Today In History
5 Fun Facts About March 30 In Indiana History
1. In 1822, Indiana's First Governor Died - On March 30, 1822, Indiana's first governor, Jonathan Jennings, died of pneumonia at age 52. Jennings was instrumental in the state's early development, including securing funding for the construction of the state capitol building. 2. Indiana's First Execution by Hanging took place...
5 Fun Facts About March 29 In Indiana History
1. In 1867, Indiana passed the first legislation in the nation that provided for the establishment of state-supported normal schools, which were designed to train teachers to work in public schools. By the end of the century, Indiana had seven normal schools, which eventually became part of the state's system...
5 Fun Facts About March 28 In Indiana History
1. On March 28, 1834, the Indiana State Capitol building was destroyed by fire. The blaze began in the attic and quickly spread, causing extensive damage to the interior of the building. Despite the loss, the state's government was determined to rebuild and continue their work for the citizens of...
5 Fun Facts About March 27 In Indiana History
1. In 1852, the Indiana State Fair Association was organized in Indianapolis. The first state fair was held in October of that year, making Indiana one of the earliest states to hold an annual state fair. 2. In 1957, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra gave its first performance in Clowes Memorial...
5 Fun Facts About March 26 In Indiana History
1. Birth of Purdue University: On March 26, 1869, Purdue University was established in West Lafayette, Indiana. The university was founded as a land-grant institution under the Morrill Act, which provided federal funding to establish colleges to teach agricultural and mechanical arts. 2. Birth of James Dean: One of Hollywood's...
5 Fun Facts About March 25 In Indiana History
1. In 1823, the Indiana General Assembly approved the construction of the Wabash and Erie Canal, which would connect the Great Lakes to the Ohio River and become an important transportation route for both goods and people. 2. On March 25, 1887, the first professional basketball game was played in...
5 Fun Facts About March 24 In Indiana History
1. On March 24, 1804, William Henry Harrison, future president of the United States, negotiated the Treaty of Fort Wayne in Indiana. This treaty opened up millions of acres of land to white settlers, leading to the displacement of Native American tribes. 2. In 1847, the Indiana State Teachers' Association...
5 Fun Facts About March 23 In Indiana History
1. In 1863, the Battle of Kelly's Ford occurred during the American Civil War. Indiana soldiers played a significant role in the Union victory. 2. In 1900, the Indiana General Assembly passed legislation creating the first state-funded tuberculosis sanatorium in the United States. The facility was located in Rockville, Indiana....
5 Fun Facts About March 22 In Indiana History
1. In 1901, John W. Bonner became the first African American elected to the Indianapolis City Council. 2. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway officially opened on March 22, 1909, hosting its first race on August 19 of that year. 3. In 1980, the Indiana Hoosiers basketball team won the NCAA championship...
5 Fun Facts About March 21 In Indiana History
1. In 1963, the Indiana Pacers played their inaugural game in the National Basketball Association (NBA). While the team has since moved to the NBA's G-League, the Pacers remain a beloved basketball team in Indiana. 2. In 1865, the Battle of Bentonville in North Carolina ended. Many Hoosier soldiers fought...
5 Fun Facts About March 20 In Indiana History
March 20 is an important day in Indiana history, with several noteworthy events taking place on this date. Here are five interesting facts about this day in Indiana's past: 1. The Indiana State House was completed on March 20, 1888. The building, which is now a National Historic Landmark, took...
5 Fun Facts About March 19 In Indiana History
1. On March 19, 1881, the first electric street lights were installed in Indianapolis. The lights were installed on the corner of Illinois and Washington Streets and helped make the city safer at night. 2. The Indiana Pacers played their first NBA game on March 19, 1977, against the New...