2-Historical+Landmarks+and+Places

Visit the Indiana State Capitol Building and e xperience the historic treasure that belongs to the citizens of Indiana! Indiana is one of the few states in the nation that has all three branches of government operating out of the historic state capitol building. In 1825, after nine years of statehood, the capitol city was relocated from Corydon to Indianapolis. Plans for the current statehouse began in 1867 and the building was completed in 1888. It is constructed of Indiana limestone and white oak. The beautuful stained glass rotunda window is original and made from German glass.

University Park is located on the block just south of the World War Memorial Building at Michigan and Meridian Sts. During the Civil War, the ground was used for drilling Union troops. After the Civil War, citizens of Indianapolis established a fund to develop the land into a park. Decorating the beautifully landscaped park are statues honoring Benjamin Harrison, Abraham Lincoln and Schuyler Colfax (Indiana native and Vice President under Ulysses S. [|Grant] after the Civil War.) In the center of the park is the five-leveled Depew Fountain. Founded in 1825, the Indiana State Library serves the information needs of Indiana's citizens. Housed in an Art Deco building with later addition, the library has extensive research collections in genealogy and Indiana history, including the most complete collection of Indiana newspapers in the world. The Library serves as a depository for state and federal documents and houses several special programs, including the Indiana Talking Book and Braille Library, the Indiana State [|Data Center], and the Indiana Center for the Book. Exhibits and public programs are offered regularly.

Dominating the five-block picturesque setting of War Memorial Plaza in downtown Indianapolis is the Indiana World War Memorial. Sitting 210 feet above street level, this mausoleum-style limestone and marble memorial pays homage to Hoosiers killed during World Wars I and II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The Shrine Room, with 24 stained [|glass windows], is a magnificent architectural setting for the 17-by-30 foot American flag that is suspended from the center of the room. The main floor houses exhibit space, administrative offices, [|meeting rooms] and the Pershing Auditorium. Also on this level is a listing of the names of all Hoosiers who participated in World War I and all Hoosiers who were killed or are MIA from World War II, Korea and Vietnam. A military museum in the basement allows visitors to follow the history of Indiana soldiers from the Battle of Tippecanoe through the most recent conflicts.

The Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, home to the Indiana Historical Society, is undergoing an exciting transformation with a major renovation in 2009 prior to the launch of its new Indiana Experience in early 2010. Indiana Experience will allow visitors to discover the fascinating stories of Indiana's past in entirely engaging, interactive ways.

Veteran's Memorial Plaza, once known as Obelisk Square, was completed in 1930. Centrally located in the Plaza are the Obelisk and Fountain which honor all Indiana veterans. The Obelisk is a 100-foot shaft of black Berwick granite, representing the hopes and aspirations of the nation. The bronze tablets at its base represent the 4 fundamentals on which the nation's hopes are founded: law, science, religion and [|education]. The Fountain is 100 feet in diameter and made from pink Georgia marble and terrazzo. Fifty state flags and the American flag are colorfully displayed at the north end of the park.

The Scottish Rite Cathedral is a T udor-Gothic style cathedral, judged during its early days as one of the world's most beautiful buildings. Its gothic tower rises 212 feet and contains a 54-bell carillon.

The historic Athenaeum Theatre is a 114-year-old German American Community Center--a significant architectural (German Romanesque - 1894, German Renaissance Revival - 1898) landmark listed three times on the National [|Register] of Historic Places. Rich in Indianapolis German American heritage, culture, [|education], decorative arts and sports. Home to the Rathskeller Restaurant, YMCA at the Athenaeum and a number of German American related organizations. Heritage events include Oktoberfest, St. Martin's Children's Lantern Fest, St. Nikolaus Fest, Cologne-style Karneval, St. Benno Fest and 4th of July Celebration.