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Indianapolis -

Founded in 1821, Indianapolis is the state capital of Indiana. The name Indianapolis is derived from the state's name, Indiana (meaning "Land of the Indians," or simply "Indian Land"), and polis, the Greek word for "city." Indianapolis lies almost exactly in the center of the state, so it works as a perfect base from which to get out and about.

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Indiana State Capitol -

Indianapolis is certainly worth exploring for its wealth of historical sites, a collection of fine museums, and some wonderful family attractions. A good way to get a sense of place is by taking the guided tour of the State Capitol. Located inside and around the Statehouse property, completed in 1888, are more than 40 works of public art that depict many important individuals and events related to the state of Indiana.

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Soldier's and Sailor's Memorial -

Another important landmark is the Soldier's and Sailor's Memorial, the centerpiece of the city's Monument Circle. The obelisk-shaped structure includes several notable sculptures designed to honor veterans of various territorial conflicts. An elevator and stairway provide access to the monument's observation deck, the views from which are truly inspiring.

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Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art -

Back on the ground, call in first at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art. Located at the entrance to White River State Park, the museum houses one of the finest collections of Native American contemporary art in the world.

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Eiteljorg collection -

Besides an extensive exhibit of visual arts by indigenous peoples of the Americas, the floorspace serves as a gallery for Western American paintings and sculptures, including 'The Buffalo Hunt' (pictured) by Charles Marion Russell (1864–1926), one of the nation's foremost artists of the American Old West.

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Indiana State Museum -

Another must-see visitor attraction set in the park is the Indiana State Museum. Here you can explore the natural and cultural history of the state through a series of fascinating exhibits set in dedicated galleries such as the First Nations Hall, and the Hoosier Way (pictured).

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Children's Museum of Indianapolis -

Youngsters will enjoy a magical and wonderous day out exploring everything inside the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. A world-renowned cultural facility, the exhibits here are absolutely outstanding and include the eye-popping Dinosphere. The museum encourages children to touch as many of their exhibits as possible, making exploration a truly interactive experience.

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Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum -

This amazing automotive museum is located on the grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and houses numerous Indy 500-winning cars dating back to 1911. The facility also includes exhibits reflecting other forms of motorsports, passenger cars, and general automotive history.

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"Kiss The Bricks" -

Admission to the museum includes a narrated bus tour of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval and a stop to "Kiss the Bricks," a section of the original 1909 track surface at the start/finish line.

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Indianapolis 500 -

Motorsport fans should time their city visit to coincide with the legendary Indianapolis 500, the United States' most celebrated car race. The event is traditionally held over Memorial Day weekend, usually the last weekend of May.

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NCAA Hall of Champions -

Indiana's enviable sporting heritage is further showcased at the NCAA Hall of Champions. Located in downtown Indianapolis, this is an interactive museum and part of a three-building complex that houses a conference center and the corporate headquarters of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. All 24 NCAA sports are represented under the museum's roof, and exhibits include trivia challenges, current team rankings, video highlights, and artifacts donated from colleges around the nation.

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Indianapolis Zoo -

White River State Park is the location of Indianapolis Zoo. A family favorite, the zoo is home to more than 3,800 animals of more than 320 species and subspecies, and is organized around the concept of biomes (habitats).

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Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site -

Indianapolis' Old Northside Historic District is where you'll find the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site. The former home of the 23rd president of the United States, the grand mansion is open to the public. Harrison also died here, in a second story bedroom in 1901.

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Indianapolis Museum of Art -

Located north of downtown Indianapolis is one of the country's oldest art museums. Founded in 1883, Indianapolis Museum of Art preserves a significant collection of Neo-Impressionist paintings, Japanese paintings of the Edo period, and a large number of works by J. M. W. Turner. Pictured is 'Washington Street, Indianapolis at Dusk,' by German painter Theodor Groll (1857-1913).

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John Dillinger's Grave, Crown Hill Cemetery -

Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis is the final resting place of one of America's most infamous gangsters, John Dillinger. Other notable figures buried here include the aforementioned Benjamin Harrison, and James Baskett, the first African-American male actor to win an Academy Award, an honorary Oscar presented to him in 1948.

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University of Notre Dame -

Away from the capital, the hallowed University of Notre Dame campus encloses the Snite Museum of Art and the Hesburgh Library, the facade of which is renowned for the impressive 'Word of Life' mural, also known as 'Touchdown Jesus.' Besides being recognized as one of the top universities in the United States, Notre Dame is noted for its football team, the Fighting Irish.

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Notre Dame Stadium -

Pictured is the home field of the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, seen during a full-on, full-house competition. With a capacity of just under 78,000, the stadium has sold out regularly for home games since 1964.

