The Meridian Street Tower at the top of Meridian Heights
Confirming the existence of a stone tower which was to be the center piece of the Meridian Heights residential development.
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Class 900: Indianapolis
A BLOG ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE CIRCLE CITY
- Aug 23
- 13 min
Promoting The Paddle: The History of the Indianapolis Canoe Club
Exploring the history of the Indianapolis Canoe Club and its two clubhouses at Riverside Park in Indianapolis.
78 views0 comments
- Jul 30
- 5 min
The History of the Wandering Normandy Barn
Exploring the history of the Normandy Barn located at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.
156 views0 comments
- Jul 22
- 8 min
The History Behind Stone Fence Pillars on North Illinois Street
Exploring the history of stone fence pillars along Illinois Street in Indianapolis.
134 views0 comments
- Jul 3
- 14 min
Queen of the White River: The Steamboat Helen Gould at Riverside Park
Exploring the history of the steamboat Helen Gould at Riverside Park in Indianapolis.
145 views2 comments
- Jun 20
- 7 min
Huffman Cemetery: Tracking Down a Graveyard in the Heart of Broad Ripple
Exploring the history of the Huffman Cemetery in the Broad Ripple neighborhood of Indianapolis.
268 views7 comments
- Jun 10
- 10 min
The History of the Old Broad Ripple Park Swimming Pool and the 1924 Olympic Trials
Exploring the history of the old Broad Ripple Park pool, which hosted the swimming trials for the 1924 Olympics in Paris.
851 views0 comments
- Jun 4
- 6 min
Nine Days and 522 Miles: A Bike Tour from Indianapolis and Back Again
Follow along with three Indianapolis teenagers as they embark upon a 522-mile bicycle tour through southern Indiana in 1911.
202 views2 comments
- May 21
- 13 min
Aiming High: A Brief History of the Indianapolis Arrows Baseball Team
Exploring the history of the Indianapolis Arrows, and the city's attempt to bring a major league baseball team to Central Indiana.
473 views1 comment
- May 8
- 11 min
Disaster at Broad Ripple: The Sinking of the Steamboat Sunshine
Exploring the unfortunate history of a steamboat named Sunshine in Broad Ripple.
441 views0 comments
- Apr 22
- 8 min
"Probably the Handsomest Bridge Across Fall Creek": The History of the Capitol Avenue Bridge
Exploring the 100+ year history of the Capitol Avenue bridge over Fall Creek in Indianapolis.
217 views0 comments
- Apr 11
- 6 min
The Delaware Jog: History of the Intersection of 16th and Delaware in Indianapolis
Examining the history of one of the strangest, and most notorious, intersections in Indianapolis.
1,372 views0 comments
- Mar 23
- 5 min
1865 Solar Eclipse Excitement in Indianapolis
Exploring the reactions and reports of the 1865 solar eclipse in Indianapolis and surrounding communities.
404 views0 comments
- Mar 13
- 6 min
An Indianapolis Pastor, His Church, and the Klan: The Resignation of Earl N. Griggs of Butler-Tarkington
Exploring the 1923 resignation of pastor Earl Griggs in Butler-Tarkington whose church was coming under the sway of the Ku Klux Klan.
242 views0 comments
- Feb 29
- 6 min
Tracking the Remains of the Indianapolis Northern Interurban Line
Tracking the remains of the Indianapolis Northern interurban line in Indianapolis, Broad Ripple and points to the north.
563 views0 comments
- Feb 21
- 11 min
The Indianapolis Civil Rights Trial which Challenged the Street Railway Company
Exploring an early Civil Rights trial which took place in Indianapolis shortly after the conclusion of the Civil War.
106 views0 comments
- Feb 14
- 8 min
South Indianapolis: A Tale of Two Suburbs
Exploring the history of two towns which both bore the name South Indianapolis.
