Indiana Quick Quiz
Name the sport for each of the following Hoosier athletes:
- Don Mattingly
- Stephanie White-McCarty
- Major Taylor
- Mark Spitz
Answers Below
1844 35-year-old Abraham Lincoln toured Southwest Indiana, campaigning for Henry Clay, the Whig Party candidate for President. He gave speeches at Rockport, Bruceville, Vincennes, Washington, and Boonville. He also went to his childhood home near Gentryville, where he visited the graves of his mother and sister. Pictured: The bronze sculpture of young Lincoln by American artist Paul Manship. The statue stands in downtown Fort Wayne on Harrison Street.
HOOSIER QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." - - - Abraham Lincoln
Did You Know?
Abraham Lincoln's tour through Southwest Indiana in 1844 was both exciting and emotional for him. "Here I grew up" he said of Spencer County, where he had lived between ages 7 and 21. As he traveled by carriage through the still heavily-wooded area, he undoubtedly met many friends he had known years before. When he visited the site of his family cabin near Gentryville, he stood at the gravesites of his mother and sister. Following the trip, he wrote this poem:
My childhood's home I see again,
And sadden with the view;
And still, as memory crowds my brain,
There's pleasure in it, too.
1903 Two railroad trains collided near 18th Street just northwest of downtown Indianapolis. One was carrying Purdue football players and fans to the annual Indiana/Purdue game which was to be held in the capital city's Washington Park. Seventeen people were killed in the wreck, including 14 members of the Purdue football team. Scores of others were seriously injured, including Purdue team manager Harry S. Leslie who, 25 years later, would be elected Governor of Indiana.
1916 The beautiful Sunken Gardens were opened to the public at Garfield Park in Indianapolis. City Mayor Joseph E. Bell and others helped dedicate the gardens, which were the first in the nation to be illuminated by colorful electric lights. Designed by famous landscape architect George Kessler, the walkway, fountains, and extensive plantings provide visitors a lovely stroll through the beauty and serenity of nature.
1927 Hoosier Hoagy Carmichael recorded "Star Dust" for the first time at the Gennett Studios in Richmond. Lyrics were added two years later, and the song became one of the most popular of all time. Carmichael went on to a legendary career in show business. He wrote scores of hit songs, including "Georgia on My Mind," "The Nearness of You," "Skylark," and "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening," which won an Academy Award for Best Song in 1951. In Hollywood, he was a popular character actor who made 14 films, including "To Have and Have Not," in which he starred with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.
1942 The first LST was launched at the Evansville Shipyard. Called "Landing Ship Tanks," these vessels were developed to carry tanks, vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto shore with no docks or piers. During World War II, a workforce of over 19,000 at the Evansville yard produced an LST every three or four days, turning out a total of 167 during the course of the war. Pictured: The LST 325, the last fully functioning LST in the nation. It is docked in Evansville and operated by the LST 325 Memorial Organization.
1963 On Halloween night, a propane tank exploded during a performance of "Holiday on Ice" at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum. The blast killed 74 people and injured more than 400. It was one of the worst disasters in the history of the city.
How is the Census going to be taken?
The 2020 Census will start in March, when residents across the country receive a flyer encouraging them to participate. About 95 percent of American households will receive the flyer which will encourage them to fill out the questions online. Some homes will also receive paper questionnaires. If the Census is not filled out online, residents will get a reminder letter and questionnaire in late March or early April. In late April, an additional follow-up will be made by mail. If follow-up letters go unanswered, Census takers will attempt to count the number of people in households by going door to door. Source: United States Census website
ANSWERS: 1. Baseball 2. Basketball 3. Bicycle Racing 4. Swimming
Watch HOOSIER HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS live from the Indiana Statehouse each Friday morning on social media:
- Facebook @ Indiana Statehouse Tour Office and Education Center
- Instagram @ INStatehouseTourOffice
- Twitter @ INSthouseEdCntr
- Click here to subscribe to Hoosier History Highlights and to see archived entries
INDIANA STATEHOUSE TOUR OFFICE - Indiana Department of Administration
Guided tours of the Indiana Statehouse are offered Monday through Saturday. For more information, check our website listed at the bottom of this page.
(317) 233-5293 | captours@idoa.in.gov