughly the 5700-6300 blocks. The name… Read More »Brendonwood Browning Day Also known as Browning Day Pollak, Inc. (1969-1982), and Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf, Inc. (1983-2019), the architecture firm founded by… Read More »Browning Day Carmel Located north of Indianapolis in southern , Carmel, settled in the 1820s, was a small farming community for over a… Read More »Carmel Center For The Performing Arts In February 1998, the City Council designated “an area extending west from Range Line almost to U.S. 31 and from… Read More »Center For The Performing Arts Central Indiana Corporate Partnership The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) is the successor to the (CCC), which had been organized in 1977 following recommendations… Read More »Central Indiana Corporate Partnership Chrysler Corporation The history of the Chrysler Corporation in Indianapolis began in a relationship with the American Foundry Company, which was established… Read More »Chrysler Corporation Circle Centre Mall On March 2, 1989, the demolition of many historic buildings in downtown Indianapolis signaled the beginning of construction of the… Read More »Circle Centre Mall Classical Music Indy Classical Music Indy is a public charitable trust that was established to promote the understanding and appreciation of the fine… Read More »Classical Music Indy George V. Coffin (May 18, 1875-Apr. 10, 1938). A native of Jay County, Indiana, “Cap” Coffin was the son of William and Melinda… Read More »George V. Coffin Cole Motor Car Company Joseph Jarrett Cole (1869-1925), a native of Connersville, Indiana, and a graduate of the Richmond Business College, first came to… Read More »Cole Motor Car Company Community Health Network With nine hospitals and more than 200 health care sites, the Community Health Network was the second-largest health care network… Read More »Community Health Network Patrick Michael Conneally (Dec. 4, 1931-Feb. 17, 2017). Born in Ballygar County, Galway, Ireland, Conneally graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, with… Read More »Patrick Michael Conneally Conseco, Inc. In 1979, Stephen Hilbert and David Deeds started the Security National of Indiana Corporation to acquire and manage existing life… Read More »Conseco, Inc. Curtis Publishing Company Cyrus Curtis founded Curtis Publishing in 1885 in Philadelphia. His first publication was Ladies’ Home Journal. In 1897, he acquired… Read More »Curtis Publishing Company Daily Echo The Daily Echo was the first and longest continuously published high school daily newspaper in the nation. It was established… Read More »Daily Echo Dance Kaleidoscope Dance Kaleidoscope (DK) is Indianapolis’ longest-running modern dance company. of Indiana formed DK in 1972 to bring dance into the… Read More »Dance Kaleidoscope Delta Faucet Company In 1920, Alex Manoogian, founder of Delta Faucet, immigrated to the United States at age 19 from Smyrna, Turkey, to… Read More »Delta Faucet Company Denison Hotel The New-Denison Hotel, as it was originally known, was reportedly named for two of the investors, and a Cincinnati businessman… Read More »Denison Hotel Department of Public Works Part of the executive branch, the Department of Public Works is the largest of the departments operating under the .… Read More »Department of Public Works DigIndy The Indianapolis sewer system was originally built as a combined sewer system. Common from the late-1800s to the early-1900s, both… Read More »DigIndy Dutch The Dutch community in Indianapolis, a mixed lot culturally and religiously, never totaled more than 500 persons. The first Dutch… Read More »Dutch El Centro Hispano/The Hispanic Center In November 1969, Feliciano Espinoza, Fred Bowman, Tony Dominguez, and Tulio Guldner organized the Hispano-American Association to respond to the… Read More »El Centro Hispano/The Hispanic Center Engine No. 587 In August 1918, the Baldwin Locomotive Works completed the Lake Erie and Western engine No. 5541. When the Nickel Plate… Read More »Engine No. 587 Englewood Christian Church Englewood Christian Church began in 1895 with 36 members on Rural Street on the eastern outskirts of Indianapolis, 100 yards… Read More »Englewood Christian Church Fairbanks Communications Fairbanks Communications began when the Fairbanks family sold the to in 1948. , grandson of Vice President , negotiated the… Read More »Fairbanks Communications Richard M. Fairbanks (Mar. 27, 1912-Aug. 11, 2000). The grandson of Vice President , Richard M. Fairbanks was born in Indianapolis. His parents… Read More »Richard M. Fairbanks Fall Creek Bridges In 1899, a program of replacing Indianapolis’ steel and iron bridges with new “permanent” stone and concrete ones began. The… Read More »Fall Creek Bridges Federal Buildings There are three federal buildings in Indianapolis: the Birch Bayh Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse (formerly the U.S. Court House… Read More »Federal Buildings Stoughton A. Fletcher II (Nov. 24, 1879-Oct. 8, 1957). Grandson of bank founder and a native of Indianapolis, Stoughton A. Fletcher II attended local… Read More »Stoughton A. Fletcher II Herbert Willard Foltz (Feb 23, 1867-July 6, 1946). A native of Indianapolis, Foltz graduated from