Indianapolis | City Guide & Attractions (2024)

Indiana, United States

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Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

  • Indianapolis - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
  • Indianapolis - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

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Indianapolis, city, seat (1822) of Marion county and capital of Indiana, U.S. It lies on the White River at its confluence with Fall Creek, near the centre of the state. The city is built on a level plain surrounded by low, gently sloping hills. It is a planned municipality, its layout resembling that of Washington, D.C., with radiating streets that converge on Monument Circle at the city centre. The climate is typical of the east-central Midwest, with warm to hot summers and cold winters; precipitation is moderate and spread fairly evenly throughout the year.

Indianapolis, the largest city in the state, lies at the heart of a nine-county metropolitan area. Nearby communities include Carmel (north), Lawrence (northeast), Beech Grove (southeast), Greenwood (south), and Speedway (west). Inc. town, 1836; city, 1847. Area city, 373 square miles (966 square km). Pop. (2010) 820,445; Indianapolis-Carmel Metro Area, 1,756,241; (2020) 887,642; Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson Metro Area, 2,111,040.

History

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Before the area was settled, it had been the site of a Delaware Indian village and its surrounding hunting grounds. Indianapolis was founded in 1821 as the state capital, which it officially became in 1825. Some impetus for growth was given when the Cumberland (National) Road (modern Washington Street downtown) was routed across the city in 1827 and later when railroads arrived. Indianapolis had become a major rail centre by the start of the American Civil War in 1861, and its importance to Union logistics spurred further growth; its population more than doubled between 1860 and 1870.

Beginning in the 1880s, meatpacking and metalworking emerged as major industries. The latter led to the development of automobile manufacturing as central to the city’s economy. The population of Indianapolis surpassed 100,000 in 1890 and continued to grow rapidly in the 20th century. The city was also a focus of labour organization in the late 19th century, and a number of influential trade unions—including the Carpenters and Joiners Union, the International Typographical Union, and the United Mine Workers of America—located their headquarters there.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened in 1909 in suburban Speedway as a test track for local automobile plants. The first 500-mile (800-km) auto race, held there in 1911, was won by a locally made Marmon race car. Although automobile manufacturing eventually left the city, the Indianapolis 500 (held annually in late May on the weekend preceding Memorial Day) has become one of the world’s premier auto races, attracting enormous crowds.

The city’s population approached a half million in 1960. In 1970 the governments of the city and Marion county were consolidated into a single entity. The city limits became coextensive with the limits of the county, thus increasing the city’s population by almost a half overnight and greatly expanding its tax base. The Marion county cities of Beech Grove, Lawrence, Speedway, and Southport remained autonomous under the arrangement, as did the county’s several school systems. People of European ancestry have long constituted the great majority of the population, but their proportion has diminished, and the number of African Americans has increased to more than one-fourth of the total.

The contemporary city

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Indianapolis is one of the most populous cities in the world not located on navigable water, although it is a hub of road, rail, and air transportation. These facilities and the city’s position in the midst of the Corn Belt, near large coalfields and consumer markets, have combined to make it an important commercial, financial, and industrial centre. Pharmaceuticals and chemicals, machinery, plastics, wood and paper products, and transportation and electrical equipment (including televisions and audio equipment) are major products. It is also a regional distribution, retail, and health care centre, and tourism has grown in importance.

A major educational and cultural centre, Indianapolis is the seat of Butler University (1855), Christian Theological Seminary (1925), Ivy Tech State College (1963), Lincoln Technical Institute (1946), Marian College (1851), Martin University (1977), and the University of Indianapolis (1902). Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (1969) includes Herron School of Art (1902) and an internationally renowned medical centre. The hub of the city, Monument Circle (1901), is the site of the 284.5-foot (87-metre) Indiana Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument. The Indiana War Memorial Plaza (1927) is a five-block area just to the north that honours the state’s war dead and includes the American Legion National Headquarters building. The State Capitol (1878–88), just west of the circle, is constructed of Indiana limestone and has a central rotunda 234 feet (71 metres) high. Hilbert Circle Theatre (1916), home of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, is adjacent to the circle, and Clowes Memorial Hall (1963), on the Butler campus, is a centre for the performing arts.

The city has a convention-exposition centre (1972) and a museum of art (1883). The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis (1926) is the largest museum of its kind in the world and is one of the most frequently visited museums in the country. White River State Park, west of downtown, contains a number of attractions. The Indianapolis Zoo (1988) and the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art (1989) are located there, as are the main offices of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and its Hall of Champions Museum (2000). The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum (1952), adjacent to the track, exhibits racing cars dating from 1909.

Beginning in the 1970s, Indianapolis worked to make itself an international centre of amateur sports, an effort that produced considerable economic growth. In addition to the NCAA, the city attracted such organizations as the National Institute for Fitness and Sport, a centre of sports-physiology research. Other amateur venues include the Indianapolis Tennis Center (1979) and the Major Taylor Velodrome (1982), a bicycle-racing track. Lucas Oil Stadium (2008) is home to the Colts professional football team, and Bankers Life Fieldhouse (1999; formerly Conseco Fieldhouse) hosts the Pacers (men’s) and Fever (women’s) professional basketball teams.