278 views0 comments
- Jan 25
- 3 min
Stairways to Nowhere in Indianapolis
A short post looking at the history behind a few random staircases to nowhere located around Indianapolis.
607 views2 comments
- Jan 10
- 6 min
Redirecting Nature: Moving the White River
Exploring the history of a project which changed the course of the White River in Indianapolis.
500 views0 comments
- Dec 29, 2023
- 4 min
November Explosion: The Destruction of the Sigma Chi House at Butler University
Exploring an explosion which destroyed a fraternity house at Butler University in Indianapolis in 1955.
451 views1 comment
- Dec 20, 2023
- 10 min
The History of the Former DeHaan Estate Property in Indianapolis
Exploring the history of the former Christel DeHaan Estate on the northside of Indianapolis.
10,677 views0 comments
- Dec 7, 2023
- 8 min
Pioneer Railways of the Circle City: The Indianapolis & Bellefontaine Railroad Depot on Mass Avenue
Exploring the history of the original Bellefontaine Railroad depot on Massachusetts Avenue.
228 views0 comments
- Nov 29, 2023
- 6 min
The Modern Indianapolis Zoo Part III: Remains of the Old Zoo
In a final post about the history of the old Indianapolis Zoo, we explore the remnants of the zoo at Washington Park.
404 views0 comments
- Nov 15, 2023
- 6 min
Clyde Milton Johnson and the Shootout on Monument Circle
On a spring afternoon in 1949 a fugitive bank robber engaged in a running gun battle with federal agents on Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
172 views0 comments
- Nov 4, 2023
- 16 min
50th Anniversary: IFD and the Grant Fire - “The Finest Moment this Department Ever Had."
Note: This post was originally published on February 12, 2022. November 5, 2023, marks the 50th anniversary of the Grant Fire and this...
677 views0 comments
- Oct 30, 2023
- 6 min
Constructing Another Landmark: The Coca-Cola Bottling Plant
Exploring the history of the Coca Cola Bottling Plant on Massachusetts Avenue, constructed by the William P. Jungclaus Co.
502 views0 comments
- Oct 20, 2023
- 11 min
A History of Wild Times at the Bellevue Roadhouse and Resort on Michigan Road
Exploring the history of wild times at the Bellevue Resort and Roadhouse on Michigan Road on the northside of Indianapolis.
344 views1 comment
- Oct 2, 2023
- 18 min
The Modern Indianapolis Zoo Part II: Finding its Stride and Growing Pains
Part II in a series exploring the Indianapolis Zoo as it expanded operations at Washington Park, up to its move to White River State Park.
321 views0 comments
- Sep 27, 2023
- 5 min
A Call for the Preservation and Reuse of IPS School 86 in Butler-Tarkington
Not a traditional Indianapolis history post, but a case for the preservation and reuse of IPS School 86 in Butler-Tarkington.
1,071 views0 comments
- Sep 13, 2023
- 5 min
Exploring the Remains of a Bridge in Millersville
Exploring the remains of an old iron bridge in the Millersville neighborhood of Indianapolis.
229 views0 comments
- Sep 11, 2023
- 1 min
Vanished Indianapolis: Book Launch Event Tuesday, September 12
If you follow me on social media, you likely have seen me promoting my first book, Vanished Indianapolis, published this past week by...
128 views0 comments
- Sep 7, 2023
- 8 min
The Corruption of Dr. Coe Part I: The Doctor and the Canals
In Part 1 of a series on the actions of Dr. Coe in regard to the financing of the Indiana canal system in the 1830s.
190 views3 comments
- Aug 22, 2023
- 6 min
Meet Me at the Vu: The History of the Ron-D-Vu drive-in restaurant in Butler-Tarkington
Exploring the history of a popular drive-in restaurant which was once located in Butler-Tarkington at 52nd and Westfield Blvd.
271 views2 comments
- Aug 12, 2023
- 12 min
The Modern Indianapolis Zoo - Part I: From Proposal to Reality
Exploring the history of the founding of the first modern Indianapolis Zoo at Washington Park.
