Articles: Richard (Dick the Bruiser) Afflis (June 27, 1929-Nov. 10, 1991). Born in Lafayette, Indiana, Richard Afflis was raised in Delphi before moving with his family… Read More »Richard (Dick the Bruiser) Afflis Allison Transmission Allison Transmission is a major producer of aircraft engines. , a founding partner of the Company and the , established… Read More »Allison Transmission American Fletcher National Bank , who arrived in Indianapolis from Vermont in 1831, opened a bank in a one-room office at 8 East Washington… Read More »American Fletcher National Bank Aviation Indianapolis was introduced to the “air age” in the late 1800s with hot air balloon ascensions and parachute jumps. On… Read More »Aviation Babe Denny Babe Denny is a near southside community bordered by South Street, Madison Avenue, Morris Street, and West Street. Settlement of… Read More »Babe Denny Stan Berg (Aug. 31, 1949-May 14, 1991). A native of Garrett, Indiana, Berg moved to Indianapolis at age 14. He graduated from… Read More »Stan Berg 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 Bob & Tom Show The Bob & Tom Show originated in Petoskey, Michigan, in the early 1980s when DJ Bob Kevoian brought on Tom… Read More »Bob & Tom Show Bowling Bowling is a popular sport and recreational activity that evolved from European ninepins and skittles. Often associated with taverns and… Read More »Bowling Brickyard 200 The Brickyard 200 began as the Brickyard 400, a 400-mile stock car race at the . The race was sanctioned… Read More »Brickyard 200 David V. Burns (May 10, 1911-Dec. 25, 1995). The son of Indianapolis architect and Anna Ray (Herzch) Burns, David Burns grew up in… Read More »David V. Burns Bush Stadium After the 1930 season. Norman Perry, owner and president of , announced plans to build a new baseball stadium on… Read More »Bush Stadium Chatham Arch Located on the northeastside of downtown Indianapolis, bounded by I-65, College Avenue, East Street, and North Street, Chatham Arch is… Read More »Chatham Arch Clay Terrace Clay Terrace opened in in October 2004. The upscale, open-air shopping center exhibited the architectural theme of New Urbanism, harkening… Read More »Clay Terrace Country Clubs By the late 1800s, country clubs were popular social centers for the cultural elite in many American communities, including Indianapolis.… Read More »Country Clubs Denison Parking In the late 1920s, local entrepreneur William C. Griffith and his wife Ruth (Perry) Griffith acquired the at the corner… Read More »Denison Parking Diamond Chain Company On Christmas Eve 1890, (future cofounder of the ), Edward C. Fletcher, and Glenn Howe invested $5,000 to begin manufacturing… Read More »Diamond Chain Company Fayette Street Situated along the Indianapolis upper canal area, bounded by 9th , 10th , Martin Luther King Jr., and North Missouri… Read More »Fayette Street Bryan Fonseca (Oct. 10, 1954-Sep. 16, 2020). Founder of the , which he led for 30 years. Bryan Fonseca was well-known for… Read More »Bryan Fonseca Wayne Fuson (Mar. 2, 1925–Sept. 30, 1996). Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, Wayne Fuson attended Indiana State University before starting his journalistic… Read More »Wayne Fuson Gainbridge Fieldhouse Unlike many NBA arenas with sleek modern architecture, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, originally named Conseco Fieldhouse, was designed with an intentional retro… Read More »Gainbridge Fieldhouse John (Big John) Gillis (Sept. 24, 1947 – Nov. 9, 2012). Born in San Antonio, Texas, Gillis moved to the border town of Howe,… Read More »John (Big John) Gillis Michael Lee Gradison (Nov. 24, 1942-Feb. 12. 