1. In 1835, the Indiana State Seminary opened in Bloomington, which later became Indiana University. Today, Indiana University is one of the largest universities in the state and has a world-renowned business school.

2. On April 18, 1865, an Indiana native named Thomas A. Hendricks was inaugurated as the 16th governor of Indiana. Hendricks would go on to serve as vice president of the United States under President Grover Cleveland.

3. In 1947, Jackie Robinson made his professional baseball debut with the Montreal Royals, a minor league team affiliated with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson, who would go on to become the first Black player to play in the major leagues, spent part of his training at Freeman Field in Seymour, Indiana.

4. On April 18, 1987, a tornado outbreak swept through much of Indiana, causing widespread damage and claiming 27 lives. The outbreak consisted of 30 tornadoes, including some of the strongest ever recorded in the state.

5. In 1994, 500,000 spectators gathered in Indianapolis to witness the inaugural Brickyard 400, a NASCAR race held at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race has since become a staple of the Indianapolis sports scene and draws thousands of fans from all over the country.