Environment

The Great Comet of 1858 and its Visit to Indianapolis

Examining the Great Comet of 1858 and its visit to the skies over Indianapolis.

Oct 18, 20245 min read

The Historic Hills of Marion County and Indianapolis

Exploring the history of three hills in Indianapolis and Marion County.

Sep 30, 202413 min read

1865 Solar Eclipse Excitement in Indianapolis

Exploring the reactions and reports of the 1865 solar eclipse in Indianapolis and surrounding communities.

Mar 23, 20245 min read

The History of the Former DeHaan Estate Property in Indianapolis

Exploring the history of the former Christel DeHaan Estate on the northside of Indianapolis.

Dec 20, 202310 min read

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.

Oct 2, 202318 min read

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.

Jul 15, 202310 min read

Exploring Mount Nebo in Indianapolis

Exploring the history of the Mount Nebo location in Indianapolis.

Jun 8, 20236 min read

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.

Apr 1, 20237 min read

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.

Feb 27, 20236 min read

A Brief History of the Commons on Capitol

Exploring the history of the block currently occupied by the Hudnut Commons park and Simon Tower in Indianapolis.

Oct 18, 20226 min read

The George Kessler Maps of Indy Parks

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

Jun 23, 20227 min read

The History of Morse Reservoir: Born of a Need

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

Mar 5, 20229 min read

Changing Course: The Diversion of Fall Creek

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

Dec 30, 20218 min read

Edward Eickhoff and the Pioneering of the Christmas Tree Farm in Indianapolis

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

Dec 16, 20214 min read

Historical Track of a 'Hurricane' in Central Indiana

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

Nov 8, 20213 min read

Panorama of White River State Park: A Closer Look

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

Oct 29, 202110 min read

Beverly Gardens and Berkley Knoll: Different Names For The Same Neighborhood Landmark

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

Sep 21, 20215 min read

A River Runs Through It, But We'd Rather Have a Lake: The Fairview Park Reservoir

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.

Aug 12, 202112 min read

William Watson Woollen and His Garden: Early Environmental Conservation in Indianapolis

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

Dec 18, 202016 min read

Shorewood and Highland: The History of Geist Reservoir Part II

Part two in a series on the history of Geist Reservoir, this posting looks at the efforts to expand Geist, and to develop its shores.

Nov 26, 202016 min read