2017). Michael Gradison was born in , Indiana, attended Speedway High School, and graduated from Brown… Read More »Michael Lee Gradison Greeks The Greek community of Indianapolis was established in the 1890s and early 20th century. The initial immigrants, from the Peloponnesus… Read More »Greeks Fred Heckman (Nov. 11, 1923 – May 28, 2001). Born in Iron Mountain, Michigan, Fred Heckman’s itinerant family moved 29 times before… Read More »Fred Heckman Horizon League In 1979, representatives of butler university, the University of Evansville, Loyola University of Chicago, Xavier University, Oklahoma City University, and… Read More »Horizon League Terry (Hutch) Hutchens (Mar. 19, 1958-Dec. 21, 2018). Terry Hutchens was born in Portland, Oregon, and raised in Southern California. Aiming to be… Read More »Terry (Hutch) Hutchens Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts National Football League (NFL) franchise traces its lineage to December 1946, when the Miami Seahawks of the… Read More »Indianapolis Colts 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 Indy Eleven On January 26, 2013, the North American Soccer League (NASL) announced the formation of Indianapolis’ professional soccer team known as… Read More »Indy Eleven Indy Fuel The Indy Fuel was admitted into the ECHL (previously known as the East Coast Hockey League) on November 11, 2013.… Read More »Indy Fuel Indy Pride Beginning in the early 1980s, years before the creation of the actual organization, Indiana gay and lesbian organizations like Justice,… Read More »Indy Pride IndyFringe Theatre Festival The fringe theatrical movement in Indianapolis, modeled after the Edinburgh (Scotland) Fringe Festival, developed as part of ’s cultural tourism… Read More »IndyFringe Theatre Festival Robert Irsay (Mar. 5, 1923-Jan. 14, 1997). Born in Chicago, Robert (Bob) Irsay attended the University of Illinois before he joined his… Read More »Robert Irsay Market East Located east of Market East is bounded by New York Street, Delaware Street, East Street, and train tracks. Characterized by… Read More »Market East Market Square Arena When it opened on September 15, 1974, Market Square Arena (MSA), was the fifth-largest sports arena in the United States.… Read More »Market Square Arena Marsh Supermarkets Wilber Marsh opened the first Marsh grocery store in 1922 in North Salem, Indiana. By the 1930s, the family owned… Read More »Marsh Supermarkets MCL Cafeterias In 1950, Indianapolis cousins Charles McGaughey and George Laughner founded MCL. They were cousins to the founder of MCL’s competitor… Read More »MCL Cafeterias Midtown The neighborhood colloquially known as Midtown is a historically African American neighborhood bounded by 16th Street, Dr. Martin Luther King… Read More »Midtown NCAA Basketball Finals By 2020, the city of Indianapolis had hosted the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s Division 1 Basketball Tournament’s Final… Read More »NCAA Basketball Finals NCAA Headquarters and Hall of Champions The NCAA Headquarters moved from its longtime home in Kansas City to Indianapolis in 1999. Key to drawing the headquarters… Read More »NCAA Headquarters and Hall of Champions George Joseph (Joe) O’Malia (Dec. 24, 1920–Nov. 27,1996). George Joseph (Joe) O’Malia was the founder of central Indiana grocery chain . Born and raised… Read More »George Joseph (Joe) O’Malia O’Malia’s Food Markets O’Malia Food Markets founder worked nearly his entire adult life in the retail grocery business. In the years leading up… Read More »O’Malia’s Food Markets Patachou, Inc. Patachou Incorporated serves as the umbrella organization for the brand of farm-to-table restaurants Martha Hoover started in 1989 with her… Read More »Patachou, Inc. Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital Since 1881, has provided care to children, but its pediatric hospital did not open until 2003. St. Vincent Children’s Hospital… Read More »Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis Conceived by Herman H. Rinne, a local music retail businessman and former member, the Philharmonic Orchestra began with three members… Read More »Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis Purpose of Life Ministries Purpose of Life Ministries began as Second Baptist Church, the first African American Baptist congregation established in Indianapolis. Charles Sachel,… Read More »Purpose of Life Ministries Willard