1. Indiana became a state on August 1, 1816.
On this day, Indiana officially became a state, becoming the 19th state to join the Union. The state's constitution was adopted on June 29, 1816, and the first governor was Jonathan Jennings.

2. The first horse race was held in the state on August 1, 1839.
The Indiana State Fairgrounds held the first organized horse race in the state on this day in 1839. The race was a two-mile race with a purse of $200.

3. The Great Train Robbery occurred in Indiana on August 1, 1901.
A group of robbers robbed a train carrying cash and gold on this day in 1901 near Wagner Station in Indiana. The robbers were eventually caught and several were sentenced to long prison terms.

4. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened on August 1, 1909.
The first race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was held on August 19, 1909, but the track officially opened on August 1 of that year. Today, the track is home to the Indy 500 and various other racing events.

5. The world's first rural radio station went on the air in Indiana on August 1, 1921.
WOWO, a radio station based in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, began broadcasting on August 1, 1921. The station was the first rural radio station in the world and today remains a popular station in the state.