What They Didn't Teach Me in Indiana History Class
Elvis Presley gave his last concert at Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, on June 26, 1977.
Tomato juice was first served at a French Lick Hotel in 1925.
The Prairie Farmer publication has featured the cartoon 'Slim and Spud' for 30 years. This cartoon is drawn by Hoosier Max Gwin.
The world's largest orchid species collection is found at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.
The first regulated speed limit on Indiana roads was initiated in 1921. 25 mph! Just Cruisin'!
Purdue is Indiana's land grant college.
An average of 400 funnel clouds are sighted each year in Indiana.
The exteriors of the hit movie 'Hoosiers' was filmed just 25 miles from the Purdue campus at New Richmond, Indiana.
Remember another hit movie - 'Breaking Away'? Well, it was filmed in Bloomington, Indiana and partially on the campus of Indiana University (I.U.)!
The city of Gary, Indiana, was built on fill brought from the bottom of Lake Michigan through suction pipes.
There are only two Adams fireplaces in the United States. One is in the White House and the other in the Diener Home in Indiana.
Infamous bank robber, John Dillinger, declared he would never rob any banks in Anderson, Indiana, because there were railroad tracks over every exit road.
Josie Orr, ex-wife of former Indiana Governor Robert Orr, flew bombers and cargo planes during World War II.
The Indianapolis Methodist Hospital is the largest hospital in the Midwest.
One of the first complete bathrooms in Indianapolis was in the home of Hoosier poet, James Whitcomb Riley.
The career of Dorothy Lamoure (famous for the Crosby-Hope road movies) was launched in Indianapolis.
Aviatrix Amelia Earhart was once a Professor at Purdue University.
One of the first evaporated milk companies was started by an Indiana dentist, Dr. Wilson.
Crown Hill Cemetery (Indianapolis) is the largest cemetery in the U.S.
Fort Wayne, Indiana, library houses one of the largest genealogy libraries in America.
Wabash, Indiana, was the first electrified city in the U.S.
Pendleton, Indiana, was the site of the first hanging of a white man for killing Indians.
Indianapolis has the most Interstate legs in the U.S. earning it the title of 'Crossroads of America.'
The Courthouse in Greensburg, Indiana, has a tree growing from its roof.
The world's first transistor radio was made in Indianapolis.
Clark Gable and wife Carole Lombard (a Hoosier) honeymooned at Lake Barbee near Warsaw, Indiana.
The American Beauty Rose was developed at Richmond, Indiana.
Elkhart, Indiana, is the band instrument capitol of the World.
Frank Sinatra first sang with the Tommy Dorsey band at the Lyric Theater in Indianapolis.
Purdue Alumnus, Earl Butz, served as the Secretary of Agriculture.
U.S. 231 is the longest highway in Indiana (231 miles).
Johnnie Appleseed is buried at Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The singing McGuire Sisters spent their childhood summers at the Church of God Campground in Anderson, Indiana..
The main station of the Underground Railroad was in Fountain County, Indiana.
There is 154 acres of sculpture gardens and trails at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
LaPorte County is the only county in America having two functioning Courthouses.
Nancy Hanks Lincoln is buried in Posey County, Indiana.
Crawfordsville, Indiana (Montgomery County) is the only site in the world where Crinoids (marine organisms found in limestone) are found.
The Lincoln Museum in Allen County contains the world's largest private collection of President Abraham Lincoln mementos (Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, Fort Wayne, IN).
Buffalos roamed in Indiana at the Needmore Buffalo Farm in Harrison County.
Pendleton, Indiana, was the site of the 'Fall Creek Massacre.' A museum housing 3500 artifacts of pioneer heritage now exists on that site.
St. Meinrad Archabbey is located in Spencer County and is one of only two archabbeys in the U.S. and seven in the world. Abbey Press is an operation of the Archabbey.
A Buzz Bomb (German - WWII) believed to be the only one on public display in the nation, can be found on the Putnam County Courthouse lawn in Greencastle.
Swayzee, Indiana, is truly the only Swayzee in the world.
You can't ship wine to Indiana. (So, how does it get here?)
Bob Greise is from Indiana. (Old Purdue Boy)
Toni Tenille (of The Captain and Tenille) is from Indiana.
Oprah Winfrey built her residence in northern Indiana.
John Mellancamp is a Hoosier and resides in Bloomington.
The much sought after Hoosier Cabinets are an Indiana product.
90% of the world's popcorn is grown in Indiana.
The Jackson Five are from northern Indiana as well as 'Super Fan' Russ McLeod.
Florence Henderson is from Indiana.
FOR ALL OLD CAR LOVERS..... The birthplace of the automobile, pneumatic rubber tire, the aluminum casting process, stainless steel, and the first push-button car radio was Kokomo, Indiana. (Hence th e nickname 'City of Firsts').
One of the first automobiles, the Haynes Apperson, was made in Kokomo, IN. Indiana automotive history begins with Elwood Haynes' kitchen experiment with an internal combustion engine in the fall of 1893. The historic demonstration of his Pioneer automobile along Pumpkinvine Pike in Kokomo, on July 4, 1894, preceded commercial automobile production by two years. Commercial production in Indiana, and concurrently in the United States, began with the first recorded sale of a Haynes-Apperson automobile in the fall of 1896