B. (Mike) Ransom (May 17, 1916-Nov. 7, 1995). Willard B. (Mike) Ransom was the son of Indianapolis African American lawyer and civic leader… Read More »Willard B. (Mike) Ransom Salesforce Tower , chairman of Bank One Indiana, began planning for the building now known as Tower in 1969, when his financial… Read More »Salesforce Tower William E. Steckler (Oct. 18, 1913-Mar. 8, 1995). Born in Mount Vernon, Indiana William E. Steckler earned a law degree at Indiana University… Read More »William E. Steckler United Christmas Service During the of the 1930s, local newspapers began aiding families asking for help at Christmas. The Christmas program formalized in… Read More »United Christmas Service Victory Field From 1930 to 1996, , located on West 16th Street, was home to the Triple-A . In 1992, Major League… Read More »Victory Field Dick Weber (Dec. 23, 1929-Feb. 14, 2005). Born and raised in Indianapolis, Dick Weber gained fame as a bowler while simultaneously working… Read More »Dick Weber WFNI After gaining the rights to broadcasts in 2007, held the rights for all Indianapolis major sports teams. The company sought… Read More »WFNI Willard Park Neighborhood Willard Park Neighborhood is a neighborhood organization bounded by Michigan Street to the north, railroad tracks just beyond Washington Street… Read More »Willard Park Neighborhood WNDE On November 4, 1924, Clem Portman, John Tribby, Hobart Ashlock, and Frank Sharp introduced WFBM radio to Indianapolis listeners. Operating… Read More »WNDE Woodburn Sarven Wheel Company In the mid-1860s, J. R. Osgood and S. F. Smith established a business producing wagon and carriage materials on South… Read More »Woodburn Sarven Wheel Company WRTV Consolidated Television and Radio Broadcasters, Inc., parent of WFBM radio and headed by Harry M. Bitner Sr., of Pittsburgh, received… Read More »WRTV WTHR First airing on October 30, 1957, as WLW-I. operating as Channel 13, WTHR emerged from years of licensing battles to… Read More »WTHR
Richard (Dick the Bruiser) Afflis (June 27, 1929-Nov. 10, 1991). Born in Lafayette, Indiana, Richard Afflis was raised in Delphi before moving with his family… Read More »Richard (Dick the Bruiser) Afflis
Allison Transmission Allison Transmission is a major producer of aircraft engines. , a founding partner of the Company and the , established… Read More »Allison Transmission
American Fletcher National Bank , who arrived in Indianapolis from Vermont in 1831, opened a bank in a one-room office at 8 East Washington… Read More »American Fletcher National Bank
Aviation Indianapolis was introduced to the “air age” in the late 1800s with hot air balloon ascensions and parachute jumps. On… Read More »Aviation
Babe Denny Babe Denny is a near southside community bordered by South Street, Madison Avenue, Morris Street, and West Street. Settlement of… Read More »Babe Denny
Stan Berg (Aug. 31, 1949-May 14, 1991). A native of Garrett, Indiana, Berg moved to Indianapolis at age 14. He graduated from… Read More »Stan Berg
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
Bob & Tom Show The Bob & Tom Show originated in Petoskey, Michigan, in the early 1980s when DJ Bob Kevoian brought on Tom… Read More »Bob & Tom Show
Bowling Bowling is a popular sport and recreational activity that evolved from European ninepins and skittles. Often associated with taverns and… Read More »Bowling
Brickyard 200 The Brickyard 200 began as the Brickyard 400, a 400-mile stock car race at the . The race was sanctioned… Read More »Brickyard 200
David V. Burns (May 10, 1911-Dec. 25, 1995). The son of Indianapolis architect and Anna Ray (Herzch) Burns, David Burns grew up in… Read More »David V. Burns
Bush Stadium After the 1930 season. Norman Perry, owner and president of , announced plans to build a new baseball stadium on… Read More »Bush Stadium
Chatham Arch Located on the northeastside of downtown Indianapolis, bounded by I-65, College Avenue, East Street, and North Street, Chatham Arch is… Read More »Chatham Arch
