Indianapolis [antikvár]

By Senator Richard G ugar N THE CENTER OF AN OTHERWISE BLANK SHEET OF PAPER Stood a neat round dot with a meandering line running to its left. I was instructed that the dot represented Indianapolis' Monument Circle and the bending line traced the path of the south-flowing White River. My task as a Boy Scout was to locate a long list of parks, cemeteries, buildings, streets, and landmarks, making a map of the city. As a boy who seldom wandered far from his Washington Boulevard home on the north side or the family farm in Decatur Township, creating this map was my first real introduction to Indianapolis. i A Proud History INDIANAPOLIS HAS BEEN ADDING TO ITS PLACE ON THE MAP EVER SINCE IT abruptly became Indiana's political and geographical center in the 1820s. Within 3 o years of its beginnings, the city developed a large manufacturing base and emerged i as a major stockyard and railroad hub, earning the first of its i many distinguished nicknames, "Crossroads of America." : With visionary leadership, talented artists, and such nationally known writers as poet James Whitcomb Riley and novelist Booth Tarkington, Indianapolis closed the 19th century as a city known for progressive thinking. Early in the 20th century the growing city established itself as a motor capital, producing such automobiles as the Marmon, Stutz, and Duesenberg. The year 1911 marked the first Indianapolis 500, which was to become the largest single-day sporting event in the world. By World War II Indianapolis was also known as a major toolmaking capital, earning yet another moniker, "Toolmaker to the Nation." While I was mostly unaware of this proud history as a boy I sensed that Indianapolis was a great metropolitan area. Then, like now, the city had wonderful performing arts, attracting many of the great names in entertainment and politics. My brother Tom and I would spend Saturdays at the Indianapohs Symphony Orchestra's concerts for children and, on many Fridays, my mother would take us to the intimate Murat Temple or the extravagant English Opera House to see such legendary performers as Jascha Heifetz, Arthur Rubinstein, Fritz Kreisler, and Sergey Rachmaninoff. When Wendell Willkie delivered his 1940 campaign speech from the balcony of the old English Hotel on Monument Circle, I was still small enough to nestle my way through the crowd to a position just below this great Hoosier presidential candidate. Through my youthful eyes, Indianapolis and állíts amenities appeared wondrous. Yet it was when I returned from Oxford University and the navy and became a member of the school board that I began to develop a sense of how unique and blessed this city is, both in its natural resources and those of the extraordinary people who have lived and served here. The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument stands in the center of Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis. a spectacular fireworks display pays homage to the country's largest civil War monument, dedicated to the common soldier (opposite). Indianapolis loves a parade (pages 6 and 7), and has good reason to celebrate. in its i995 economic report, the corporation for Enterprise Development ranked Indiana fourth in the nation in economic performance.