'200 Years in 200 Objects' invites you to celebrate Hoosier life

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If you haven’t heard, Indiana is turning 200 years old this year!

On December 11, 1816, President James Madison admitted the frontier territory of Indiana into the United States as the 19th state.

Since that day, Indiana has developed a rich and diverse economy in agriculture, business, and manufacturing. Early residents of the state were mostly descendants of Germany, but now Hoosiers descend from all over the world.

Indiana is widely known today for the iconic Indianapolis 500 auto race, natural wonders like the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Hoosier National Forest, and agritourism such as Fair Oaks Farms, to name only a few of the state’s great features.

In honor of the Indiana Bicentennial, the state of Indiana has planned several celebrations. Opening April 30, the Indiana State Museum has an exhibition of “200 Years in 200 Objects.”

This exhibition will include items such as actual Indiana bedrock, Chuck Taylor’s Chuck Taylors, as well as historical documents such as the state-forming congressional resolution, signed by President Madison.

The resolution, along with a couple other important historical documents, are being loaned from the National Archives in Washington, D.C., a prestigious partnership.

Other celebrations include the Indiana Torch Relay, which is set to pass through Jasper County on October 11th, and the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s exhibition titled “A Land Enchanted: The Golden Age of Indiana Art.”

Jasper County Public Library is also participating in the Indiana Bicentennial, with special events going on throughout the year.