Clay Terrace Clay Terrace opened in in October 2004. The upscale, open-air shopping center exhibited the architectural theme of New Urbanism, harkening… Read More »Clay Terrace
Country Clubs By the late 1800s, country clubs were popular social centers for the cultural elite in many American communities, including Indianapolis.… Read More »Country Clubs
Denison Parking In the late 1920s, local entrepreneur William C. Griffith and his wife Ruth (Perry) Griffith acquired the at the corner… Read More »Denison Parking
Diamond Chain Company On Christmas Eve 1890, (future cofounder of the ), Edward C. Fletcher, and Glenn Howe invested $5,000 to begin manufacturing… Read More »Diamond Chain Company
Fayette Street Situated along the Indianapolis upper canal area, bounded by 9th , 10th , Martin Luther King Jr., and North Missouri… Read More »Fayette Street
Bryan Fonseca (Oct. 10, 1954-Sep. 16, 2020). Founder of the , which he led for 30 years. Bryan Fonseca was well-known for… Read More »Bryan Fonseca
Wayne Fuson (Mar. 2, 1925–Sept. 30, 1996). Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, Wayne Fuson attended Indiana State University before starting his journalistic… Read More »Wayne Fuson
Gainbridge Fieldhouse Unlike many NBA arenas with sleek modern architecture, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, originally named Conseco Fieldhouse, was designed with an intentional retro… Read More »Gainbridge Fieldhouse
John (Big John) Gillis (Sept. 24, 1947 – Nov. 9, 2012). Born in San Antonio, Texas, Gillis moved to the border town of Howe,… Read More »John (Big John) Gillis
Michael Lee Gradison (Nov. 24, 1942-Feb. 12. 2017). Michael Gradison was born in , Indiana, attended Speedway High School, and graduated from Brown… Read More »Michael Lee Gradison
Greeks The Greek community of Indianapolis was established in the 1890s and early 20th century. The initial immigrants, from the Peloponnesus… Read More »Greeks
Fred Heckman (Nov. 11, 1923 – May 28, 2001). Born in Iron Mountain, Michigan, Fred Heckman’s itinerant family moved 29 times before… Read More »Fred Heckman
Horizon League In 1979, representatives of butler university, the University of Evansville, Loyola University of Chicago, Xavier University, Oklahoma City University, and… Read More »Horizon League
Terry (Hutch) Hutchens (Mar. 19, 1958-Dec. 21, 2018). Terry Hutchens was born in Portland, Oregon, and raised in Southern California. Aiming to be… Read More »Terry (Hutch) Hutchens
Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts National Football League (NFL) franchise traces its lineage to December 1946, when the Miami Seahawks of the… Read More »Indianapolis Colts
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
Indy Eleven On January 26, 2013, the North American Soccer League (NASL) announced the formation of Indianapolis’ professional soccer team known as… Read More »Indy Eleven
Indy Fuel The Indy Fuel was admitted into the ECHL (previously known as the East Coast Hockey League) on November 11, 2013.… Read More »Indy Fuel
Indy Pride Beginning in the early 1980s, years before the creation of the actual organization, Indiana gay and lesbian organizations like Justice,… Read More »Indy Pride
IndyFringe Theatre Festival The fringe theatrical movement in Indianapolis, modeled after the Edinburgh (Scotland) Fringe Festival, developed as part of ’s cultural tourism… Read More »IndyFringe Theatre Festival
Robert Irsay (Mar. 5, 1923-Jan. 14, 1997). Born in Chicago, Robert (Bob) Irsay attended the University of Illinois before he joined his… Read More »Robert Irsay
Market East Located east of Market East is bounded by New York Street, Delaware Street, East Street, and train tracks. Characterized by… Read More »Market East
Market Square Arena When it opened on September 15, 1974, Market Square Arena (MSA), was the fifth-largest sports arena in the United States.… Read More »Market Square Arena
Marsh Supermarkets Wilber Marsh opened the first Marsh grocery store in 1922 in North Salem, Indiana. By the 1930s, the family owned… Read More »Marsh Supermarkets
