1913     The route of the Lincoln Highway was revealed.  The idea of Indiana’s Carl Fisher, it was the first coast-to-coast paved road.  In Indiana, the Lincoln Highway went through Elkhart, South Bend, and LaPorte.

1914     Robert Wise was born in Winchester, Indiana. The family later moved to Connersville where the children attended public schools. Wise wrote humorous sports columns for the school newspaper and was a member of the yearbook staff.  He attended Franklin College before moving on to a career in Hollywood. He helped produce such classic works as Citizen Kane, Stage Door, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.  Later in life, he earned world praise when he directed three films adopted from the Broadway stage:  West Side Story, Two for the Seesaw, and The Sound of Music.

1921     The world’s largest drum made its first appearance with the Purdue University Marching Band at the Indiana State Fair.  The local newspaper reported that the drum was “7’ 3” in diameter by 42 inches in depth and stood 9’ 6” from the ground.”  Purdue engineering students had designed a stylish carriage to help in the travel of the impressive instrument.

1929     “Speedway” opened at Lowe’s Palace Theater in Indianapolis.  The silent movie, filmed downtown and at the track, starred popular actors William Haines and Anita Page and included scenes from the actual 1929 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, captured by 14 MGM cameras positioned around the racing oval.

1960     Tommye Lou Glaze was named “Miss Indiana for 1960.” She waved to thousands of visitors from her large float in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  She won the vocal contest with her performance of “Barber of Seville.”  On hand for the occasion was Indiana Governor candidate Matthew Welsh.   From Culver, in Marshall County, Tommye Lou was a senior at Indiana University.

2003     Indiana Governor Frank O’Bannon suffered a stroke while attending a trade conference at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago.  He died five days later.  Following a funeral at the Statehouse, he was buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in his hometown of Corydon.  He was the first governor to die in office since Alvin Hovey succumbed to illness in 1891.

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Indiana Statehouse Tour Office

Indiana Department of Administration

Visitors are welcome at the Indiana Statehouse Monday through Saturday.  For more information, please contact the tour office.

Note:  The Indiana Statehouse will be closed on Monday, September 5.

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1.  Which battle was fought near Lafayette, Indiana, in November of 1811?

2.  In what year did Indiana become the 19th State?

3.  In what year did Hoosier Wendell Willkie run for U. S. President?

Born in Peru, Indiana, in 1891, he became one of the most famous songwriters in the world. He composed thousands of tunes, words and music, for theater and movies. His most famous hits include “Night and Day,” “Begin the Beguine,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “You’re the Top,” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” Can you identify this Hoosier whose music still fills the air?

Answers:  1.  Battle of Tippecanoe   2. 1816   3. 1940

Answer to “Hoosier Guess Who:”  Cole Porter