History of Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

1821 - Indianapolis, Indiana founded

wikipedia.org

1825 - State Capital
Indianapolis becomes the state capital.
www.e-referencedesk.com/ resources/state-history-timeline/ indiana.html

1847 - Indiana's first major railroad line linked Madison and Indianapolis and was completed.

www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ indiana.html

1854 - Indianapolis
Indianapolis, a city, capital of Indiana, and seat of justice of Marion county, on the W. fork of White river, at the crossing of the National road, and immediately below the mouth of Fall creek, 109 miles N. W. from Cincinnati, and 86 miles N. N. W. from Madison. It is situated in a fertile and extensive plain, very nearly equidistant from the several boundaries of the state. When this place was selected for the capital of Indiana, in 1820, the whole country for 40 miles in every direction was covered with a dense forest. On the 1st of January, 1825, the public offices of state were removed from Corydon, and the seat of government was permanently established here. The streets generally cross each other at right angles, excepting 4 diagonal streets, which converge to a circular area in the centre of the town. The principal public buildings are on Washington street, which is 120 feet wide. Several other streets are 90 feet wide. The state house, erected at a cost of $60,000, is an... Read MORE...

1860 - SINGULAR PHENOMENON. Water Spout and Tornado - Houses Blown Down.
(From the Indianapolis Journal, May 30.)
Storms, like troubles, seem to come in crowds. Last week was full of them, and this week starts fair for a similar exhibition of elemental disturbances. Yesterday evening we were visited by the first tornado for several years, and it was accompanied by very much the same appearances, and marked by the same features, that distinguished the singular tornadoes that visited Illinois and New York a year or two ago. The day had been hot, but began to show signs of a change about 4 o'clock. Clouds gathered slowly and in broken masses till about 6 o'clock, when the whole sky was covered with rounded lumps, with fleecy edges, presenting something the appearance of scales, and so singular as to attract much attention. In about half an hour they grew thicker and darker in the West, and showed unmistakable indications of a storm. As the cloud swept up the sky it changed from the dark hue it had at the horizon into a dull brassy color, the almost... Read MORE...

1862 - November 4 - Dr Richard Gatling patents Gatling machine gun (Indianapolis)

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1869 - A man in charge was explaining the working of the fire-alarm telegraph, in Indianapolis, on a recent Sunday evening,
and unconsciously sent an alarm, which soon brought the whole Fire Department to his box.

St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
July 3, 1869

1869 - Accident at State Fair
To the Associated Press.

INDIANAPOLIS, October 1. - A terrible accident occurred at the State Fair this afternoon. The boiler of Sinker & Co., of this city, exploded a few minutes before four o'clock. There was an immense crowd on the ground at the time.
genealogybank.com
Cincinnati Daily Enquirer
Cincinnati, Ohio
October 2, 1869

1885 - THE STATE INSANE ASYLUM ON FIRE.
Indianapolis, Jan. 27. - Fire at the insane hospital this morning was got under control after destroying the engine room, laundry and bakery, and some smaller apartments located in the rear of the building connected with the main structure by a large three story building, containing kitchen and sleeping rooms for the employes. The chapel of the institution was finished only last spring.

Loss, $75,000; insured. There was no panic among the seventeen hundred patients, most of whom watched the fire. No one was injured.
Fort Wayne Sentinel
Fort Wayne, Indiana
January 27, 1885

1894 - November 25 - Greenback (Independent) Party organizes in Indianapolis

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1895 - Indianapolis
Indianapolis, in-de-an-ap'Q-lis, a city, the capital of Indiana, and of Marion co., is on the West Fork of White River, 109 miles N.W. of Cincinnati, and 195 miles S.S.E. of Chicago. Lat. 39° 50' N.; lon. 86° 5' W. It is within 35 miles of the exact centre of population of the United States. The site is nearly level, and covers an area of 25 square miles. The streets generally cross one another at right angles, except four wide diagonal avenues, which converge at the business centre of the city. Many of the streets are about 100 feet wide. This city contains a fine court-house, the state institution for the deaf and dumb, a hospital for the insane, the Indiana blind institute, 124 churches, a state library, a public library, a masonic hall, an art school, 3 medical colleges, a city hospital, 6 national banks, and a private bank. A new capitol building has been erected at a cost of $2,000,000. Among the notable public buildings may be mentioned the Commercial Club, the Propylaeum, the... Read MORE...

1901 - Indianapolis - The Hoosier Capital by Perry S. Heath
The visitor to the Hoosier capital familiar with the capital of the nation instantly observes a striking similarity between the two. Well he may, for Alexander Ralston, who carried the chains for Pierre Charles L'Enfant, and placed the stakes which fixed the lines and curves of the City of Magnificent Distances, was the surveyor of Indianapolis. When, in 1821, he carved out of the small cleared space, in the centre of a great wilderness the plan just one mile square for Indianapolis, his architectural abilities and ambitions had more than a superficial justification. The result was perhaps the handsomest city between Philadelphia and Denver.

When Indainapolis was platted on the surveyor's map it had but 800 inhabitants. By the year 1840 the town had grown to 2672 inhabitants. There were only 48,244 souls in the city in 1870. But by 1890 the population had increased to 105,436, and the census of 1900 placed the population at 169,164. In the latter decade. Indianapolis outstripped... Read MORE...