before attending Rose Polytechnic Institute (later known as… Read More »Herbert Willard Foltz Ford Motor Company In 1903, when Ford began taking orders for its legendary Model-T, the Indiana Auto Company at 34-36 Monument Place in… Read More »Ford Motor Company Franciscan Health In 1912, two members of the Poor Sisters of St. Francis Seraph of the Perpetual Adoration traveled from their motherhouse… Read More »Franciscan Health Free University Free universities that sought to provide alternative learning outside of formal education settings such as public schools or colleges were… Read More »Free University Gatling Gun The Gatling Gun was an early rapid-firing weapon, or machine gun, invented by . Gatling was a physician and real… Read More »Gatling Gun Governor’s Residences There have been six official residences for Indiana’s governors. The first residence was located in Indiana’s original capital, Corydon, and… Read More »Governor’s Residences H. P. Wasson and Company In 1870, the Bee Hive Dry Goods Company opened at 2 West Washington Street. The store underwent several changes in… Read More »H. P. Wasson and Company E. Vernon Hahn (Oct. 23, 1891-Oct. 16, 1959). Born in Indianapolis, Hahn attended Indianapolis Public School no. 32 and before graduating from Wabash… Read More »E. Vernon Hahn Benjamin Harrison (Aug. 20, 1833-Mar. 13, 1901). Born in North Bend, Ohio, Benjamin Harrison was the grandson of President William Henry Harrison.… Read More »Benjamin Harrison Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County The growth and diffusion of the population in after World War II created demands that went unmet by existing public… Read More »Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County Heartland International Film Festival Heartland Film Festival, established in 1991, began with a question that its founder, Jeffrey L. Sparks, raised in the 1980s:… Read More »Heartland International Film Festival Herron-Morton Place Herron-Morton Place is a historic district bounded by 22nd Street on the north, Central Avenue on the east, 16th Street… Read More »Herron-Morton Place Heslar Naval Armory Riverside High School, formerly the Heslar Naval Armory, originally was the home of the Indiana Naval Reserve at Indianapolis (1938-1976).… Read More »Heslar Naval Armory Historical Organizations and Events The earliest organized effort to preserve local history appears to have been the founding of the (IHS) on December 11,… Read More »Historical Organizations and Events Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral In the early 20th century, a small Greek community, primarily young men from Tripoli and other central Peloponnesian villages, rented… Read More »Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral Home Rule The concept of “home rule” permits local communities within a state to provide for their own governments and to exercise… Read More »Home Rule John Newell Hurty (Feb. 21, 1852-Mar. 27, 1925). Pharmacist, medical educator, public health advocate, and state legislator, John Newell Hurty was born in… Read More »John Newell Hurty Harry T. Ice (Oct. 17, 1904-Sept. 8, 1982). Born in Paulding, Ohio, Harry T. Ice moved to Indianapolis in 1918 and graduated from… Read More »Harry T. Ice Indiana Catholic and Record Joseph P. O’Mahoney, a native of Tralee, County Kerry Ireland, issued the first Indiana Catholic on February 4, 1910, for… Read More »Indiana Catholic and Record Indiana High School Athletic Association In 1899, a meeting in Indianapolis of high school principals from eight Indiana cities resulted in the formation of the… Read More »Indiana High School Athletic Association Indiana Journal First published January 11, 1825, by and after they purchased, enlarged, and changed the name of the (1823). The paper… Read More »Indiana Journal Indiana Repertory Theatre Benjamin Moredecai, Edward Stern, and Gregory Poggin founded Indiana Repertory Theatre (IRT) in 1972. They developed plans for a new… Read More »Indiana Repertory Theatre Indiana School for the Deaf In 1843, the Indiana General Assembly enacted a property tax to finance the education and housing of the state’s deaf… Read More »Indiana School for the Deaf Indiana State Medical Association Formed as the Indiana State Medical Society (ISMS) in 1849, the purpose of the organization was, and remains, to educate… Read More »Indiana State Medical Association Indiana Transportation Museum The Indiana Transportation Museum (ITM) is dedicated to Indiana’s transportation heritage, with a focus on railroads. It preserves, restores, operates,… Read More »Indiana Transportation Museum Indianapolis Ballet Theatre Formed in 1973 as an outgrowth of the Civic Ballet Society of Indianapolis (which had been founded in 1959), Indianapolis… Read More »Indianapolis Ballet Theatre Indianapolis Commercial Citing the absence of adequate commercial reporting in local papers and the need to promote the interests of the Indiana… Read More »Indianapolis Commercial Indianapolis Fire Department The first recorded fire in Indianapolis in a newly built wooden tavern opposite the courthouse on Washington Street, on January… Read More »Indianapolis Fire Department Indianapolis Hispanic Chamber of Commerce The Indianapolis Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC) was founded in 1981 as a nonprofit institution devoted to promoting Hispanic business.