40 Amazing Facts About Indiana

Welcome, sign Indiana state. By Mark Goebel Wikimedia Commons

40 Amazing Facts About Indiana

Many states in the United States have grown to be the best in their respective fields. We can say that each state is constantly on the move to ensure that it does not fall behind in anything. Indiana is one of the most developed states. Indiana is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th largest in terms of land area and the 17th most populous of the 50 states. It’s capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th state on December 11, 1816. The City has been notable for numerous activities that will e addressed deeply in this context. Whether you’re from Indiana or just curious about this great state, let’s dive in and learn 40 facts about it.

1. Indiana is very much known for basketball

Basketball! Indiana is well-known for its basketball. It was invented in 1891 by James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts, but it didn’t take off until a few decades later when people were obsessed with Indiana high school basketball.

Many sports fans are aware that Larry Bird is from French Lick, Indiana, but the state also has the highest concentration of NBA talent per capita. This includes Hall of Famers Larry Bird, Louie Dampier, and Oscar Robertson, as well as stars Glenn Robinson, Zach Randolph, Shawn Kemp, Eric Gordon, George Hill, and Gordon Hayward, among many others.

The Indiana Hoosiers men’s and women’s NCAA basketball teams are also well-known in the area, and the Indiana Fever joined the WNBA in 2000.

2. Indiana became a state on December 11, 1816

On May 7, 1800, the Indiana Territory was formed from the western half of the Northwest Territory; it contained all of present-day Illinois, virtually all of Indiana and Wisconsin, the western part of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and northern Minnesota.

The formation of Michigan Territory in 1805 and Illinois Territory in 1809 drastically diminished Indiana Territory. In 1816, Indiana Territory was expanded by adding a strip of land that formed the northern boundary between Indiana and Michigan territories, and it was decreased by ceding area in the Upper Peninsula to Michigan Territory. Indiana was admitted to the Union as the 19th state on December 11, 1816, with roughly the same boundaries as the current state.

Notwithstanding the fact that the land had not yet been legally established, census data for Indiana are available beginning with the 1800 census.

3. Indiana’s official state motto is “The Crossroads of America”

The official motto of the United States state of Indiana is The Crossroads of America. Some cities in the Midwest of the United States use the phrase or a variant of it to describe their location. In 1937, the Indiana General Assembly passed a resolution making the phrase the state’s official motto.

Because of its prominent location at the intersection of four major Interstate Highways: Interstate 65, Interstate 69, Interstate 70, and Interstate 74, Indianapolis, the state capital, is also informally known as the Crossroads of America.

Vandalia, Ohio, has been dubbed the “Crossroads of America” because US 40 and the eastern division of the Dixie Highway intersected in the town’s center. The intersection of US Route 30 and US Route 41 in Schererville, Indiana, is referred to as the “Crossroads of the Nation” by the town’s motto. Part of US 30 was once the Lincoln Highway, one of America’s first cross-country highways.

4. Indianapolis is the capital city of Indiana

Indianapolis. By Tpsdave. Wikimedia Commons

Indianapolis, Indiana’s capital, is the country’s twelfth-largest metropolis. It was built on land set aside for a state capital in the early 1800s and was styled after Washington, D.C., with streets extending outward from the seat of government.

Despite the fact that it is not on a navigable body of water, the city’s central location in regard to the state and most of the country has made it a significant transportation and distribution center since the nineteenth century.

Since the 1970s, Indianapolis has built a reputation as a sports city by building substantial athletic and visitor facilities and aggressively marketing itself as a destination for a wide range of amateur sporting events. Its most famous sporting event, though, is the Indianapolis 500  motor race, held annually at the Indianapolis Speedway.

5. Indiana has a population of approximately 6.7 million people

According to the last Census, Indiana had a population of nearly 6.5 million people. Each of Indiana’s nine congressional districts represented 720,422 people when congressional boundaries were redrawn in 2011. (Five districts had that precise number, while the remaining four each had one more person.)

According to Census Bureau estimates Indiana’s population had expanded to approximately 6.7 million by 2018. According to the Indiana Business Research Center’s demographic forecasts, Indiana will have more than 6.7 million citizens by 2022.

