History

The city of Indianapolis was established not by settlers but by proclamation when Indiana was granted statehood in 1816. The United States Congress set aside four sections of public land for the site of the capital of the Union's nineteenth state. After the legislature approved the site in 1821, the name Indianapolis, a combination of Indiana plus the Greek word polis for city, was chosen. Four square miles were allotted for the city, but the chief surveyor, E. P. Fordham, plotted an area of only one square mile because it seemed inconceivable that the capital would ever be any larger. Alexander Ralston, who previously had helped plot the District of Columbia, was hired to design the future city. He decided to model it on the nation's capital, with four broad avenues branching out diagonally to the north, south, east and west from a central circle.

In 1821 Indianapolis became the county seat of the newly configured Marion County, and four years later, when the state legislature met for the first time, Indianapolis boasted one street and a population of 600 people. By the time the town was incorporated in 1832 the population had reached only 1,000 people. Growth was slow because Indianapolis—which now holds the distinction of being one of the world's most populous cities not situated near navigable waters—lay on the banks of the White River, which was too shallow for commerce.

The most significant development was the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a 2.5-mile oval track, which was inaugurated in 1911 when an Indianapolis-made car named the Marmon won the first race. The Indianapolis 500, held on Memorial Day weekend each year, has since become one of the premier international sporting events, drawing world-wide attention. Indianapolis was a major industrial center by 1920, with a population of more than 300,000 people, yet retained much of its small-town ambience.

In January 2000 Bart Peterson, a Democrat, took office as mayor of Indianapolis. During his 1999 campaign for mayor, Peterson introduced "The Peterson Plan," a bold and detailed vision for Indianapolis in the new millennium. He focused on fighting crime more aggressively, improving public education in Marion County, and delivering better services to neighborhoods. In his first month as mayor, Mayor Peterson convened the nation's first citywide summit on race relations, bringing people together to discuss ways to bridge the gaps that sometimes exist between people of different races, religions and backgrounds. He also appointed the most diverse administration in the city's 180-year history.

Indianapolis today is a cosmopolitan blend of arts, education, culture, and sports; a city with plenty of vision for its future. Building on momentum gained in the last decade of the twentieth century, the city is in the midst of a cultural and quality-of-life resurgence, World-class sports, a diverse economy, and the presence of healthy and successful businesses round out the story of Indianapolis in the twenty-first century.

Weather

Things to Do

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, a nonprofit institution committed to enriching the lives of children, is the largest children's museum in the world. The more than 400,000-square-foot facility houses eleven major galleries that explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures and the arts.

The Children's Museum is a place to learn and do. Whenever possible, exhibits are "hands-on" or participatory in nature. The Children's Museum strives to be one of the vital links in the lives of children as it supports their intellectual curiosity and love of learning. The museum, situated on 14 acres of land in Indianapolis, presents thousands of programs and activities each year.

Hours
10 a.m. to 5 p.m..
Open Daily, March 3, 2008 to September 1, 2008 (Labor Day).
Open Tuesday through Sunday, September 2, 2008 through March 1, 2009.

Admission
Adults (18-59) $13.50
Seniors (60+) $12.50
Youth (2-17) $8.50

Group Rate
Groups save 20% on admission. Advance reservations required. Groups must have a minimum of 20 people to qualify for reduced admission. One chaperone is required for every 10 youth.
Adults: $10.50
Seniors: $9.75
Youth: $6.50
Payment
The museum accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express, as well as cash, check and travelers checks.
Call 317-334-3322or visit website for more information http://www.childrensmuseum.org/

Indianapolis Museum of Art

Just 15 minutes from downtown Indianapolis on 152 acres of gardens and grounds, the Indianapolis Museum of Art is the fifth largest general art museum in the United States, with a collection of more than 50,000 works that spans a wide range of cultures and eras. Highlights of the collection include:

The Samuel Josefowitz Collection of Gauguin and the School of Pont-Aven

The Neo-Impressionist Collection, featuring the work of Georges Seurat and his followers

One of the most significant collection of works by J.M.W. Turner outside of Great Britain

One of the most outstanding collections of Japanese Edo-period paintings in the nation.

In addition to housing its art collection, the Museum also is a premier showcase for national and international exhibitions. It regularly hosts a variety of lectures, classes and workshops. In 2005, the Indianapolis Museum of Art reopened following a $74 million expansion that doubled its size, increased exhibition and gallery space and expanded visitor amenities.

Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, 11:00am to 5:00pm
Thursday and Friday 11:00am to 9:00pm
Sunday Noon to 5:00pm Closed Monday Admission
General admission to the Museum and Lilly House is free. Admission may be charged for selected exhibitions in the Allen Whitehill Clowes Special Exhibition Gallery.

4000 N. Michigan Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46208
Call (317) 923-1331 or visit website for more information
Indianapolis Museum of Art

Indianapolis Zoo

Just footsteps from downtown, the Zoo is open daily at 9 a.m. Highlights include Indiana's largest aquarium, open exhibit areas with 350 different animal species and seasonal pony, train and family roller coaster rides. The complex also includes the 3.3-acre White River Gardens, featuring hundreds of plant varieties on display in outdoor gardens, as well as entertaining and educational conservatory exhibits throughout the year. The Indianapolis Zoo's mission is to connect animals, plants and people.

The zoo's latest offering, the Oceans exhibit, includes the world's largest shark touch tank. Get ready for close encounters with ocean dwellers like sea lions, penguins and polar bears.Please call the tour hotline at 313-262-2100 for hours and additional information.

The zoo welcomed nine meerkats in May 2006. The exhibit is part of the redesigned Deserts Dome which now includes opportunities for up-close looks at the snakes, lizards, iguanas and other inhabitants. Another new addition is the Dolphin Adventure which opened in May 2005. The Adventure includes the world's first totally submerged dolphin viewing experience and the Midwest's only human-dolphin interaction program, giving groups of guests the opportunity to have in-water experiences with the dolphins.

Since opening in 1964, the Indianapolis Zoo has grown into a world-class facility hosting a million visitors each year and playing a major role in worldwide conservation and research, including accomplishing the world's first successful artificial insemination of an African elephant. The Indianapolis Zoo is located in White River State Park downtown and is the only attraction accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) and the American Association of Museums as a zoo, an aquarium and a botanical garden. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you and a better future for all living things.

Hours
Open Monday-Thursday: 9:00am-5:00pm Friday-Sunday and Holidays: 9:00am-6pm Admission
Members: Free Adults: $13.50
Children (2-12): $8.50 (under 1, free)
Seniors: $8.50

Landmarks
Morris-Butler House
1204 North Park Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46202

Where to Eat

Downtown

Babarque Heaven
2515 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St.,
Indianapolis, IN 46208
Phone: 317-926-1667

Buca di Beppo
35 N. Illinois St.,
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: 317-632-2822

Bazbeaux
334 Massachusetts Ave.,
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: 317-636-7662

Country Kitchen Soul Food Place
831 N. College Ave.,
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Phone: 317-926-4476

Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery
10 W Washington St
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: (317) 681-8180

East

Applebees
7345 E Washington St
Indianapolis, IN 46219
Phone: (317) 375-9007

Red Lobster
Seafood Lovers Celebrate
1752 N Shadeland Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46219
Phone: (317) 352-1679

Olive Garden
8155 E Washington St
Indianapolis, IN 46219
Phone: (317) 895-0800

Golden Corrale
10220 E Washington St
Indianapolis, IN 46229
(317) 890-0270

Creature Comforts

Grocery Stores

Kroger
7101 E 10th St
Indianapolis, IN 46219
Phone: (317) 352-1721

Marsh Supermarkets
9800 Crosspoint Blvd
Indianapolis, IN 46256
Phone: (317) 594-2100

Meijer Inc
5349 W Pike Plaza Rd # A
Indianapolis, IN 46254
(317) 387-2401

Grooming

PetSmart
9749 East Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46229
(317) 898-3197

Mall

Castleton Square Mall
6020 E 82nd Street
Indianapolis, IN 46250

Circle Centre Mall
49 W Maryland St
Indianapolis, IN 46204

The Fashion Mall at Keystone
8702 Keystone Crossing
Indianapolis, IN. 46240

Printing and Postal Services

Fed Ex Kinko's Office & Print
Ste 107
120 Monument Cir
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 951-0693

Dry Cleaner

4401 N Keystone Ave
Indianpolis, IN 46205
(317) 545-4321

Sparkle Cleaners
2198 N Meridian St
Indianapolis, IN 46202
(317) 926-1991

Pharmacy

CVS Pharmacy
3808 East Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46201
(317) 722-2932

Walgreen
5460 East Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46219
(317) 351-5970