… Read More »Indianapolis Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Indianapolis Indians A charter member of the American Association (AA) since its inaugural season of 1902, the Indianapolis Indians club has provided… Read More »Indianapolis Indians Indianapolis International Airport During the summer of 1928, the Indianapolis and the Indianapolis City Council held several discussions about developing a municipal airport.… Read More »Indianapolis International Airport Indianapolis Opera Formed September 29, 1975, through the efforts of Miriam Ramaker of Indiana Central University () and other opera enthusiasts, the… Read More »Indianapolis Opera Indianapolis Saenger Chor Founded in 1885 by 10 German tradesmen dedicated to the goals of the labor reform movement that swept the nation… Read More »Indianapolis Saenger Chor Indianapolis Woman C. E. Publishing launched Indianapolis Woman in September 1984. Publishers Connie Rosenthal and Linda Eder created the magazine for women… Read More »Indianapolis Woman Insulin and Indianapolis have been at the center of insulin production and innovations in diabetes care since immediately after the hormone… Read More »Insulin Islamic Society Of North America The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) has its origins in the Muslim Students Association (MSA) of the United States… Read More »Islamic Society Of North America James Prather (Jim) Jontz (Dec. 18, 1951-Apr. 14, 2007). Born in Indianapolis, Jim Jontz attended North Central High School and was an eagle scout.… Read More »James Prather (Jim) Jontz Liberty Fund Begun in 1960, the Liberty Fund was established “to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free… Read More »Liberty Fund Josiah Kirby (J. K.) Lilly Sr. (Nov. 18, 1861-Feb. 8, 1948). Son of and his first wife Emily Lemon Lilly, Josiah Kirby (J. K.) Lilly Sr.… Read More »Josiah Kirby (J. K.) Lilly Sr. Josiah Kirby Lilly Jr. (Sept. 25, 1893-May 5, 1966). Born in Indianapolis, the younger son of and Lilly Ridgely Lilly, “Joe” earned a pharmacy… Read More »Josiah Kirby Lilly Jr. Ruth Lilly (Aug. 2, 1915-Dec. 30, 2009). Ruth Lilly was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, to and Ruth Brinkmeyer Lilly. Her father was… Read More »Ruth Lilly Louis Leon Ludlow (June 24, 1873-Nov. 28, 1950). Louis Leon Ludlow was born in a log cabin in Fayette County. He graduated from… Read More »Louis Leon Ludlow Mapleton-Fall Creek Mapleton-Fall Creek is a northside neighborhood bounded by 38th Street, Fall Creek Parkway, and Meridian Street. The community of Sugar… Read More »Mapleton-Fall Creek Howard C. Marmon (May 24, 1876-Apr. 4, 1943). Howard C. Marmon is most well-known for designing the Wasp, which won the first 500-mile… Read More »Howard C. Marmon Mormon Temple The Indiana temple, located in Carmel, was the first Mormon temple built in the state. Different from church meeting houses,… Read More »Mormon Temple John Muir (Apr. 21, 1838-Dec. 24, 1914). Born in Dunbar, Scotland, John Muir immigrated with his family to the United States in… Read More »John Muir Norbert Neuss (May 8, 1919-Nov. 11, 2006). Born in Krakow, Poland, Norbert Neuss attended university in France. After Germany attacked Poland in… Read More »Norbert Neuss Office of Equal Opportunity At the end of 1982, Mayor created the Office of Equal Opportunity to replace the after an investigation revealed internal… Read More »Office of Equal Opportunity Pierre And Wright The partnership of Edward Dienhart Pierre and George Caleb Wright was one of the most architecturally important collaborations in Indianapolis… Read More »Pierre And Wright Presidential Election of 1860 As the state’s largest city, Indianapolis was the site of unprecedented political activity during the presidential campaign of 1860. With… Read More »Presidential Election of 1860 Red Key Tavern In 1933, George and R. H. Duke opened the Olde English Tavern in a new building at 52nd Street and… Read More »Red Key Tavern James Whitcomb Riley (Oct. 7, 1849-July 22, 1916). Born in the small town of Greenfield, Indiana, Riley was once regarded as America’s most-loved… Read More »James Whitcomb Riley Lewis Corwin Robbins (July 7, 1909-June 14, 1990). A native of Indianapolis, Lewis Robbins graduated from in 1935 and received a master’s degree… Read More »Lewis Corwin Robbins Robert Hanna Reputedly, the Robert Hanna (aka General Hanna) was the only steamboat ever to ascend the to Indianapolis. In 1830, Noah… Read More »Robert Hanna Roberts Park United Methodist Church The Roberts Park United Methodist Church is an Indianapolis Methodist congregation that has its roots in what was originally established… Read More »Roberts Park United Methodist Church Rock Island Refining Corporation In 1940, Oklahoma and Kansas businessmen L. E. Kincannon, L. E. Winkler, and L. B. Simmons built Indianapolis’ only oil… Read More »Rock Island Refining Corporation Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize Throughout her life, , daughter of and great-granddaughter of founder , was fond of reading and writing poetry, something that… Read More »Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize Sam’s Subway Sam Hochman established Sam’s Subway in the basement of the Lafayette Court apartments at 28th and Meridian streets in June… Read More »Sam’s Subway Samuel Lewis (Lew) Shank (Jan. 23, 1872-Sept. 24, 1927). Born in Marion County, Samuel Lewis (Lew) Shank worked at a variety of jobs before… Read More »Samuel Lewis (Lew) Shank Simon Property Group Headquartered in downtown Indianapolis, the Simon Property Group, formerly known as Melvin Simon and Associates, is the largest real estate… Read More »Simon Property Group Gerald Lyman Kenneth Smith (Feb. 27, 1898-Apr. 15, 1976). Born in Pardeeville, Wisconsin, to a third-generation minister, Gerald Lyman Kenneth Smith rose from poverty… Read More »Gerald Lyman Kenneth Smith Speedway Speedway is a Marion County town located about seven miles northwest of Monument Circle. In 1912, real estate developer Lemon… Read More »Speedway Edgar George Spink (Feb. 7, 1867-Mar. 17, 1927). Born in Washington, Indiana, Edward George Spink was the son of a druggist. After studying… Read More »Edgar George Spink Stockyards In 1876, Indianapolis financed the construction of the Union Railroad Transfer and Stock Yards Company, which comprised the first public… Read More »Stockyards Stutz Harry C. Stutz (1876 -1935) moved from his native Ohio to Indianapolis in 1903. By 1910, the Stutz Auto Parts… Read More »Stutz Thomson Consumer Electronics Thomson traces its Indianapolis roots through the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) to a small Westinghouse light bulb factory at… Read More »Thomson Consumer Electronics Robert H. Tyndall (May 2, 1877-July 9, 1947). Born in Indianapolis and educated in its public schools, Robert H. Tyndall enlisted in the… Read More »Robert H. Tyndall United Auto Workers, Region 3 In 1935, the leadership of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) granted a charter to the United Auto Workers (UAW)… Read More »United Auto Workers, Region 3 United Northwest Area The United Northwest Area (UNWA) is located in what was once a large, unincorporated area known as . It is… Read More »United Northwest Area United States Auto Club The United States Auto Club (USAC) began from necessity when the American Automobile Association (AAA) unexpectedly announced on Wednesday, August… Read More »United States Auto Club Village of West Clay Exhibiting the architectural theme of New Urbanism, a neighborhood design characterized by elements harkening back to pre-World II small towns,… Read More »Village of West Clay Harry E. Voshell (Jan. 17, 1870-Apr. 5, 1947). Born in Dearborn County, Harry Voshell graduated from Aurora High School in Dearborn County. Following… Read More »Harry E. Voshell Western Electric Western Electric was a telephone manufacturing unit for Bell Telephone with several locations throughout the U.S. The company added a… Read More »Western Electric WFYI-FM WFYI-FM first aired as WIAN on November 1, 1954, through the efforts of and its PTA. It became the first… Read More »WFYI-FM The When Store came to Indianapolis in the mid-1870s from New York City to open a branch store for clothing wholesaler, Owen, Pixley… Read More »The When Store Ryan White (Dec. 6, 1971-Apr. 8, 1990). Ryan White, a middle school student living near Kokomo, Indiana, contracted HIV (Human Immunodeficieny Virus)… Read More »Ryan White WIBC WIBC’s official broadcast debut was October 31, 1938. Owned by Glenn Van Auken’s Indiana Broadcasting Company and managed by C.… Read More »WIBC WNDE On November 4, 1924, Clem Portman, John Tribby, Hobart Ashlock, and Frank Sharp introduced WFBM radio to Indianapolis listeners. Operating… Read More »WNDE Charles (Chuck) Workman (Dec. 1, 1932-Mar. 25, 2012). Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, Workman grew up in , the first federal housing project… Read More »Charles (Chuck) Workman WTTV , a former engineer at RCA in Bloomington, Indiana, who started his own company manufacturing television tuners and other electronic… Read More »WTTV Wynnedale Wynnedale is a town on the northwest side bordered by 44th Street, Cold Spring Road, 42nd Street, and 2400 West. … Read More »Wynnedale
Acme-Evans Company The Acme-Evans/ADM Milling Company evolved from two small mills of the antebellum era to the large milling company of today.… Read More »Acme-Evans Company
Air Quality There is little evidence that air pollution was ever considered a significant problem in Indianapolis from the late 1800s through… Read More »Air Quality
Alternative Medicine Because of the harsh remedies of bloodletting and purging employed during the early 19th century, many Indianapolis residents avoided physicians… Read More »Alternative Medicine
Amateur Sports Governing Bodies Indianapolis has been the home of eight Olympic sport international and national governing bodies. The (AAU), established in 1888, was… Read More »Amateur Sports Governing Bodies
American Legion Department of Indiana The Department of Indiana branch of the American Legion is a statewide veterans organization affiliated with the American Legion and… Read More »American Legion Department of Indiana
AMPATH The (IUSM) initiated a partnership with Moi University in Kenya when Doctors Bob Einterz, Joe Mamlin, Charlie Kelley, and Dave… Read More »AMPATH