Because Indiana is not likely to lose a congressional seat, we may expect each of the nine districts to have around 748,730 residents—an increase of 28,308 individuals (remember, this number is based on forecasts, not actual redistricting data, which will not be available until 2021).

6. The state flag of Indiana was adopted in 1917

By Bandeiras Wikimedia Commons

The state banner was chosen by the 1917 Indiana General Assembly as part of the state’s centennial celebrations in 1916, following a competition sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Paul Hadley of Mooresville, Indiana, a well-known Hoosier artist, submitted the winning design.

The flame in the center represents liberty and enlightenment, while the rays indicate their far-reaching impact. The rest of the symbolism is explained in the official definition in the Indiana Code: “The field of the flag shall be blue, with nineteen stars and a gold or a buff flaming torch.

Thirteen stars, representing the thirteen original states, shall be arranged in an outer circle; five stars, representing the states admitted prior to Indiana, shall be arranged in a half circle below the torch and inside the outer circle of stars; and the nineteenth star, representing Indiana, shall be placed above the flame of the torch.”

7. The Indiana state bird is the cardinal, and the state flower is the peony

The northern cardinal has been the official state bird of Indiana since 1933. Despite their unusual and almost tropical appearance, they are among the most common backyard birds in the United States.

This is demonstrated by the fact that several other states have picked the cardinal as their official bird. Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia are among them.

These brilliant red birds are related to grosbeaks and buntings, and their song is quite similar, with “cheer shout cheer” or “whit-chew whit-chew” whistling notes. There are around 120 million of these magnificent birds in the wild, and their survival is fortunately not threatened. These birds breed 2 to 3 times per season on average, with the females building the nest and caring for their hatchlings for about 10 days while the males bring food.

8. Indiana is home to the Indiana Dunes National Park

By Matthew Dillon Wikimedia Commons

Indiana Dunes National Park is a treasure trove of different natural resources nestled within a city. The national park has communities with scientific and historical value to ecology. In addition, it has four National Natural Landmarks and one National Historical Landmark.

Around 15,000 acres of dunes, swamps, bogs, marshes, prairies, rivers, and woodlands make up the park. It has 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline stretching from Gary to Michigan City.

Lake Michigan is part of the world’s largest freshwater lake complex. The beaches of the national park are the park’s most important recreational resource. Indiana Dunes National Park has the fourth highest biological variety of any of our national parks. Around 1,100 flowering plant and fern species call this place home.

The plant diversity is astounding, ranging from predatory bog plants to native prairie grasses, and from towering white pines to rare algae species.

9. It is home to the famous Indianapolis 500 race

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a racetrack in Speedway, Indiana, an enclave neighborhood of Indianapolis, Indiana. It is the site of the Indianapolis 500 and the Verizon 200, as well as the former site of the US Grand Prix. It’s on the corner of 16th Street and Georgetown Road, about six miles (9.7 kilometers) west of downtown Indianapolis.

It is the second purpose-constructed, banked oval racing circuit after Brooklands and the first to be named speedway.’ It was built in 1909. It is the world’s third-oldest permanent automotive race track, after Brooklands and the Milwaukee Mile.

With a permanent seating capacity of 257,325, it is the world’s largest sports facility. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is located on the speedway which opened in 1956 and houses the Hall of Fame. 

Read: Top 10 Interesting Facts about the Indianapolis Speedway

10. Some top Universities are situated in the State

Indian State University. By Anna Kelly Wikimedia Commons

In recent years, universities in Indiana have become a magnet for overseas students pursuing higher education.

With over 550 academic programs and 200 undergraduate majors, as well as the opportunity to build your own degree, Indiana’s best universities make it simple to pursue your passion! Students attending these Indiana colleges and universities have a fairy-tale college experience with limitless chances.

Excellent faculty, dynamic campus life, international culture, and fantastic music and arts programs. Indiana has more than 86 universities and state institutions. The University of Notre Dame and Purdue University are two well-known universities in Indiana. Others include:
The University of Indiana
University of Valparaiso
University of Ball State
Indianapolis University
Earlham University

11. The State of Indiana is known for Limestone quarries

By James St. John Wikimedia Commons

Indiana limestone, also known as Bedford limestone in the construction industry, has long been a valuable building material, particularly for large public monuments.