MCL Cafeterias In 1950, Indianapolis cousins Charles McGaughey and George Laughner founded MCL. They were cousins to the founder of MCL’s competitor… Read More »MCL Cafeterias
Midtown The neighborhood colloquially known as Midtown is a historically African American neighborhood bounded by 16th Street, Dr. Martin Luther King… Read More »Midtown
NCAA Basketball Finals By 2020, the city of Indianapolis had hosted the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s Division 1 Basketball Tournament’s Final… Read More »NCAA Basketball Finals
NCAA Headquarters and Hall of Champions The NCAA Headquarters moved from its longtime home in Kansas City to Indianapolis in 1999. Key to drawing the headquarters… Read More »NCAA Headquarters and Hall of Champions
George Joseph (Joe) O’Malia (Dec. 24, 1920–Nov. 27,1996). George Joseph (Joe) O’Malia was the founder of central Indiana grocery chain . Born and raised… Read More »George Joseph (Joe) O’Malia
O’Malia’s Food Markets O’Malia Food Markets founder worked nearly his entire adult life in the retail grocery business. In the years leading up… Read More »O’Malia’s Food Markets
Patachou, Inc. Patachou Incorporated serves as the umbrella organization for the brand of farm-to-table restaurants Martha Hoover started in 1989 with her… Read More »Patachou, Inc.
Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital Since 1881, has provided care to children, but its pediatric hospital did not open until 2003. St. Vincent Children’s Hospital… Read More »Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital
Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis Conceived by Herman H. Rinne, a local music retail businessman and former member, the Philharmonic Orchestra began with three members… Read More »Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis
Purpose of Life Ministries Purpose of Life Ministries began as Second Baptist Church, the first African American Baptist congregation established in Indianapolis. Charles Sachel,… Read More »Purpose of Life Ministries
Willard B. (Mike) Ransom (May 17, 1916-Nov. 7, 1995). Willard B. (Mike) Ransom was the son of Indianapolis African American lawyer and civic leader… Read More »Willard B. (Mike) Ransom
Salesforce Tower , chairman of Bank One Indiana, began planning for the building now known as Tower in 1969, when his financial… Read More »Salesforce Tower
William E. Steckler (Oct. 18, 1913-Mar. 8, 1995). Born in Mount Vernon, Indiana William E. Steckler earned a law degree at Indiana University… Read More »William E. Steckler
United Christmas Service During the of the 1930s, local newspapers began aiding families asking for help at Christmas. The Christmas program formalized in… Read More »United Christmas Service
Victory Field From 1930 to 1996, , located on West 16th Street, was home to the Triple-A . In 1992, Major League… Read More »Victory Field
Dick Weber (Dec. 23, 1929-Feb. 14, 2005). Born and raised in Indianapolis, Dick Weber gained fame as a bowler while simultaneously working… Read More »Dick Weber
WFNI After gaining the rights to broadcasts in 2007, held the rights for all Indianapolis major sports teams. The company sought… Read More »WFNI
Willard Park Neighborhood Willard Park Neighborhood is a neighborhood organization bounded by Michigan Street to the north, railroad tracks just beyond Washington Street… Read More »Willard Park Neighborhood
WNDE On November 4, 1924, Clem Portman, John Tribby, Hobart Ashlock, and Frank Sharp introduced WFBM radio to Indianapolis listeners. Operating… Read More »WNDE
Woodburn Sarven Wheel Company In the mid-1860s, J. R. Osgood and S. F. Smith established a business producing wagon and carriage materials on South… Read More »Woodburn Sarven Wheel Company
WRTV Consolidated Television and Radio Broadcasters, Inc., parent of WFBM radio and headed by Harry M. Bitner Sr., of Pittsburgh, received… Read More »WRTV
WTHR First airing on October 30, 1957, as WLW-I. operating as Channel 13, WTHR emerged from years of licensing battles to… Read More »WTHR