Arsenal Technical High School Formerly a military arsenal from 1864 to 1903, Arsenal Technical High School opened as a public high school in 1912.… Read More »Arsenal Technical High School
Automobile Industry Indianapolis was an early center for automobile manufacturing and design. For a brief period early in the 20th century, it… Read More »Automobile Industry
Barbasol In 1919 Frank Shields, an Indianapolis chemical engineer, began manufacturing a brushless shaving cream, naming it Barbasol after red-bearded medieval… Read More »Barbasol
Thomas W. Binford (Apr. 6, 1924-Jan. 14, 1999). Thomas W. Binford played important roles as a civic and civil rights leader and was… Read More »Thomas W. Binford
Block Forum Lecture Series A legacy from the estate of Edward A. Block, a member of the and heir of department stores, provided the… Read More »Block Forum Lecture Series
Brendonwood Brendonwood is a historic residential subdivision situated between Fall Creek and East 56th Street at roughly the 5700-6300 blocks. The name… Read More »Brendonwood
Browning Day Also known as Browning Day Pollak, Inc. (1969-1982), and Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf, Inc. (1983-2019), the architecture firm founded by… Read More »Browning Day
Carmel Located north of Indianapolis in southern , Carmel, settled in the 1820s, was a small farming community for over a… Read More »Carmel
Center For The Performing Arts In February 1998, the City Council designated “an area extending west from Range Line almost to U.S. 31 and from… Read More »Center For The Performing Arts
Central Indiana Corporate Partnership The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) is the successor to the (CCC), which had been organized in 1977 following recommendations… Read More »Central Indiana Corporate Partnership
Chrysler Corporation The history of the Chrysler Corporation in Indianapolis began in a relationship with the American Foundry Company, which was established… Read More »Chrysler Corporation
Circle Centre Mall On March 2, 1989, the demolition of many historic buildings in downtown Indianapolis signaled the beginning of construction of the… Read More »Circle Centre Mall
Classical Music Indy Classical Music Indy is a public charitable trust that was established to promote the understanding and appreciation of the fine… Read More »Classical Music Indy
George V. Coffin (May 18, 1875-Apr. 10, 1938). A native of Jay County, Indiana, “Cap” Coffin was the son of William and Melinda… Read More »George V. Coffin
Cole Motor Car Company Joseph Jarrett Cole (1869-1925), a native of Connersville, Indiana, and a graduate of the Richmond Business College, first came to… Read More »Cole Motor Car Company
Community Health Network With nine hospitals and more than 200 health care sites, the Community Health Network was the second-largest health care network… Read More »Community Health Network
Patrick Michael Conneally (Dec. 4, 1931-Feb. 17, 2017). Born in Ballygar County, Galway, Ireland, Conneally graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, with… Read More »Patrick Michael Conneally
Conseco, Inc. In 1979, Stephen Hilbert and David Deeds started the Security National of Indiana Corporation to acquire and manage existing life… Read More »Conseco, Inc.
Curtis Publishing Company Cyrus Curtis founded Curtis Publishing in 1885 in Philadelphia. His first publication was Ladies’ Home Journal. In 1897, he acquired… Read More »Curtis Publishing Company
Daily Echo The Daily Echo was the first and longest continuously published high school daily newspaper in the nation. It was established… Read More »Daily Echo
Dance Kaleidoscope Dance Kaleidoscope (DK) is Indianapolis’ longest-running modern dance company. of Indiana formed DK in 1972 to bring dance into the… Read More »Dance Kaleidoscope
Delta Faucet Company In 1920, Alex Manoogian, founder of Delta Faucet, immigrated to the United States at age 19 from Smyrna, Turkey, to… Read More »Delta Faucet Company
Denison Hotel The New-Denison Hotel, as it was originally known, was reportedly named for two of the investors, and a Cincinnati businessman… Read More »Denison Hotel
Department of Public Works Part of the executive branch, the Department of Public Works is the largest of the departments operating under the .… Read More »Department of Public Works
DigIndy The Indianapolis sewer system was originally built as a combined sewer system. Common from the late-1800s to the early-1900s, both… Read More »DigIndy
Dutch The Dutch community in Indianapolis, a mixed lot culturally and religiously, never totaled more than 500 persons. The first Dutch… Read More »Dutch
El Centro Hispano/The Hispanic Center In November 1969, Feliciano Espinoza, Fred Bowman, Tony Dominguez, and Tulio Guldner organized the Hispano-American Association to respond to the… Read More »El Centro Hispano/The Hispanic Center
Engine No. 587 In August 1918, the Baldwin Locomotive Works completed the Lake Erie and Western engine No. 5541. When the Nickel Plate… Read More »Engine No. 587
Englewood Christian Church Englewood Christian Church began in 1895 with 36 members on Rural Street on the eastern outskirts of Indianapolis, 100 yards… Read More »Englewood Christian Church
