Class 900: Indianapolis

Exploring the history of the Brookside Park Bicycling Track in Indianapolis, Indiana.

A quick look at several historic Indianapolis park maps prepared by landscape architect George Kessler, and how those parks appear today.

In the early 1900's, Riverside Park posted a pair of suspension bridges for pedestrian use. Today, just ruins of these structures remain.

The School 86 building has been a part of the history of Butler-Tarkington since the late 1920's, although its future is now in doubt.

Returning to a long running project to research the history of the Central Canal, in this post we explore an intact section of the canal.

First in a series of posts about the history of Butler-Tarkington, here we look at the racial integration of the area in 1920-1940.

Taking a look at the history of downtown Indianapolis using a 'then and now' scene from the sketches of Christian Schrader.

Exploring the history behind an inscription from 1907 I found on a flood wall along Fall Creek in Indianapolis.

This post looks at the history of the Fall Creek Aqueduct, which in some form, has been carrying the Central Canal over the creek since 1838

Exploring the history behind the construction of the Indiana State Library by the William P. Jungclaus Co.

Exploring the history behind several old Indianapolis bridge photos won from an eBay auction.

Exploring the history of Geist Reservoir, a major component in the race to secure water sources for Indianapolis in the mid-20th century.

Exploring the life and career of pioneering attorney and Butler-Tarkington resident, Harriette Bailey Conn.

Examining one of the largest fires in the history of Indianapolis, and the efforts of the Indianapolis Fire Department in fighting the fire.

Indianapolis once had two official city markets. This post explores the history of the now long-gone Western Market House.

Exploring the history of 200 years of newspapers in Indianapolis by looking at the February 11, 1822 edition of the Indianapolis Gazette.

Analyzing a recent eBay find of images from the old Marion County courthouse formerly located in downtown Indianapolis.

Exploring the history of Pearl Street, the biggest 'little' street in Indianapolis.

Exploring the history behind the city of Indianapolis changing the course of Fall Creek near downtown.

Exploring the history of the Circle Tower in Indianapolis, designed by Rubush & Hunter, and constructed by the William P. Jungclaus Co.

Exploring the history of Edward Eickhoff and the history of his Christmas tree farm in Indianapolis.

Exploring one of the most deadly interurban crashes in Indiana history which occurred on the east side of Indianapolis along Emerson Ave.

Examining the remains of the former Shortridge High School football field which was once located in Butler-Tarkington.

Hurricanes don't directly hit Indiana, but in the early years of Indianapolis, 'hurricane' was a generic term for severe weather.

Exploring several highlights contained within a 1981 panoramic photo taken of Indianapolis from a vantage point in White River State Park.

Exploring the history of a remnant of the larger residential neighborhood which used to make up The Valley area of West Indianapolis

Exploring the history behind a historical document found on eBay which details the sale of land early in the history of Indianapolis.

This short post looks at the Berkley Knoll, a unique feature in Butler Tarkington featuring a central grassy plaza in place of a street.

Exploring the expedition to locate the site of the seat of government for the state of Indiana, and the future site of Indianapolis.

Exploring the history of boating on the Central Canal in Indianapolis, and the sinking of the paddleboat Indiana on that waterway.

Exploring the history of the neighborhood around 12th Street and the Canal in Indianapolis through the photography of O. James Fox.

Celebrating 3 years of the Class 900 Indy, this is an expanded version of the blog's first post looking at the proposed White River Lake.

Exploring the history of William P. Jungclaus and the founding of the present day Jungclaus Campbell general contracting firm.

Exploring the history of the Fall Creek Trail, the first greenway in Indianapolis.

Exploring the history of the Meridian Street Methodist Church's location in Butler-Tarkington.

Reminiscing about the discovery of a potentially historical structure during the construction of the JW Marriott Hotel.

Exploring the history of the Native American population in and around Indianapolis at the time of the city's founding in 1820 and 1821.

Exploring how the Fourth of July was celebrated at three points in the history of Indianapolis.

Exploring the history of the National Road Bridge over the White River through the sketches of Christian Schrader and other sources.

Examining the history of a building at 40th and Boulevard which was destroyed by fire in 2020.

Exploring the history of the Marion County Poor Farm site in the latter half of the 20th century.

Exploring the 1923 and 1926 endurance automobile drives in Indianapolis by Daredevil Lockwood.

Exploring the complicated history of the Marion County, Indiana poor farm from its founding to the middle of the 20th century.

An FYI about two recent radio broadcasts featuring two of my Class900 Indy blog posts.

Taking a look at the history of the Fair Building, a mainstay of the 300 hundred block of W. Washington Street in Indianapolis since 1920.

Exploring the background of the neighborhood today known as 'Venerable Flackville.'

Exploring the history of the former Blue Ridge Water Tank in the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood.

Exploring the plan, and fate, of the Indiana Centennial Plaza

Exploring the background of a document found on ebay which dates to 1840's Indianapolis and addresses the assignment of a widow's dower.

Looking at the efforts of William Watson Woollen to protect nature and to establish Woollen's Gardens of Birds and Botany.