1. On September 15, 1935, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway officially opened its gates for the first time since the tragic accident that claimed the life of one of its most promising young drivers, Gaston Chevrolet. The Speedway's management worked hard to rebuild and refurbish the track, and the first event held there after the reopening was a NASCAR stock car race.

2. On September 15, 1835, the Indiana State Capitol building was completed in Indianapolis. The building, which was designed by architect Alexander Ralston, features a dramatic central dome and is considered to be one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in America.

3. In 1961, Ted Kluszewski of the Cincinnati Reds hit his 43rd home run of the season on September 15 against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. This tied the Reds' team record for home runs in a single season (which has since been broken), and Kluszewski finished the year with 47 home runs and 113 RBI.

4. On September 15, 1987, basketball great Larry Bird led the U.S. team to a gold medal in the Pan American Games, held in Indianapolis that year. Bird scored 14 points and had six rebounds in the championship game against Puerto Rico, which the U.S. won 119-80. The victory marked Bird's return to the sport after taking a year off due to a back injury.

5. September 15 is also known as National Cheeseburger Day, and many restaurants in Indiana offer special deals and discounts on cheeseburgers to celebrate the occasion. Some of the best places to get a cheeseburger in the Hoosier State include Triple XXX Family Restaurant in West Lafayette, The Workingman's Friend in Indianapolis, and Burgerhaus in Valparaiso.