If you haven’t heard, Indiana is turning 200 years old this year [1]!
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 [2], but now Hoosiers descend from all over the world.
Indiana is widely known today for the iconic Indianapolis 500 [3] auto race, natural wonders like the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore [4] and Hoosier National Forest [5], and agritourism such as Fair Oaks Farms [6], 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 [7] has an exhibition of “200 Years in 200 Objects.”
This exhibition will include items such as actual Indiana bedrock, Chuck Taylor [8]’s Chuck Taylors, as well as historical documents such as the state-forming congressional resolution, signed by President Madison.
The resolution, along with a couple other important historical documents, are being loaned from the National Archives [9] in Washington, D.C., a prestigious partnership.
Other celebrations include the Indiana Torch Relay [10], 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 [11].”
Jasper County Public Library is also participating in the Indiana Bicentennial, with special events going on throughout the year [12].