Salem Limestone, a geological deposit largely quarried in south-central Indiana, USA, between the cities of Bloomington and Bedford, is known as Indiana limestone. It’s been named the best-quarried limestone in the US.

Indiana limestone, like all limestone, is a calcium carbonate-based rock. It was accumulated over millions of years as marine fossils decomposed at the bottom of a shallow inland sea that covered most of what is now the Midwest during the Mississippian Period.

The first persons to discover limestone in Indiana were Native Americans. American immigrants placed this sandstone around their windows and doorways, as well as for memorials across the towns, not long after they arrived.

12. Receives thousands of letters each year addressed to Santa Claus

Every year, this small town is swamped with letters addressed to Santa Claus, and volunteers have responded with handwritten responses since 1914. Christmas is a particularly hectic time in Santa Claus, Indiana.

Every year, this small village receives almost 20,000 letters addressed to Santa Claus. Every year, a group of volunteers known as Santa’s Elves responds to each one.

The letters, addressed to Santa Claus, Indiana, or simply “Santa Claus,” arrive from all around the United States and even from outside the nation. These are processed by a team of 300 “elves” who write customized responses – up to 2,000 messages every day.

13. It is the birthplace of famous people like Letterman

Read: Top 10 Iconic Singers from Indianapolis

Yes, Letterman, Lincoln, and Larry all hail from the Hoosier state. That’s long-time late-night talk show host David Letterman, who grew up in Indianapolis, went to Broad Ripple High School and Ball State University before heading to the national airwaves.

It’s also Abraham Lincoln, who spent his boyhood days here – you can visit those sites in southern Indiana. And the current president of the Indiana Pacers, Larry Bird, first bounced the ball in his hometown of French Lick and then took Indiana State University to the NCAA National Championship in 1979.

14. The Indiana State fair is the largest fair held annually 

The Indiana State Fair is an annual state fair held in Indianapolis, Indiana, during the months of July and August. The Indiana State Fair, which first took place in 1852 in Military Park in Indianapolis, is the sixth oldest state fair in the United States.

It is the state’s largest event, attracting between 730,000 and 980,000 visitors each year since 2010. The Indiana State Fair was named one of the top 10 state fairs in the country by USA Today readers in 2015.

Since 1892, the fair has been held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center. It spans 214 acres (87 ha), 72 buildings, a 6,000-seat grandstand, and a 1-mile (1.6 km) racetrack and is located about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of downtown Indianapolis.

The complex has year-round tenants and is utilized for a number of other gatherings throughout the year, such as trade exhibitions, sporting events, and concerts.

15. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

By Anjanettew Wikimedia Commons

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, founded in 1925, is routinely regarded as one of the greatest children’s museums in the United States. It is the world’s largest children’s museum, with a 482,950-square-foot complex on nearly 30 acres of land, and it attracts over a million people each year.

The museum has held a wide range of exhibits over the years to engage every youngster that comes to visit. The museum curates temporary features and welcomes foreign traveling exhibits in addition to its more permanent galleries.

The museum’s centerpiece is a permanent glass sculpture, one of the largest of its kind. The Fireworks of Glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly is a 43-foot tower of blown glass with over 3,200 individual components. As a result, you can learn about glassblowing while admiring the installation from below, looking up at a brilliant glass ceiling.

16. Nashville, a town with beautiful art galleries and parks

Nashville, Indiana is a small hamlet in Indiana’s picturesque Brown County, tucked between Brown County State Park and the Yellowwood State Forest. A trip to the state’s south-central region is especially stunning in the fall when the leaves begin to change colors.

Nashville is a picturesque town with wineries, covered bridges, quaint shops, a local theater, and even a distillery. Visitors will find plenty of natural landscapes to enjoy and outdoor leisure activities in the state park and forest just outside of the city.

17. The world’s largest ball of paint is located in Alexandria, Indiana

The World’s Biggest Ball of Paint hangs from an industrial-size hook: a solid mass of microscopically thin layers that have been painted on top of each other day after day, year after year.

It has gradually grown in size and stature from a bizarre novelty to a ball worthy of a place among America’s most powerful obsessive orbs. Michael Carmichael’s vision is The Ball.