The Indiana State Fairgrounds, with more than 55 permanent buildings, including the Art Deco-style Pepsi Coliseum (1939), is a focus of trade and social activities. The annual state fair (August) attracts large crowds, as do the Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration (July) and the Indy Jazz Fest (June). The Indianapolis homes of U.S. President Benjamin Harrison (1875) and poet James Whitcomb Riley (1872) have been preserved as museums. Other prominent city residents have included Charles Warren Fairbanks (vice president under Theodore Roosevelt), authors Booth Tarkington and Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., and jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery.

This article was most recently revised and updated by World Data Editors.

Indianapolis | City Guide & Attractions (2024)

FAQs

Indianapolis | City Guide & Attractions? ›

Indianapolis is famous for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (and its signature event, the Indy 500). The capital of Indiana is also known for museums like the Children's Museum of Indianapolis and Indianapolis Art Museum, outdoor spaces like the White River State Park, and sports teams like the Indianapolis Colts.

How do I spend a day in Indianapolis? ›

10 Things to Do in Indianapolis in a Day
  1. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Home of the Indy 500. ...
  2. Indianapolis Cultural Trail. A scenic way to see the city. ...
  3. See also. Indianapolis Travel Essentials. ...
  4. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. ...
  5. Central Canal. ...
  6. Monument Circle. ...
  7. Crown Hill Cemetery. ...
  8. Fountain Square.

What is Indianapolis most famous for? ›

Indianapolis is famous for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (and its signature event, the Indy 500). The capital of Indiana is also known for museums like the Children's Museum of Indianapolis and Indianapolis Art Museum, outdoor spaces like the White River State Park, and sports teams like the Indianapolis Colts.

Is it worth visiting Indianapolis? ›

Indy's energetic downtown offers over 300 diverse restaurants and 50 major attractions, including renowned arts and cultural institutions, award-winning sports facilities, miles of bike paths, a scenic Central Canal, and 250 acres of urban green space. And the city never stops developing.

What is the famous circle in Indianapolis? ›

Located in downtown Indianapolis where four streets converge — East and West Market Streets and North and South Meridian Streets. Monument Circle, located in the heart of Circle City, was planned in 1821.

Why do they call Indianapolis Naptown? ›

Legend has it that jazz club musicians shortened our city's six-syllable name (read: a mouthful) for easier use in both song and casual conversation. They simply stressed the fourth, most prominent syllable in the name Indianapolis, and the rest is history.

Is there much to do in Indianapolis? ›

From the largest single-day sporting event in the world, the Indy 500, to the largest children's museum in the world, Indy has some of the biggest attractions in the world. Downtown is home to White River State Park with a cluster of museums, attractions, and green space that is only step from hotels.

Is Indianapolis a friendly city? ›

Indianapolis ranks high on Condé Nast Traveler's 'Top 10 Friendliest Cities in the U.S.' list.

Is it safe to walk around downtown Indianapolis? ›

Is downtown Indianapolis safe? During the busy day time hours, downtown Indianapolis is quite safe. Be careful after dark as you would be in any larger city.

What areas to stay away from in Indianapolis? ›

Dangerous Neighborhoods in Indianapolis
NeighborhoodLocation
Martindale-BrightwoodNortheast Indianapolis, near Fall Creek Parkway and Keystone Avenue
Far EastsideEastern edge of Indianapolis, near Pendleton Pike and Post Road
Northwest IndianapolisNorthwest of Downtown, near Lafayette Square and Michigan Road
1 more row

What is the Indianapolis Skywalk? ›

The pedestrian skywalks, which also offer views of downtown streets, connect hotels such as the JW Marriot, the Westin and Crowne Plaza to the Indiana Convention Center, where an underground tunnel connects to ground floor of Lucas Oil Stadium.

What drink is Indiana known for? ›

The “Hoosier Heritage,” Indiana's "unofficial" signature cocktail is the result of a contest held by the Indiana State Museum in 2015. The cocktail, named "Hoosier Heritage," is made with Knob Creek rye whiskey in honor of Abraham Lincoln, who moved to Indiana in 1816 from Knob Creek Farm.

What is Indiana's signature dish? ›

Indiana is known for its Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and the delicious Sugar Cream Pie, which was a favorite in Amish and Shaker communities. But Fried Chicken and Pork and Beans also have strong ties to the state also know as the Crossroads of America.

What food is exclusive to Indiana? ›

Are there any foods that are unique to the State of Indiana? The breaded pork tenderloin sandwich come to mind along with their official Indiana State pie, the Sugar Cream Pie (working in Evansville, I never tried it).

Is there a way to go around Indianapolis? ›

There is also the option of taking a bus ride using the IndyGo public bus system or catching a cab to take you downtown for around $35. Once you're in the heart of the city, getting around is easy, especially if you booked a room downtown. You'll find you can hit major attractions simply by walking.

Can you get around Indianapolis without a car? ›

IndyGo is Indy's citywide bus system with numerous routes taking you all over the city. IndyGo's BRT, or Bus Rapid Transit, does the same with dedicated lanes for fast travel!

Can you park for free in downtown Indianapolis? ›

Parking meters are operational Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays are free. In the downtown core area, along Massachusetts Avenue and in Broad Ripple, the rate is $1.75 per hour. of prepayment, starting each meter day at 12am.

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