Indiana Fun Facts
Any inaccuracies are unintentional. Please email if there needs to be any corrections.
Tomato juice was first canned in Kokomo, IN and was first served at a French Lick Hotel in 1925.
The world's largest orchid species collection is found at Ball State
University in Muncie, Indiana.
The first regulated speed limit on Indiana roads was initiated in
1921. 25 mph!! Just Cruisin'!
An average of 400 funnel clouds are sighted each year in Indiana.
The city of Gary, Indiana was built on fill brought from the bottom of Lake Michigan through suction pipes.
There are only two Adams fireplaces in the United States. One is in the White House and the other in the Diner Home in Indiana.
Josie Orr, wife of former Indiana Governor Robert Orr, flew bombers and cargo planes during World War II.
The Indianapolis Methodist Hospital is the largest Hospital in the Midwest.
One of the first complete bathrooms in Indianapolis was in the home of Hoosier poet, James Whitcomb Riley.
The career of Dorothy Lamour (famous for the Crosby-Hope Road Movies) was launched in Indianapolis.
Aviatrix Amelia Earhart was once a Professor at Purdue University.
Crown Hill Cemetery (Indianapolis) is the largest cemetery in the U.S.
Fort Wayne, Indiana Library houses one of the largest genealogy libraries
in America.
Wabash, Indiana was the first electrified city in the U.S.
Pendleton, Indiana was the site of the first hanging of a white man for
killing Indians.
Indianapolis has the most Interstate legs in the U.S. earning it the title of "Crossroads of America".
The Courthouse roof in Greensburg, Indiana has a tree growing from it.
The world's first transistor radio was made in Indianapolis.
Clark Gable and wife Carole Lombard (a Hoosier) honeymooned at lake Barbee near Warsaw, Indiana.
The American Beauty Rose was developed at Richmond, Indiana.
Elkhart, Indiana is the band instrument capitol of the World.
Frank Sinatra first sang with the Tommy Dorsey band at the Lyric Theater in
Indianapolis.
Purdue Alumnus, Earl Butz, served as the Secretary of Agriculture.
U.S. 231 is the longest highway in Indiana (231miles).
Johnnie Appleseed is buried at Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The singing McGuire Sisters spent their childhood summers at the Church of God Campground in Anderson, Indiana.
The main station of the Underground Railroad was in Fountain County, Indiana.
There is 154 acres of sculpture gardens and trails at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
La Porte County is the only county in America having 2 functioning Courthouses.
Nancy Hanks Lincoln is buried in Spencer County, Indiana.
Crawfordsville, Indiana (Montgomery County) is the only site in the world where Crinoids, (a lily-like plant), are found.
The Lincoln Museum in Allen County contains the world's largest private collection of President Abraham Lincoln.
Buffaloes roamed in Indiana at the Needmore Buffalo Farm in Harrison County.
Pendleton, Indiana was the site of the "Fall Creek Massacre". A museum housing 3500 artifacts of pioneer heritage now exists on that site.
St. Meinrad Archabbey is located in Spencer County and is one of only 2 archabbey in the U.S. and seven in the world. Abbey Press is an operation of the archabbey.
A Buzz Bomb (German - WWII), believed to be the only one on public display in the Nation, can be found on the Putnam County Courthouse lawn in Greencastle.
Larry Bird, one of the greatest basketball players in history is a native of French Lick Indiana.
Bob Greise is from Indiana.
Toni Tenille (of The Captain and Tenille) is from Indiana.
Oprah Winfrey built her residence in Indiana.
John Mellancamp is a Hoosier and resides in Bloomington.
Indiana has one of the highest-rated scholastic rankings in the United States.
The much sought after Hoosier Cabinets are an Indiana product.
90% of the world's popcorn is grown in Indiana.
Infamously, The Jackson Five are from Indiana.
Florence Henderson is from Indiana.
Charles Manson spent some time incarcerated in Indiana.
Peru, Indiana is the home of the Circus Capital of the World.
Peru, Indiana is also the birthplace of Cole Porter.
Kokomo, Indiana, (Howard Co) is home of the automotive heritage museum and where Elwood Haynes, inventor of the first commercially built automobile lived.
Sandy Allen, the world's tallest living woman, standing 7' 7 1/4" lives in Indianapolis, and is from Shelbyville, Indiana.