Indianapolis: Hoosier Hospitality
from WorldWeb.com Travel Guide

	Indiana War Memorial Photo Courtesy of Keith Syvinski

Indianapolis, the state capital of Indiana, is a major hub for the midwestern United States. By far the largest city in the state, it has grown rapidly since its founding as a planned capital and has become a thriving and cosmopolitan city. Nicknamed Circle City, Indianapolis is a casual city with midwestern character that still has a sophisticated cultural scene. Visitors can expect a friendly welcome to this city filled with history and charm.

ORIENTATION

The two closest major centers to Indianapolis are Louisville, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio, both approximately 115 mi (185 km) to the south and southeast. Columbus, Ohio, is approximately 180 mi (290 km) to the east and Chicago, Illinois, is the same distance away to the northwest. Further out, St. Louis, Missouri, is 240 mi (390 km) to the southwest and Nashville, Tennessee, is 290 mi (470 km) to the south. Many more destinations are easily accessed within a day's drive because of Indianapolis's central location and thorough transportation network.

HISTORY

Founded specifically as the capital of Indiana in 1821, the site of Indianapolis was chosen both for its central location in the new state and for its position on the White River, which was hoped would become an important water route for shipping. The river proved too shallow to be navigable and plans for a canal to connect the city to the Ohio River were abandoned. Indianapolis remained a small and remote capital for many years until the railroad arrived in 1847. The untapped potential of its location was then able to be realized and the population boomed from approximately 8,000 to over 100,000 by the year 1900. A significant part of this growth occurred during the US Civil War when the city was used as a staging ground for Union troops and a prisoner camp for Confederate troops, imparting a military tradition that the city has kept through to modern times.

Indiana State Capitol Building

The automobile played a major role in the development and expansion of the city. Auto manufacturers established Indianapolis as a rival of Detroit, Michigan, in the early 20th century and the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway was built as a proving ground. Although Indianapolis's motor industy was never able to achieve the same prominence in the industry as Detroit's, the transportation links built in this period again provided a boom to the area. Near other centers such as Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville and St. Louis, the city went through another period of growth and manufacturing industries flourished.

A controversial period of Indianapolis's history followed in the 1920s with the introduction of the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist group, to the region. Membership in this organization included many public officials, including the state's governor. Their control was short-lived, as major corruption scandals exposed their actions late in the decade and their influence quickly dwindled away, with the organization disappearing for good in the 1940s. However, racial tensions still lingered and segregation was a reality until the 1970s.

Like many other industrial cities in the 1960s and 1970s, Indianapolis experienced a decline in population and a loss of its economic base. Migration to the suburbs also depleted the city's base and in response, they were merged back into the city in 1970. Efforts to revitalize the downtown core and restore civic pride through a series of public improvement projects were largely successful and Indianapolis became a diversified and healthy city once again. By 1995, the metropolitan area's population approached 1.5 million and Indianapolis regained its position as an important mid-western hub.

Month Avg. Daily Temperature Average Rainfall Min Max Jan 19°F (-7 °C) 35°F (2 °C) 63 mm Feb 23°F (-5 °C) 40°F (4 °C) 61 mm Mar 32°F (0 °C) 51°F (11 °C) 87 mm Apr 41°F (5 °C) 63°F (17 °C) 92 mm May 52°F (11 °C) 74°F (23 °C) 111 mm Jun 61°F (16 °C) 82°F (28 °C) 105 mm Jul 65°F (18 °C) 86°F (30 °C) 113 mm Aug 63°F (17 °C) 84°F (29 °C) 97 mm Sep 55°F (13 °C) 77°F (25 °C) 73 mm Oct 44°F (7 °C) 66°F (19 °C) 70 mm Nov 34°F (1 °C) 52°F (11 °C) 96 mm Dec 24°F (-4 °C) 39°F (4 °C) 77 mm

Climate data from the National Weather Service

CLIMATE

Indianapolis has a temperate climate, experiencing warm summers and mild winters. Average high temperatures from May to September are between 74º F and 86º F (23-30º C). The autumn cools off slowly, allowing time to enjoy the color change of the foliage. High temperatures in January and December, the coldest months, typically stay above the freezing mark between 34º F and 39º F (1-4º C), although dramatic temperature swings are possible. Precipitation is fairly consistent during the year although the months of May through July see the most rainfall, averaging between 4 and 4.5 inches (100-115 mm) in those months. Summer storms are also common and can produce high winds and thunderstorms. A few inches of snowfall is typical from December through March, but mild temperatures mean it rarely accumulates.