Fairbanks Communications Fairbanks Communications began when the Fairbanks family sold the to in 1948. , grandson of Vice President , negotiated the… Read More »Fairbanks Communications
Richard M. Fairbanks (Mar. 27, 1912-Aug. 11, 2000). The grandson of Vice President , Richard M. Fairbanks was born in Indianapolis. His parents… Read More »Richard M. Fairbanks
Fall Creek Bridges In 1899, a program of replacing Indianapolis’ steel and iron bridges with new “permanent” stone and concrete ones began. The… Read More »Fall Creek Bridges
Federal Buildings There are three federal buildings in Indianapolis: the Birch Bayh Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse (formerly the U.S. Court House… Read More »Federal Buildings
Stoughton A. Fletcher II (Nov. 24, 1879-Oct. 8, 1957). Grandson of bank founder and a native of Indianapolis, Stoughton A. Fletcher II attended local… Read More »Stoughton A. Fletcher II
Herbert Willard Foltz (Feb 23, 1867-July 6, 1946). A native of Indianapolis, Foltz graduated from before attending Rose Polytechnic Institute (later known as… Read More »Herbert Willard Foltz
Ford Motor Company In 1903, when Ford began taking orders for its legendary Model-T, the Indiana Auto Company at 34-36 Monument Place in… Read More »Ford Motor Company
Franciscan Health In 1912, two members of the Poor Sisters of St. Francis Seraph of the Perpetual Adoration traveled from their motherhouse… Read More »Franciscan Health
Free University Free universities that sought to provide alternative learning outside of formal education settings such as public schools or colleges were… Read More »Free University
Gatling Gun The Gatling Gun was an early rapid-firing weapon, or machine gun, invented by . Gatling was a physician and real… Read More »Gatling Gun
Governor’s Residences There have been six official residences for Indiana’s governors. The first residence was located in Indiana’s original capital, Corydon, and… Read More »Governor’s Residences
H. P. Wasson and Company In 1870, the Bee Hive Dry Goods Company opened at 2 West Washington Street. The store underwent several changes in… Read More »H. P. Wasson and Company
E. Vernon Hahn (Oct. 23, 1891-Oct. 16, 1959). Born in Indianapolis, Hahn attended Indianapolis Public School no. 32 and before graduating from Wabash… Read More »E. Vernon Hahn
Benjamin Harrison (Aug. 20, 1833-Mar. 13, 1901). Born in North Bend, Ohio, Benjamin Harrison was the grandson of President William Henry Harrison.… Read More »Benjamin Harrison
Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County The growth and diffusion of the population in after World War II created demands that went unmet by existing public… Read More »Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County
Heartland International Film Festival Heartland Film Festival, established in 1991, began with a question that its founder, Jeffrey L. Sparks, raised in the 1980s:… Read More »Heartland International Film Festival
Herron-Morton Place Herron-Morton Place is a historic district bounded by 22nd Street on the north, Central Avenue on the east, 16th Street… Read More »Herron-Morton Place
Heslar Naval Armory Riverside High School, formerly the Heslar Naval Armory, originally was the home of the Indiana Naval Reserve at Indianapolis (1938-1976).… Read More »Heslar Naval Armory
Historical Organizations and Events The earliest organized effort to preserve local history appears to have been the founding of the (IHS) on December 11,… Read More »Historical Organizations and Events
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral In the early 20th century, a small Greek community, primarily young men from Tripoli and other central Peloponnesian villages, rented… Read More »Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Home Rule The concept of “home rule” permits local communities within a state to provide for their own governments and to exercise… Read More »Home Rule
John Newell Hurty (Feb. 21, 1852-Mar. 27, 1925). Pharmacist, medical educator, public health advocate, and state legislator, John Newell Hurty was born in… Read More »John Newell Hurty
Harry T. Ice (Oct. 17, 1904-Sept. 8, 1982). Born in Paulding, Ohio, Harry T. Ice moved to Indianapolis in 1918 and graduated from… Read More »Harry T. Ice
Indiana Catholic and Record Joseph P. O’Mahoney, a native of Tralee, County Kerry Ireland, issued the first Indiana Catholic on February 4, 1910, for… Read More »Indiana Catholic and Record
Indiana High School Athletic Association In 1899, a meeting in Indianapolis of high school principals from eight Indiana cities resulted in the formation of the… Read More »Indiana High School Athletic Association
Indiana Journal First published January 11, 1825, by and after they purchased, enlarged, and changed the name of the (1823). The paper… Read More »Indiana Journal
Indiana Repertory Theatre Benjamin Moredecai, Edward Stern, and Gregory Poggin founded Indiana Repertory Theatre (IRT) in 1972. They developed plans for a new… Read More »Indiana Repertory Theatre
Indiana School for the Deaf In 1843, the Indiana General Assembly enacted a property tax to finance the education and housing of the state’s deaf… Read More »Indiana School for the Deaf