It hangs from a steel beam in a custom-built Ball House next to the Carmichael home in rural Indiana, surrounded by five-gallon latex paint buckets. The floor is covered in a rainbow of spatters.

A mirror beneath the Ball guarantees that each new coat completely covers it, even in the difficult-to-see areas. That baseball is now at the core of a behemoth 14 feet in circumference and weighing 2.5 tons.

18. The world’s largest sycamore tree and the old Ben found in the State

Old Ben died when he fell and fractured his leg. Mike and John Murphy, Old Ben’s owners, summoned the vet, who shot him. The world’s largest steer’s beef was turned into frankfurters.

The Murphys packed his body and displayed it on their farm for several years. It’s controversial if they gave Old Ben to Kokomo or if the city purchased him for $300.

The massive sycamore stump is located in the same Highland Park structure as Old Ben. A storm brought down the tree, which was more than 50 feet in circumference, leaving only the hollow stump. According to one press story, the tree is 800 years old. According to another estimate, the tree could be as old as 1500 years.

The stump was relocated to Highland Park from its original location near New London, Indiana. Although it is not recognized as the world’s largest sycamore stump, it must be among the largest.

19. Indiana is home to the historic West Baden Springs Hotel, “Eighth Wonder of the World”

The newly constructed West Baden Springs Hotel in southern Indiana was hailed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” when it opened for business on September 15, 1902.

The drama of staring down into the atrium from one of the chambers ringing the great space cannot be overstated. The massive 200-foot dome is part of hotel owner Lee Wiley Sinclair’s ambitious reconstruction project after a fire destroyed the prior hotel structure in 1901.

The hotel has been in operation since the mid-nineteenth century when travelers arrived to ‘take the waters’ at the area’s mineral springs; the hamlet next to French Lick was named West Baden after Germany’s Wiesbaden, or Baden-Baden, another spa town noted for its mineral springs.

20. Indiana Medical History Museum

The Indiana Medical History Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of medicine as well as the Old Pathology Building at CENTRAL STATE HOSPITAL. The museum has nearly 15,000 objects in its collection and offers programs, publications, and displays.

The Anatomical Museum, where human remains were displayed for educational purposes, is a unique element of the Museum. The specimens, mostly brains from autopsies done at the building in the 1930s and 1940s, were only recognized with a clinical case description.

In 2015, a project was launched to collect these people’s life experiences to accompany the clinical account of the case. A permanent exhibit of the research, titled Rehumanizing the IMHM Specimen Collection, opened in July 2019 and was featured in the Smithsonian Magazine’s online edition that same month. The Museum has been a fixture on the near west side for decades and is still involved in community programs.

21. Indiana Historical Society

By Bedmonds7622 Wikimedia Commons

More than 1.7 million images, 45,000 cataloged printed objects, 3,500 pieces of sheet music, 5,300 processed manuscript collections, 3,300 antiquities, 1,460 cataloged maps, 780 broadsides, and 90 paintings are among the things in the Indiana Historical Society’s collection.

There are also over 50,000 digital photos that may be searched. The BASS PHOTO COLLECTION is a major collection for Society, particularly for the state capital. It is the biggest surviving collection of images from 20th-century Indianapolis, with over 200,000 prints and 200,000 negatives.

The organization’s mission is to serve as Indiana’s Storyteller by “gathering, conserving, and disseminating the state’s history.” IHS reaches out to the community through exhibitions, support, and aid to local museums and historical organizations, the publication of books and magazines, the organizing of events, and the provision of youth, adult, and family programming.

22. The first professional Baseball was played in Indiana

The Fort Wayne Kekiongas were a professional baseball team most known for their victory in the first professional league game on May 4, 1871. Despite being based in Fort Wayne, they were frequently referred to in-game reports as “Kekionga” or “the Kekiongas,” depending on the manner of the day. The contemporary name is “Fort Wayne Kekiongas.”

The Miami Indian town of Kekionga, pronounced KEY-key-awn-guy, is located where St. Joseph and St. Marys rivers meet to form the Maumee River. This was the Miami tribe’s greatest settlement.

Fort Wayne was built at the same confluence by General “Mad” Anthony Wayne, and the modern city of Fort Wayne, Indiana sprang up around it. Kekionga means “Blackberry Patch” in the Miami tribe’s language.

