1. In 1887, the first Indiana state fairgrounds were opened in Indianapolis on April 11. The fairgrounds were a popular site for events throughout the rest of the 19th century and into the 20th century, including the famous 1909 Indianapolis 500 race.

2. On April 11, 1942, famed conductor and composer Cole Porter was injured in a horseback riding accident in Peru, Indiana. The accident left him paralyzed from the waist down, but he continued to compose music and write lyrics until his death in 1964.

3. On April 11, 1965, a devastating tornado tore through the southern Indiana community of Dale, destroying much of the town and killing 11 people. The tornado was part of a series of severe storms that swept across the Midwest that weekend.

4. In 1979, the notorious Klansmen and Nazi rally took place in the small town of Madison, Indiana on April 11. The event drew national attention and was met with large counter-protests from anti-racism activists.

5. On April 11, 2012, the Indiana Pacers set a franchise record for most wins in a regular season with 42 victories. The record-breaking season helped vault the Pacers into the playoffs, where they made it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals before ultimately losing to the Miami Heat.