Indiana State Medical Association Formed as the Indiana State Medical Society (ISMS) in 1849, the purpose of the organization was, and remains, to educate… Read More »Indiana State Medical Association
Indiana Transportation Museum The Indiana Transportation Museum (ITM) is dedicated to Indiana’s transportation heritage, with a focus on railroads. It preserves, restores, operates,… Read More »Indiana Transportation Museum
Indianapolis Ballet Theatre Formed in 1973 as an outgrowth of the Civic Ballet Society of Indianapolis (which had been founded in 1959), Indianapolis… Read More »Indianapolis Ballet Theatre
Indianapolis Commercial Citing the absence of adequate commercial reporting in local papers and the need to promote the interests of the Indiana… Read More »Indianapolis Commercial
Indianapolis Fire Department The first recorded fire in Indianapolis in a newly built wooden tavern opposite the courthouse on Washington Street, on January… Read More »Indianapolis Fire Department
Indianapolis Hispanic Chamber of Commerce The Indianapolis Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC) was founded in 1981 as a nonprofit institution devoted to promoting Hispanic business.… Read More »Indianapolis Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Indianapolis Indians A charter member of the American Association (AA) since its inaugural season of 1902, the Indianapolis Indians club has provided… Read More »Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis International Airport During the summer of 1928, the Indianapolis and the Indianapolis City Council held several discussions about developing a municipal airport.… Read More »Indianapolis International Airport
Indianapolis Opera Formed September 29, 1975, through the efforts of Miriam Ramaker of Indiana Central University () and other opera enthusiasts, the… Read More »Indianapolis Opera
Indianapolis Saenger Chor Founded in 1885 by 10 German tradesmen dedicated to the goals of the labor reform movement that swept the nation… Read More »Indianapolis Saenger Chor
Indianapolis Woman C. E. Publishing launched Indianapolis Woman in September 1984. Publishers Connie Rosenthal and Linda Eder created the magazine for women… Read More »Indianapolis Woman
Insulin and Indianapolis have been at the center of insulin production and innovations in diabetes care since immediately after the hormone… Read More »Insulin
Islamic Society Of North America The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) has its origins in the Muslim Students Association (MSA) of the United States… Read More »Islamic Society Of North America
James Prather (Jim) Jontz (Dec. 18, 1951-Apr. 14, 2007). Born in Indianapolis, Jim Jontz attended North Central High School and was an eagle scout.… Read More »James Prather (Jim) Jontz
Liberty Fund Begun in 1960, the Liberty Fund was established “to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free… Read More »Liberty Fund
Josiah Kirby (J. K.) Lilly Sr. (Nov. 18, 1861-Feb. 8, 1948). Son of and his first wife Emily Lemon Lilly, Josiah Kirby (J. K.) Lilly Sr.… Read More »Josiah Kirby (J. K.) Lilly Sr.
Josiah Kirby Lilly Jr. (Sept. 25, 1893-May 5, 1966). Born in Indianapolis, the younger son of and Lilly Ridgely Lilly, “Joe” earned a pharmacy… Read More »Josiah Kirby Lilly Jr.
Ruth Lilly (Aug. 2, 1915-Dec. 30, 2009). Ruth Lilly was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, to and Ruth Brinkmeyer Lilly. Her father was… Read More »Ruth Lilly
Louis Leon Ludlow (June 24, 1873-Nov. 28, 1950). Louis Leon Ludlow was born in a log cabin in Fayette County. He graduated from… Read More »Louis Leon Ludlow
Mapleton-Fall Creek Mapleton-Fall Creek is a northside neighborhood bounded by 38th Street, Fall Creek Parkway, and Meridian Street. The community of Sugar… Read More »Mapleton-Fall Creek
Howard C. Marmon (May 24, 1876-Apr. 4, 1943). Howard C. Marmon is most well-known for designing the Wasp, which won the first 500-mile… Read More »Howard C. Marmon
Mormon Temple The Indiana temple, located in Carmel, was the first Mormon temple built in the state. Different from church meeting houses,… Read More »Mormon Temple
John Muir (Apr. 21, 1838-Dec. 24, 1914). Born in Dunbar, Scotland, John Muir immigrated with his family to the United States in… Read More »John Muir
Norbert Neuss (May 8, 1919-Nov. 11, 2006). Born in Krakow, Poland, Norbert Neuss attended university in France. After Germany attacked Poland in… Read More »Norbert Neuss
Office of Equal Opportunity At the end of 1982, Mayor created the Office of Equal Opportunity to replace the after an investigation revealed internal… Read More »Office of Equal Opportunity
Pierre And Wright The partnership of Edward Dienhart Pierre and George Caleb Wright was one of the most architecturally important collaborations in Indianapolis… Read More »Pierre And Wright
Presidential Election of 1860 As the state’s largest city, Indianapolis was the site of unprecedented political activity during the presidential campaign of 1860. With… Read More »Presidential Election of 1860
Red Key Tavern In 1933, George and R. H. Duke opened the Olde English Tavern in a new building at 52nd Street and… Read More »Red Key Tavern