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Memorial Stadium -

Speaking of football, the home field of the Indiana Hoosiers football team, Memorial Stadium, is operated by another seat of learning—Indiana University Bloomington. Athletics tournaments are also held here.

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Studebaker National Museum -

Indiana is synonymous with US automobile manufacturer Studebaker. The company was founded in 1852 in South Bend and operated until 1967, when the brand was closed. Today the former Studebaker headquarters is a national museum where a remarkable variety of vehicles including automobiles, wagons, carriages, and military vehicles related to the Studebaker Corporation are on permanent display.

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National Auto and Truck Museum -

Indiana is always geared up to greet car nuts and petrol heads, and here's another place to motor down to—the National Auto and Truck Museum in Auburn. The awesome display of classic trucks and automobiles spans the early 1900s right through to the early 1970s, and includes models like this beautiful Cord Convertible Coupe, built in the 1930s.

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RV/MH Hall of Fame -

The humble recreational vehicle is honored with its own dedicated facility at the RV/MH Hall of Fame, in Elkhart. The museum features a variety of recreation vehicles dating back 100 years and continuing through the 1980s. Among the eye-catchers are several classic Airstream travel trailers, the oldest surviving Winnebago, and the 1931 Chevrolet Housecar once owned by Hollywood film star Mae West.

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First Christian Church -

Admirers of architecture will be rewarded in Columbus with one of the first churches in the United States to be built in a contemporary architectural style. Completed in 1942, the First Christian Church was designed by Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen and is still in use today, though it's also a designated National Historic Landmark.

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Indiana Dunes National Park -

The state entices outdoor enthusiasts with some fabulous open spaces, among them Indiana Dunes National Park. Its boundaries include 24 km (15 mi) of the southern shore of Lake Michigan where various rare and threatened species of flora and fauna enjoy sanctuary. The park contains long stretches of golden beaches, as well as sand dunes, bogs, marshes, swamps, fens, prairies, rivers, oak savannas, and woodland forests. Camping is available and there's plenty of hiking, fishing, swimming, horseback riding, and, in winter, cross-country skiing options.

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Marengo Cave -

One of only four show caves in Indiana, the privately owned Marengo Cave has been open for guided public tours since 1883. Two different walking tours are available, the one-hour Dripstone Trail and the 40-minute Crystal Palace Tour.

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Hoosier National Forest -

The ancient hunting ground of Native Indians, Hoosier National Forest today offers up more than 402 km (250 mi) of hiking trails, including footpaths that snake through the Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area, the only recognized wilderness area left in Indiana.

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Prophetstown State Park, Lafayette -

Prophetstown State Park commemorates a Native American village founded in 1808 by the Shawnee. Steeped in natural and cultural history, the park is at the confluence of the Wabash and Tippecanoe rivers, a region that attracts hikers and historians, set as it is near Battle Ground, a village about a 1.6 km (1 mi) east of the site of the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811.

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Vincennes -

Vincennes is the oldest continually inhabited European settlement in Indiana, and one of the oldest settlements west of the Appalachians. Exemplifying its venerable history is the Vincennes Historic District, a cluster of buildings the oldest of which dates back to the late 18th century.

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Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial -

The Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial preserves the farm site where Abraham Lincoln lived with his family from 1816 to 1830. A bronze casting marks the exact location where the original 1829 Lincoln cabin stood. Included in the park is the Lincoln Living Historical Farm, where a replica of the building stands.

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A.M. Kennedy and Sons covered bridge -

If you find yourself in Bloomfield, make sure to trundle over the A.M. Kennedy and Sons covered bridge. Also known as the Richland-Plummer Creek covered bridge, as it spans a tributary of the White River, the timber structure dates back to 1883 and is the only bridge of its kind left in Green County.

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Fort Wayne Children's Zoo -

One of the most popular zoological parks in the United States, Fort Wayne Children's Zoo has since 1965 upheld its mission to educate youngsters about wildlife. The zoo consists of four self-contained biomes themed as different regions of the world. The Sumatran orangutan enclosure in the Indonesian Rain Forest habitat is an especially appealing destination.

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Historic Fort Wayne -

The city of Fort Wayne is named for Fort Wayne, a series of military log stockades built by the US Army between 1794 and 1819 in the Miami Indian village of Kekionga. A replica of the garrison as it existed in 1815 stands today as Historic Fort Wayne. A number of events and programs highlighting the history behind its construction and use take place throughout the year.

Sources: (MotorCities National Heritage Area) (The White House) (American Battlefield Trust)

See also: Surprising secrets hidden in American national landmarks

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