TRANSPORTATION

Befitting its status as a hub city, four major interstate freeways feed into Indianapolis; these along with two spur freeways make travel to and around the region easy. I-65 runs north-south through the city, connecting to Chicago (through Gary, Indiana) and Louisville. On the southwestern and eastern edges of the city is I-70, which leads to St. Louis and Columbus. I-74 leads from Davenport, Iowa in the northwest through the city to Cincinnati. The northeast portion of the city is served by I-69, which leads to the Canadian border at Sarnia, Ontario. A ring road around the city is formed by I-865 and I-465.

The extent of the road network in the city makes travel by rental car or taxi very practical, with traffic rarely causing a problem. Indianapolis's public transport is known as IndyGo, offering extensive bus routes throughout the city including a free service downtown called the Blue Line.

Air travel is handled by the Indianapolis International Airport, located in the southwest corner of the city. Flights to major cities across the United States and Canada are available.

Amtrak has two passenger rail routes through the city, the Cardinal and the Hoosier State. The Cardinal takes passengers from Chicago to New York City through Indianapolis while the Hoosier State runs only from Chicago to Indianapolis.

Interior of the Indiana State Capitol Building

FEATURED ATTRACTIONS

Museums and Monuments

History buffs have much to see in Indianapolis, starting with Monument Circle, a park in the heart of the city. Inside are memorials to veterans of the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War and the United States Civil War as well as the 284-foot high Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Monument Circle also contains the Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum and the Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial. During the year, it serves as a public square and is the host to Indianapolis's Christmas celebrations.

Located nearby is the Indiana State Capitol, which houses all three branches of Indiana's government. Built in 1888, it combines Greek and Italian-renaissance architecture and creates a grand structure in downtown Indianapolis. Restored in the late 1980s, the Capitol Building boasts intricate plaster work and stained glass.

The seven-block Indiana War Memorial Plaza Historic District contains several more memorials and museums dedicated to America's armed forces. Among them are the Indiana World War Memorial & Museum, the USS Indianapolis Memorial and the Veterans' Memorial Plaza.

Crown Hill Cemetery offers walking tours of the graves of Indiana's most famous citizens with various themed walks possible, including politicians, the Civil War and African-American history. The Old Northside Historic District is one of Indianapolis's oldest neighborhoods and contains the home of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States.

	Indianapolis Downtown Canal Walk Photo Courtesy of Keith Syvinski

Indianapolis has a number of museums to enjoy, chief among them being the Indianapolis Art Center, a 15-acre complex of galleries, studios and workshops. The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian & Western Art showcases work from Native and Western American artists, with an emphasis on southwestern work from the Taos, New Mexico region. For younger audiences, the Children's Museum of Indianapolis has 400,000 square feet of area to explore, with exhibits on science, history, art and culture.

Recreation and Sports

Recreational opportunities in Indianapolis are plentiful, with several large parks to enjoy. The Indianapolis Downtown Canalwalk follows the route of the original water navigation channel in the city, running approximately nine miles through the downtown core. White River State Park is the major downtown getaway, and contains not only green space, gardens and pathways, but several of the city's museums and the Indianapolis Zoo. Further out, Eagle Creek Park covers 5,500 acres (2,225 ha) and is a center for sailing, kayaking, canoeing and fishing, and has miles of walking and running trails.

Professional and amateur sports play a big role in the character of Indianapolis. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is by far the area's most well-known attraction. Host of the annual Indianapolis 500 race, the most attended single-day sporting event in the world, it has in recent years begun to hold more auto races than its traditional one-per-year. When not home to over 300,000 cheering race fans, the Speedway can be toured and includes the Indianapolis 500 Hall of Fame Museum and the 18-hole Brickyard Crossing Golf Course.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Photo Courtesy Ocular Box Studios

The Indianapolis Colts are the city's National Football League franchise and play out of the RCA Dome. The nearby Conseco Fieldhouse houses the National Basketball Association's Indiana Pacers and the Women's National Basklebtall Assocation's Indiana Fever. The Indianapolis Indians play at the AAA level of baseball at Victory Field. All three stadiums for these teams are located downtown within a few blocks of each other. Indiana has a long-running amateur basketball tradition, and as the center of the Hoosier State, Indianapolis plays a big role. The NCAA's Final Four college basketball tournament is frequently held here and Indianapolis is also home to the NCAA Hall of Champions, which commemorates college athletics across the United States.