23. James Naismith invented Basketball in Indiana

By Public Domain Wikimedia Commons

Dr. James Naismith invented a sport in the late 1800s in Massachusetts as an indoor alternative to football. In The Triangle, Springfield College’s newspaper, he published 13 rules for the game he termed “Basket Ball.”

The game took off and evolved from there, becoming one of the most popular sports in the world, with professional teams in many nations. While most fans of the game follow the professional game, the state of Indiana has taken the game to an entirely new level.

According to legend, Nicholas McCay learned the game from Naismith in Boston in 1891 and then brought it back to his hometown of Crawfordsville, IN to be played in the local YMCA and the rest is history. 

Read: Top 10 Most Famous People from Indiana

24. Indiana is the second-largest producer of Popcorns in the United States, behind Nebraska

According to National Agricultural Statistics Service data prepared for Purdue University, farmers planted 91,000 acres of maize used to create popcorn, an increase of 10,000 acres over 2013. They gathered 90,000 acres, a 10,000-acre increase over the previous year.

Despite the fact that Indiana’s popcorn acres were minor in comparison to the 5.77 million acres of corn farmed for grain, Indiana is regarded as the nation’s second-largest popcorn producer, trailing only Nebraska.

According to the NASS, total Indiana production was a record 4.32 million hundredweight, or cwt, or 432 million pounds. This was a 16 percent increase over the previous year’s total of 3.72 million cwt.

The average output of 48 cwt per acre was also a record, up 2 cwt from 2013.

25. The World’s Largest Chocolate Company is in Indianapolis

South Bend Chocolate Company manufactures and sells high-quality chocolate while giving back to the Midwest community.

South Bend Chocolate Company has been providing the highest-quality chocolate at the lowest possible price for over 25 years. Chocolate lovers can purchase truffles, fudge, toffee, and other treats at any of its 17 Indiana stores, as well as one in St. Joseph, Mich., and two in Ohio.

The corporation owns 13 of the locations, while the remaining four are franchisees. Outside of its physical stores, South Bend Chocolate Company sells wholesale in the United States, Canada, and England, with its largest accounts in New York City and the California Bay Area.

Tarner is a second-generation chocolatier, whose father founded a chocolate company in the 1970s. South Bend Chocolate Company now produces over 500 goods, all of which are made using locally sourced ingredients to benefit the Midwest.

26. The first electrically powered street car system was developed in Indiana

The Richmond Union Passenger Railway in Richmond, Virginia, was the first practical electric trolley (tram) system, and it established the precedent for most later electric trolley systems around the world. It is an IEEE engineering landmark.

The Richmond system was not the first effort to run an electric trolley. According to the IEEE, there have been at least 74 previous attempts to provide electric trolley service in over 60 localities across North America, the United Kingdom, and continental Europe.

But, previous attempts were not reliable enough to replace the existing animal-hauled street railways. Francis Julian Sprague created the Richmond system. It commenced regular operation on February 2, 1888, with 10 streetcars, following trials in late 1887. Each car has two 7.5 horsepower (5.6 kW) motors that were powered by overhead trolley wires (450 volts).

27. The world’s largest sassafras tree is located in Owensville, Indiana

The world’s largest sassafras tree, with a circumference of 21 feet, is considered to be between 250 and 300 years old. The tree towers above 100 feet in height. A few other sassafras trees grow to be 60 feet tall or higher, but the normal sassafras grows to be 30 to 50 feet tall.

In 1957, the champion sassafras was threatened by the widening of a highway. When the bulldozers arrived, owner Grace Rash was ready with her shotgun. She held them off with a revolver until a phone call to the governor resulted in the construction of a retaining wall to protect the tree.

28. The first successful parachute jump from an airplane was in Indiana

In March 1912, US Army Captain Albert Berry attempted a tethered leap from a Benoist Headless airplane over Kinlock Field near the current Lambert Field in St. Louis, Missouri.

Berry jumped from a Benoist pusher biplane at 1,500 feet on March 1, 1912. The 36-foot-diameter parachute was held in a metal canister attached to the plane’s undercarriage; when Berry jumped out, his weight yanked the parachute from the container. Berry was seated on a trapeze bar rather than a harness linked to the parachute.