453 views0 comments
- Jul 31, 2023
- 10 min
Sweetest Street in Indianapolis: Chocolate Avenue and the Dilling Candy Company
Exploring the history of Chocolate Avenue and the Dilling Candy Company in Indianapolis.
399 views0 comments
- Jul 24, 2023
- 4 min
Beacon of Health: The History of the Methodist Hospital Lighthouse
Taking a quick look at the history of the Lighthouse, or 'Beacon,' atop the IU Health Methodist Hospital at 16th and Capitol in Indianapolis
643 views0 comments
- Jul 15, 2023
- 10 min
Fishing, Dancing, and Drinking: The History of Shannon’s Lake
Exploring the history of Shannon's Lake, one of the few natural lakes in Marion County, and a scene of recreation and frivolities.
489 views0 comments
- Jun 29, 2023
- 7 min
Ruins on the Monon Trail: The Remains of the Maas-Neimeyer Lumberyard
Exploring the history of the ruins of a now abandoned brick structure along the Monon Trail in Indianapolis.
420 views2 comments
- Jun 19, 2023
- 4 min
The Chase Bank Building at Westfield Blvd. and Illinois St.: A Long History of Being a Bank
Exploring the rather straightforward history of the Chase bank building at Illinois and Westfield Boulevard in Butler-Tarkington.
453 views0 comments
- Jun 8, 2023
- 6 min
Exploring Mount Nebo in Indianapolis
Exploring the history of the Mount Nebo location in Indianapolis.
505 views0 comments
- May 26, 2023
- 7 min
In The Shadow of the Motor Speedway: The Allison Machine Shop in Speedway, Indiana
Exploring the history behind the founding location of the Allison Transmission Company in downtown Speedway, Indiana.
215 views0 comments
- May 9, 2023
- 11 min
Preserving the Natural Space of Indianapolis: The History of Marott Woods
Exploring the history of the Marott Park (aka Marott Woods Nature Preserve) in Indianapolis.
577 views0 comments
- Apr 29, 2023
- 4 min
A Remnant of Railway Mass Transit: The McLean Place Streetcar Barn
Exploring the history of a former streetcar maintenance and storage barn on the near northside of Indianapolis.
355 views2 comments
- Apr 18, 2023
- 14 min
Gambling, Baseball, Beer and Fast Times: The History of Brighton Beach in Indianapolis
Exploring the history of the Brighton Beach area of Indianapolis, the site of saloons, gambling, and baseball at the turn of the century.
507 views0 comments
- Apr 1, 2023
- 7 min
Draining the Swamps: The History of the Indianapolis State Ditch
Exploring the history of the State Ditch, an effort from the 1830's to alleviate flooding problems in Indianapolis.
913 views4 comments
- Mar 21, 2023
- 10 min
Overcoming the Railroad Barrier: The History of the Virginia Avenue Viaduct
Exploring the history of the Virginia Avenue viaduct, and its role in connecting two sides of the city, and its eventual decline.
431 views0 comments
- Mar 10, 2023
- 6 min
The History of the Mutual Service Association Camp in Butler-Tarkington
A post about the history of the Mutual Service Association camp in Butler-Tarkington revealed a tragic event associated with the camp.
225 views1 comment
- Feb 27, 2023
- 6 min
A Glorified Sandbar: The History of Governor's Island in Indianapolis
Exploring the history of Governor's Island in the White River, a common feature on maps of early Indianapolis.
563 views1 comment
- Feb 22, 2023
- 1 min
Contributions to the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis
Promoting recent contributions to the online version of the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis.
86 views0 comments
- Jan 31, 2023
- 4 min
Then & Now: Laying the Cornerstone of the Central Library
A short 'then and now' about the history behind the 1916 setting of the cornerstone for the Central Library in downtown Indianaoplis.
272 views0 comments
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