Indianapolis, Indiana

Cultural features

Indianapolis prides itself on its rich cultural heritage. Several initiatives have been made by the Indianapolis government in recent years to increase Indianapolis' appeal as a destination for arts and culture. The city has designated several areas as "Cultural Districts": Indiana Avenue, Broad Ripple Village, The Canal & White River State Park, Fountain Square, Mass Ave, and the Wholesale District.

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Fountain Square

Fountain Square is a neighborhood on the southeast side of the city located approximately 1.5 miles from downtown and centered at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Shelby Street. A center of commerce for more than 100 years, the historic community is undergoing a period of rebirth and restoration, and is emerging as an ethnic and arts center in the city.

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Originally, all of the land was owned by one farmer and was used as a working apple orchard. Over time, plots were sold off and houses were built. The neighborhood was economically strong for many decades, but now suffers from a high unemployment rate and increasing crime and drug problems. In the 1970's, the state of Indiana built the I-65 interstate through Indianapolis, severing Fountain Square from the city proper, resulting in a period of decline. Currently, there are a number of neighborhood development corporations and community groups working to revitalize the area with increasing success.

Related Topics:
Unemployment rate - Indiana

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Sports

Indianapolis is the home of the Indianapolis Indians, a minor league baseball team in the International League, the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association, the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. In addition, the headquarters of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the main governing body for U.S. college sports, is in Indianapolis. Starting with the 2006 event, the NCAA will hold the Final Four (the semifinals and final of the men's basketball tournament) in Indianapolis every four years.

Related Topics:
Indianapolis Indians - Minor league baseball - International League - Indiana Pacers - National Basketball Association - Indiana Fever - Women's National Basketball Association - Indianapolis Colts - National Football League - National Collegiate Athletic Association - 2006 - Final Four - Men's basketball tournament

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The city has been referred to as "The Amateur Sports Capital of the World".

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Indianapolis has a large municipal park system, including Eagle Creek Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the nation.

Related Topics:
Municipal park - Eagle Creek Park

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In 1987 Indianapolis played host to the Pan American Games.

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The Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Indianapolis is most noted for the largest sporting event in the world: The Indianapolis 500 which is held at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, is the site of the Indianapolis 500, an open-wheel automobile race held each Memorial Day weekend on the 2.5 mile (4 km) oval track. The track is often referred to as "the Brickyard," as it was paved with 3.2 million bricks shortly after its initial construction in 1909. Today the track is paved in asphalt, yet there remains a yard of bricks at the start/finish line.

Related Topics:
Indianapolis Motor Speedway - Speedway - Indianapolis 500 - Memorial Day

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The first 500-Mile Race (804.7 km), held in 1911, was won by driver Ray Harroun driving a Marmon Wasp. (Marmon, incidentally, was an Indianapolis manufacturer.) The "500" is currently part of the Indy Racing League series.

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The Speedway also hosts the NASCAR Allstate 400 at The Brickyard stock car race, still generally referred to by its former name of the "Brickyard 400" (currently scheduled in August), and the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix (recently moved from September to June). Smaller series host races at nearby Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Related Topics:
NASCAR - Allstate 400 at The Brickyard - Formula 1 - Indianapolis Raceway Park

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As measured by the number of fans in attendance (estimated at close to 300,000), the Indianapolis 500 is largest annual single-day sporting events in the world.

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Festivals

Beginning in 1999 the city became host to the annual Indy Jazz Festival. The festival is a three day event held in Military Park near the canal. Past stars have included B.B. King, Ray Charles, Chris Isaak, Dave Brubeck, Freddie Hubbard, Sarah Jane Cion and Tony Bennett.

Related Topics:
B.B. King - Ray Charles - Chris Isaak - Dave Brubeck - Freddie Hubbard - Sarah Jane Cion - Tony Bennett

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Indianapolis is also home to the Indiana State Fair.

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St. Joan of Arc school holds a French Market every September with raffles, food, live music, and free admission.

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Every May Indianapolis holds the 500 Festival, a month of events culminating in the Indianapolis 500 Festival Parade and the running of the Indy 500.

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Museums

• Children's Museum of Indianapolis
• Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum
• Conner Prairie
• Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art
• Indiana State Museum
• Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum
• Indianapolis Museum of Art

Points of interest

• Butler University
• Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens
• Holcomb Gardens
• Slippery Noodle Inn
• White River Gardens

Local media

The Indianapolis Star is the most widely-read daily newspaper in the city. It is owned by Gannett. Other popular publications include Nuvo Newsweekly, Indianapolis Monthly, IndyScribe, and Indy Men's Magazine. Gannett also publishes a weekly newspaper called The Topics that focuses on local and community-related news for northern Indianapolis and the surounding suburbs.

Related Topics:
The Indianapolis Star - Gannett - Nuvo Newsweekly - Indianapolis Monthly - IndyScribe - Indy Men's Magazine - The Topics - Suburbs

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Indianapolis is served by the following major local broadcast Television stations:

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• WTTV —Channel 4, a WB affiliate
• WRTV —Channel 6, an ABC affiliate
• WISH —Channel 8, a CBS affiliate
• WTHR —Channel 13, an NBC affiliate
• WIIH —Channel 17, a Univision affiliate
• WFYI —Channel 20, a PBS member station
• WNDY —Channel 23, a UPN affiliate
• WXIN —Channel 59, a FOX affiliate
• WDNI —Channel 65, IMC- Indy's Music Channel, plays a variety of music videos

In radio, The Bob & Tom Show airs from Indianapolis, and is syndicated across the United States.

Related Topics:
The Bob & Tom Show - United States

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