29. Indiana’s state song is “On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away”

“On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away” was one of the best-selling songs of the nineteenth century, grossing over $100,000 in sheet music sales. It was written and composed by American songwriter Paul Dresser and published in October 1897 by Tin Pan Alley firm Howley, Haviland, and Company.

The lyrics of the ballad recall life near Dresser’s childhood home on the Wabash River in Indiana, United States. The song remained popular for decades, and on March 14, 1913, the Indiana General Assembly designated it as the state song. The song inspired a 1923 film of the same name.

Because of its long-standing popularity, various lyrical variations have emerged, including an anti-war song from 1898 and a Swedish version that was a number-one hit. The song was composed during a transitory time in musical history when songs first began to be recorded for the phonograph.

30. The Indiana Statehouse is located in downtown Indianapolis

By Richie Diesterheft Wikimedia Commons

The Indiana Statehouse is the state capital of the United States state of Indiana. It is home to the Indiana General Assembly, the Governor’s office, the Indiana Supreme Court, and other state leaders.

The Statehouse is located at 200 West Washington Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is the fifth structure to host the state administration, having been constructed in 1888.

The first statehouse, located in Corydon, Indiana, is still standing and is maintained as a state historic site. The former Marion County courthouse, which was dismantled and replaced in the early twentieth century, was the second structure.

The third construction was designed after the Parthenon, but it was condemned in 1877 due to structural flaws and dismantled, making way for the current statehouse.

31. Indiana War Memorial

The Indiana State Soldiers and Sailors Monument is a 284-foot-six-inch-tall (86.72-meter) neoclassical monument located on Monument Circle, a circular, brick-paved street that connects Meridian and Market streets in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana.

In the years since its public dedication on May 15, 1902, the monument has become an iconic symbol of Indianapolis, the state capital of Indiana. On February 13, 1973, it was designated to the National Register of Historic Places, and in December 2016, it was included in an expansion of the Indiana World War Memorial Plaza National Historic Landmark District.

It is located in the Washington Street-Monument Circle Historic District. It is also the largest outdoor memorial and the largest of its kind in Indiana.

32. Indiana’s Official State Insect

On March 23, 2018, Gov. Eric Holcomb signed legislation designating Say’s Firefly as Indiana’s state insect.

Previously, Indiana was one of just three states without a state insect. Say’s Firefly is native to North America, the United States, and Indiana. Many other states have state insects that are not indigenous to their regions.

This firefly is not only native to Indiana but it is also named after a Hoosier—Thomas Say. Say is regarded as the Father of North American Entomology and the Father of American Zoology.

Entomology is the science and study of insects. Zoology is the science and study of animals. Say was living in New Harmony, in Posey County, when he first described the Say’s Firefly, in 1826. He had discovered it in Philadelphia, his prior home, the year before. 

33. Indianapolis Zoo

The Indianapolis Zoo is a non-profit zoo, public aquarium, and botanical garden on 64 acres (26 ha) in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The Indianapolis Zoological Society, founded in 1944, opened its first zoo in 1964 at George Washington Park. The present zoo, located in White River State Park near downtown Indianapolis, opened in 1988. It is one of the largest privately supported zoos in the United States.

The facility is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the American Alliance of Museums and is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It was the first in the United States to be triple-accredited as a zoo, aquarium, and botanical garden.

The zoo is a leader in animal conservation and research, recognized for its biennial Indianapolis Prize and as home to the Global Center for Species Survival through its partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

34. Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Indianapolis Colts are a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division of the National Football League (NFL).

Since the 2008 season, the Colts have played their home games at Lucas Oil Stadium. The team had previously played at the RCA Dome for over two decades (1984-2007). The Colts have hosted the NFL Scouting Combine since 1987.

The Colts have been a member club of the NFL since their inception in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1953, when then-owner Carroll Rosenbloom purchased the assets of the NFL’s last founding Ohio League member, the Dayton Triangles-Dallas Texans. They were one of three NFL clubs to join those of the American Football Association (AFL) to form the AFC, following the 1970 merger.

35. Indiana’s state tree is the Tulip Tree

The tulip tree (liriodendron tulipifera) is now adopted and declared as the state tree, while the peony flower (Paeonie) is hereby adopted and established as the state flower of Indiana.

