1. On December 18, 1865, the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, officially abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude in the country. This was a significant moment in Indiana and US history, as the state had been a hotbed of anti-slavery activity during the Civil War.

2. The Indianapolis Colts football team played their first-ever game on December 18, 1953. They lost to the Detroit Lions 28-7 in front of 11,000 fans at Briggs Stadium in Michigan. The Colts would go on to become one of the most successful NFL franchises, winning two Super Bowls and featuring iconic players like Peyton Manning and Johnny Unitas.

3. Susan Brooks became Indiana's first female U.S. Representative on December 18, 2012, when she was sworn in to represent the state's 5th congressional district. She served in this role until 2021 and was a prominent voice on issues like national security and women's rights.

4. On December 18, 1932, the schooner Rouse Simmons sank in Lake Michigan off the coast of Two Rivers, Wisconsin, while carrying Christmas trees from Michigan to Chicago. 5. The Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball team beat in-state rival Notre Dame 71-64 on December 18, 1971. Future NBA player and coach Jerry Sichting led the Boilermakers with 23 points, including a go-ahead basket with 11 seconds left. The game was played at Notre Dame's Joyce Center in South Bend and drew a crowd of over 11,000.