What exactly is a Hoosier?
I have searched the internet looking for an answer and am still not exactly sure when, where or how the term originated. As Indiana writer Meredith Nicholson observed: "The origin of the term 'Hoosier' is not known with certainty. But certain it is that . . . Hoosiers bear their nickname proudly." Another question that is apparently highly debatable is: if one is not born in Indiana, can one become a Hoosier after living there for many years? The answers I have found range from "possibly" to "maybe" to "no way, you've got to be born in Indiana to be real Hoosier".
Indiana, the Nineteenth State,
was admitted into the Union in 1816.
The state flag of Indiana has 19 gold stars and gold torch on a blue field. The torch represents liberty and enlightenment. The rays represent far-reaching influence. The stars in the outer circle represent the 13 original states; those in the inner circle are for the five states admitted to the Union next. The star above the torch represents Indiana, the 19th state. The flag was adopted in 1917.
Indiana's governmental roots can be traced back to the territorial era, when simple buildings served as the capitols. In 1813 the assembly for the Indiana Territory petitioned the U.S. Congress to move its capital from Vincennes to Corydon. Corydon then became the state capital when Congress made Indiana a state in 1816.
The seat of state government officially moved to Indianapolis in 1825 and a Greek Revival State House was built. The General Assembly called for a building that would "correspond in character...with the Parthenon" in Athens. The well-known architects added a dome to their design, which proved to be a somewhat controversial element. It drew praise from some, but criticism from others, including architectural purists who pointed out that the Greeks did not have domed buildings and a disgruntled Hoosier who called it a "Greek temple with a cheese box on top."
However by the 1860s the soft blue limestone foundation was failing, and the stucco was chipping off, causing one local historian to call its appearance "disgusting." In 1867 the ceiling in the Representative Hall collapsed and, in 1877, the General Assembly created a commission to supervise the erection of a new capitol building, the present State House. The old Capitol had served its purpose, but it would soon be replaced by a grander and sturdier structure.
Indiana's State House, a building of outstanding architectural beauty, has served as a center of civic life in Indiana since 1888.
- The first long-distance auto race in the U. S. was held May 30, 1911, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The winner averaged 75 miles an hour and won a 1st place prize of $14,000. Today the average speed is over 167 miles an hour and the prize is more than $1.2 million. Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the site of the greatest spectacle in sports, the Indianapolis 500. The Indianapolis 500 is held every Memorial Day weekend in the Hoosier capital city.
Gil de Ferran defeated teammate
Helio Castroneves by 0.2990 seconds to win
his first Indianapolis 500 on May 25, 2003.
- Abraham Lincoln moved to Indiana when he was 7 years old. He lived most of his boyhood life in Spencer County with his parents Thomas and Nancy.
- Marcella Gruelle of Indianapolis created the Raggedy Ann doll in 1914.
- The first professional baseball game was played in Fort Wayne on May 4, 1871.
- James Dean, a popular movie star of the 1950s in such movies as "East of Eden" and "Rebel without a Cause", was born February 8, 1941, in Marion.
- Historic Parke County has 32 covered bridges and is the Covered Bridge Capital of the world.
 - Indiana's shoreline with Lake Michigan is only 40 miles long, but Indiana is still considered a Great Lakes State.
- Deep below the earth in Southern Indiana is a sea of limestone that is one of the richest deposits of top-quality limestone found anywhere on earth.
- Although Indiana means, "Land of the Indians" there are fewer than 8,000 Native Americans living in the state today.
- Indiana was part of the huge Northwest Territory, which included present day Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin, which were ceded to the United States by the British at the end of the Revolutionary war.
- True to its motto, "Cross Roads of America" Indiana has more miles of Interstate Highway per square mile than any other state. Today more major highways intersect in Indiana than in any other state.
 - At one time Studebaker Company of South Bend was the nation's largest producer of horse-drawn wagons. It later developed into a multimillion-dollar automobile manufacturer.
- Indiana University's greatest swimmer was Mark Spitz, who won 7 gold medals in the 1972 Olympic games. No other athlete has won so many gold medals in a single year.
- In 1934 Chicago Gangster John Dillinger escaped the Lake County Jail in Crown Point by using a "pistol" he had carved from a wooden block.
- Before Indianapolis, Corydon served as the state's capitol from 1816-1825. Vincennes was the capital when Indiana was a territory.
- In 1862, Richard Gatling, of Indianapolis, invented the rapid-fire machine gun.
- From 1900 to 1920 more than 200 different makes of cars were produced in the Hoosier State. Duesenbergs, Auburns, Stutzes, and Maxwells - are prize antiques today.
- Many Mennonite and Amish live on the farmland of Northwestern Indiana. One of the United States largest Mennonite congregations is in Bern. According to Amish ordnung (rules) they are forbidden to drive cars, use electricity, or go to public places of entertainment.
 - The farming community of Fountain City in Wayne County was known as the "Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad." In the years before the civil war, Levi and Katie Coffin were famous agents on the Underground Railroad. They estimated that they provided overnight lodging for more than 2,000 runaway slaves who were making their way north to Canada and freedom.
- During the great Depression of the 1930's 1 in every 4 Hoosier factory hands was out of work, farmers sank deeper in debt, and in southern Indiana unemployment was as high as 50%.
- In the summer of 1987 4,453 athletes from 38 nations gathered in Indianapolis for the Pan American Games.
- Comedian Red Skelton was born in Vincennes.
And the #1 Interesting Fact about Indiana is.....
David Letterman, host of television's "Late Show with David Letterman," was born April 12, 1947, in Indianapolis.
No tribute to Indiana would be complete without a salute to Indiana University and their athletics program....
"Indiana University's total intercollegiate athletic program has received national and international acclaim. From its humble beginnings with baseball in 1867, the Hoosier athletic program has grown to include over 600 male and female student-athletes on 24 varsity teams boasting one of the nation's best overall records."
And, last but not least, Notre Dame's "Fighting Irish"....
“On a cold November evening in the year of grace, 1842, a young priest stood near the old log house on the banks of the little lake called St. Mary’s, and viewed for the first time the principal field of his future labors...The young priest was Father Sorin; the place, Notre Dame du Lac; two names that will always be associated, ever linked together in the memory of old students and old friends, and will go down together in the religious and educational annals of our country,” (from the Silver Jubilee of the University of Notre Dame).
Notre Dame played its first football game in 1887. They would go on to win 11 national championships.
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Planning a trip to Indiana?
Be sure to check out this website:
Enjoy Indiana!
"Indiana is a state of mind and a state with abundant ways to hook your interest. Don't believe anyone who whines that there is nothing to do in the Hoosier state. There is plenty to entertain you, educate you and engage your senses. So what are you waiting for? Plan your trip here, then hit the road!"
These websites provided
graphics and information for this tribute...
The Indiana Star
Indiana Firsts, Facts and Trivia
Indiana University Athletics
Enjoy Indiana
Northern Indiana Center for History
Thank you for joining us on our cyber trip to Indiana. I am sure I have overlooked many interesting facts and points of interest, so please help us celebrate Indiana by joining in and posting what you know about this Fine state.
And a special 'thank you' to our Finest Pippin for her help and suggestions in creating our tribute to this state so near and dear to her heart.
Have a terrific Tuesday!
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