The tulip tree (Liriodendron Tulipifera), often known as yellow poplar, was adopted by the General Assembly in 1931. (Indiana Code 1-2-7). It grows to tremendous heights and can be found all over the state.

The leaf is distinctive (it appears on the state seal’s border), and the gorgeous bell-shaped greenish-yellow blooms bloom in May or June. The peony blooms in late May and early June in varied shades of red, pink, and white, and it comes in single and double varieties.

There is no specific variety or hue designated by the General Assembly. It is abundantly grown throughout the state and is often used to decorate gravesites during Memorial Day.

36. Indiana’s state fish is the Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides; hereafter referred to as largemouth) are olive green in hue with a cream-colored belly and a series of black blotches running down the side.

Its upper jaw extends beyond the back of the eye and there is no tooth patch on the tongue. The dorsal fin (the fin that runs along the backbone) is nearly divided, with spiky and soft parts.

Largemouth bass can be found in almost every form of Indiana waterbody, including ponds, lakes, reservoirs, streams, and rivers. Adults eat fish, crayfish, and large insects, while juveniles eat crustaceans, insects, and insect larvae.

Indiana largemouth grows 3 to 4 inches per year over the first three years, then 1 to 2 inches per year through age 8, and less than 1 inch per year after age 8.

37. Indiana Library, one of the largest in the United States

By Nyttend. Wikimedia Commons

In Indianapolis, Indiana, the Indiana State Library and History Bureau is a public library building. It houses over 60,000 manuscripts and is Indiana’s largest public library.

Since its inception in 1934, the library has amassed a substantial collection of volumes on a wide range of subjects. Since 1934, the Indiana State Library and Historical Bureau have been open to the public.

The initial attempts to establish a state library occurred when Indiana was still a territory with its capital in Corydon, making it the state’s oldest agency. The first genuine Indiana state library, however, would not open until the capital was relocated to Indianapolis, beginning on February 11, 1825, with the secretary of state serving as librarian.

The library’s law books were given to the Supreme Court in 1867, launching the Supreme Court Law Library, which has since grown to 70,000 volumes. In 1841, the library became its own institution.

38. Indiana is home to the Notre Dame Football team

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish is the intercollegiate football team that represents the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, just north of South Bend.

The club plays its home games at Notre Dame Stadium, which has a seating capacity of 77,622. Notre Dame is one of seven schools that compete as an Independent in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS); however, they play five games per year against opponents from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), of which Notre Dame is a member in all sports except ice hockey.

The school has won 11 national championships, including eight from major wire services (AP and Coaches’). The Heisman Trophy has been won by seven Notre Dame players. Since 1991, NBC has broadcast Notre Dame home games.

39. Indiana has a humid continental climate with hot summers and cold winters

Indiana has a classic humid continental climate, which means hot muggy summers and cold snowy winters. The state is not particularly well-known for its weather, though there are a few brief periods when all of the factors come together to create very pleasant conditions.

Due to the state’s elongated shape, the northern portion of Indiana has slightly different weather than the southern half of the state. The south receives more precipitation than the north, but the winter temperatures are slightly warmer and milder.

Summers in Indiana are often uncomfortable. Winters aren’t much better, with daytime highs in the north reaching 30°F and in the south reaching 40°F between December and February.

Spring and summer are the rainiest time, though precipitation falls fairly evenly every month. Spring is also when the most variable weather happens.

40. Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

By IndyMayorsOffice Wikimedia Commons

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) is a professional orchestra based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The largest performing arts organization in Indiana, the orchestra was founded in 1930 and is based at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in downtown Indianapolis on Monument Circle.

The orchestra was founded in 1930 by Ferdinand Schaefer, a local violin professor, with the help of Leonard A. Strauss. Strauss became the first president of the ISO. In 1937, Fabien Sevitzky was hired as the orchestra’s first music director, as the musicians became fully professional, and paid a weekly salary for a 20-week season.

The orchestra quickly ascended to national prominence, issuing a series of phonograph recordings on RCA Victor and Capitol Records in the 1940s and early 1950s. Some of the orchestra’s earliest recordings have been reissued.