James Whitcomb Riley (Oct. 7, 1849-July 22, 1916). Born in the small town of Greenfield, Indiana, Riley was once regarded as America’s most-loved… Read More »James Whitcomb Riley
Lewis Corwin Robbins (July 7, 1909-June 14, 1990). A native of Indianapolis, Lewis Robbins graduated from in 1935 and received a master’s degree… Read More »Lewis Corwin Robbins
Robert Hanna Reputedly, the Robert Hanna (aka General Hanna) was the only steamboat ever to ascend the to Indianapolis. In 1830, Noah… Read More »Robert Hanna
Roberts Park United Methodist Church The Roberts Park United Methodist Church is an Indianapolis Methodist congregation that has its roots in what was originally established… Read More »Roberts Park United Methodist Church
Rock Island Refining Corporation In 1940, Oklahoma and Kansas businessmen L. E. Kincannon, L. E. Winkler, and L. B. Simmons built Indianapolis’ only oil… Read More »Rock Island Refining Corporation
Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize Throughout her life, , daughter of and great-granddaughter of founder , was fond of reading and writing poetry, something that… Read More »Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize
Sam’s Subway Sam Hochman established Sam’s Subway in the basement of the Lafayette Court apartments at 28th and Meridian streets in June… Read More »Sam’s Subway
Samuel Lewis (Lew) Shank (Jan. 23, 1872-Sept. 24, 1927). Born in Marion County, Samuel Lewis (Lew) Shank worked at a variety of jobs before… Read More »Samuel Lewis (Lew) Shank
Simon Property Group Headquartered in downtown Indianapolis, the Simon Property Group, formerly known as Melvin Simon and Associates, is the largest real estate… Read More »Simon Property Group
Gerald Lyman Kenneth Smith (Feb. 27, 1898-Apr. 15, 1976). Born in Pardeeville, Wisconsin, to a third-generation minister, Gerald Lyman Kenneth Smith rose from poverty… Read More »Gerald Lyman Kenneth Smith
Speedway Speedway is a Marion County town located about seven miles northwest of Monument Circle. In 1912, real estate developer Lemon… Read More »Speedway
Edgar George Spink (Feb. 7, 1867-Mar. 17, 1927). Born in Washington, Indiana, Edward George Spink was the son of a druggist. After studying… Read More »Edgar George Spink
Stockyards In 1876, Indianapolis financed the construction of the Union Railroad Transfer and Stock Yards Company, which comprised the first public… Read More »Stockyards
Stutz Harry C. Stutz (1876 -1935) moved from his native Ohio to Indianapolis in 1903. By 1910, the Stutz Auto Parts… Read More »Stutz
Thomson Consumer Electronics Thomson traces its Indianapolis roots through the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) to a small Westinghouse light bulb factory at… Read More »Thomson Consumer Electronics
Robert H. Tyndall (May 2, 1877-July 9, 1947). Born in Indianapolis and educated in its public schools, Robert H. Tyndall enlisted in the… Read More »Robert H. Tyndall
United Auto Workers, Region 3 In 1935, the leadership of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) granted a charter to the United Auto Workers (UAW)… Read More »United Auto Workers, Region 3
United Northwest Area The United Northwest Area (UNWA) is located in what was once a large, unincorporated area known as . It is… Read More »United Northwest Area
United States Auto Club The United States Auto Club (USAC) began from necessity when the American Automobile Association (AAA) unexpectedly announced on Wednesday, August… Read More »United States Auto Club
Village of West Clay Exhibiting the architectural theme of New Urbanism, a neighborhood design characterized by elements harkening back to pre-World II small towns,… Read More »Village of West Clay
Harry E. Voshell (Jan. 17, 1870-Apr. 5, 1947). Born in Dearborn County, Harry Voshell graduated from Aurora High School in Dearborn County. Following… Read More »Harry E. Voshell
Western Electric Western Electric was a telephone manufacturing unit for Bell Telephone with several locations throughout the U.S. The company added a… Read More »Western Electric
WFYI-FM WFYI-FM first aired as WIAN on November 1, 1954, through the efforts of and its PTA. It became the first… Read More »WFYI-FM
The When Store came to Indianapolis in the mid-1870s from New York City to open a branch store for clothing wholesaler, Owen, Pixley… Read More »The When Store
Ryan White (Dec. 6, 1971-Apr. 8, 1990). Ryan White, a middle school student living near Kokomo, Indiana, contracted HIV (Human Immunodeficieny Virus)… Read More »Ryan White
WIBC WIBC’s official broadcast debut was October 31, 1938. Owned by Glenn Van Auken’s Indiana Broadcasting Company and managed by C.… Read More »WIBC
WNDE On November 4, 1924, Clem Portman, John Tribby, Hobart Ashlock, and Frank Sharp introduced WFBM radio to Indianapolis listeners. Operating… Read More »WNDE
Charles (Chuck) Workman (Dec. 1, 1932-Mar. 25, 2012). Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, Workman grew up in , the first federal housing project… Read More »Charles (Chuck) Workman
WTTV , a former engineer at RCA in Bloomington, Indiana, who started his own company manufacturing television tuners and other electronic… Read More »WTTV
Wynnedale Wynnedale is a town on the northwest side bordered by 44th Street, Cold Spring Road, 42nd Street, and 2400 West. … Read More »Wynnedale