1901 - Met A Horrible Death Heroic Deed of William PHELPS, a Colored Man – Gave Up His Life That A Married Friend Might Make His Escape.
Indianapolis, May 12. – While William PHELPS of Richmond, Ky., and James STAPLEBURY of this city were cleaning the inside of an eight-foot upright boiler at the Cerealine mills today, an enploye turned on the steam, thinking the cock was tight. It leaked and the scalding steam poured in on the two men. The only exit was up a ladder. Both jumped for the ladder. PHELPS reached it first, took one step and stopped. He jumped aside and shouted, “You go first, Jim; you are married.”

STAPLEBURY sprang up the ladder and escaped with slight burns. Though PHELPS followed at his heels, his act of heroism cost him his life. Both men were being cooked when PHELPS jumped aside. By the time he had followed STAPLEBURY up the ladder the flesh was dropping from his limbs. He lived for two hours in great agony.

“It was Jim’s right to go first,” said he quietly. “He is married.”

PHELPS has been boarding at STAPLEBURY’S house. Both men are colored.
Butte Weekly Miner
Butte, Montana
May 15, 1901

1903 - CRUSHED UNDER A CAR - Mrs. John Riley, Formerly of Seymour, Killed at Indianapolis
Sunday morning Mrs. John Riley of Indianapolis, formerly a resident of this city, was crushed to death under the wheels of a street car.

Early Sunday morning she in company with her husband and two lady friends boarded a street car near their home on their way to church. Coming to the place where they wanted to get off they alighted from the car, started around the car and across the street to the sidewalk. Another car was approaching from the other direction but they did not see it on account of the presence of the car from which they had just alighted. All succeeded in getting off the track but Mrs. Riley. She was knocked down and crushed beneath the car. Her body was badly mutilated.

Mrs. Riley had many friends in Seymour, this being her home until about seven years ago. She was a sister of Mrs. John D. Clark, who formerly lived here. John Riley is a brother of Thomas Riley, of Seymour. The funeral will be held Tuesday morning. Miss Lizzie McGovern and others will go to... Read MORE...

1908 - CAR CLIMBS BUILDING NINE PERSONS NEAR DEATH JUMPS TRACK AND CRASHES INTO DRUG STORE, TERRIFYING PASSENGERS AND WAKING EVERY ONE IN NEIGHBORHOOD.
Nine persons escaped death in a manner little short of miraculous at 11 00 o’clock last night, when Garfield car No. 438 left the tracks at Lincoln lane and East street and crashed into the building occupied by John G. Pantzer’s drug store and Dr. M.O. DeVaney’s office. The entire front of the building was wrecked and the car was turned over on its side. Not one of the passengers or the crew of the car was injured.

Roy Martin, motorman of the car, bore two small cuts upon his face, which he received by sticking to his post while the car ran for two lengths off the track. The front end, where he was standing at the controller, climbed the side of the building a distance of about twelve feet. Martin said after the accident that the brakes did not take hold when he threw on the air upon approaching the curve where the Garfield cars turn to South East street.

Every one of the passengers and Ralph Hall, conductor, were thrown to the floor of the car in a heap, and four young men... Read MORE...

1909 - August 19 - Indianapolis 500 race track opens

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1911 - May 30 - 1st Indianapolis 500 auto race is run
The very first Indianapolis 500, won by Ray Harroun at an average speed of 74.59 miles per hour.
wikipedia.org
May 30, 1911

1916
Indianapolis, a city, the capital of Indiana and of Marion co., is on the West Fork of the White River, 109 miles NW. of Cincinnati, on the Pitts burg, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis, the Lake Erie and Western and several other railroads. Lat. 39° 40' N. ; Ion. 86° 8' W. The site is nearly level and covers a very ex tended area. The streets generally cross one another at right angles, and especially in the residence quarter present a fine appearance in their handsome houses and shaded lawns. The city contains a fine court-house, the state institution for the deaf, dumb, and blind, a hospital for the insane, a state library, a public library (with upward of 100,000 volumes), masonic hall, the Heron Art Museum and Art School, city hospital, the University of Indianapolis, medical colleges, and various collegiate institutions. The capital building, measuring 492 feet in length, was erected at a cost of $2,000,000. Other noteworthy buildings are the new post-office, city-hall,... Read MORE...

1920 - May 2 – The first game of Negro National League baseball is played in Indianapolis, Indiana.

wikipedia.org
May 2, 1920

1949 - May 30 - WRTV TV channel 6 in Indianapolis, IN (ABC) begins broadcasting

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1958 - December 9 - Robert H W Welch Jr & 11 other men meet in Indianapolis to form anti-Communist John Birch Society

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1969 - September 9 - Seaplane crashes at Indianapolis, kills 83

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Here are some of the best places to go and things to do in Indianapolis:
Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

Home to the famous Indianapolis 500, this is a must-visit for any racing enthusiast. Even if you're not into motorsports, the history and energy here are palpable.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis:

Perfect for families, this museum is the largest of its kind in the world. Interactive exhibits and engaging displays make it an educational and entertaining experience for kids and adults alike.

Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields:

If you appreciate art and nature, this museum is set amidst beautiful gardens and features an impressive collection of art, ranging from ancient to contemporary.

White River State Park:

A beautiful urban park that's home to the Indianapolis Zoo, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, and the NCAA Hall of Champions. It's a great place to spend a day outdoors.

Monument Circle and Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument:

At the heart of downtown Indianapolis, Monument Circle is a historic... Read MORE...