Butler University offers undergraduate degrees in Fine Arts, Music, Art, and Science. In addition to Master’s degrees in Arts, Pharmaceutical Science, Music, Public Accounting, and Business Administration, the College of Arts & Sciences offers an MA in English and an MA in History. Butler had an estimated enrollment for the 2004 – 2005 school year of 4,415, of which 3,907 were undergraduates and 927 entering freshmen. Over 155 international students from 61 countries were enrolled, as well. There are 280 faculty members, providing a student teacher ratio of approximately 13 to 1 and averaging 21 students in each class. The University supports over 100 student groups, with eight national sororities and eight fraternities, theater, yearbook, academic and honor societies, and a television station run by the students. Athletic teams at Butler compete in the 19 NCAA Division I, as well as in intramural sports such as baseball, cross country, equestrian, golf, soccer, tennis, and track. The Hinkle Fieldhouse, built in 1928, was renamed in 1966 in honor of athletic coach Paul Hinkle. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it has a seating capacity for 10,000 spectators. In addition to various sporting events, it has been used as a movie set and by presidential candidates.

In 1988, Butler announced integrated educational opportunities for students to study in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Recently, it has also approved international study in Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica, and Cuba. Visits to foreign countries by Admissions Office representatives are conducted each year; last year’s schedule included China, Malaysia, Central America, Indonesia, and Thailand. Other academic programs offered include pre-law, honors, internships, and exploratory studies, a unique opportunity for students to research and learn how to make suitable career making decisions. Financial aid, on campus employment, peer tutoring, and a writers’ studio are also available.

Butler University upholds excellence in education, leadership, interaction with the community, and an appreciation of the world around us. Emphasis is placed on both academic and non-academic aspects of university life. The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Ph: 317-940-9930 or 800-368-6852. Designated visitor parking on campus.

Purdue University, founded in 1869 by John Purdue, began classes in 1874 with 39 students and six instructors, oriented primarily toward agriculture and mechanics. The first degree, a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, was given in 1875, the same year as the first female student was admitted. As the largest public university in Indiana in terms of enrollment, it is recognized for its doctoral-grant programs, and as Indiana’s land, sea, and space grant university. Today, this statewide university system has eight colleges and fourteen schools, with five campuses and numerous teaching and research centers. The main campus of Purdue is located 65 miles north of Indianapolis in West Lafayette, and supports an enrollment of 38,712 students (2005 figures), from 50 states and 130 countries. It is one of the top two public universities in the U.S. in terms of international enrollment. The Engineering quadrangle is still the main focus of the campus, with the $53 million Neil Armstrong Hall scheduled to open this year.

Purdue offers more than 200 majors, with an average class size of 24 students, and over 1800 faculty members. It has earned the nickname Cradle of Astronauts because of its outstanding aeronautical program and the prestige of graduating 22 astronauts, including Neil Armstrong, 1st man on the moon, and Eugene Cernan, the last. The first to award a degree in aviation engineering, the flight-training program here is highly selective, admitting approximately 60 each year. The University promotes study abroad programs, research projects, co-operative education, on the job training, and internships. The Honors Program is by invitation only, based on specific criteria, and offering research opportunities and specially designed honors courses in various departments, schools, and colleges of the University including Health Sciences, Liberal Arts, Engineering, Nursing, and Economics.

As a member of the Big Ten Conference, it has nine men and nine women’s teams competing in Division I/I-A of the NCAA. Purdue has the Mackey arena for basketball, the Ross-Ade football stadium, Lambert baseball field, its own golf complex, Aquatic Center, and the Rankin track and field facility. In addition, the wrestling team is one of the best in the country. Like any other large university, Purdue has mascots, legends, and traditions. The term Boilermakers, originating in 1890’s as an athletic term, now applies to almost anything associated with Purdue, official and unofficial.

There are numerous options for residential housing, with more than 85% of first year students living at the University. Students have a choice of low or high-rise halls, apartments, and single or coed dorms, with separate areas for men and women, and shared public space. Cooperative, married, family, and off-campus housing is also available, in addition to 47 fraternities and 27 sororities.

Purdue features a wide diversity of student life with over 200 clubs, cultural groups, and professional societies, performing arts and music productions, computer labs, and numerous social events. Its mission is to expand and exchange the world of knowledge and communication through research and development, creativity and academics. It promotes leadership and interaction and contributes to the opportunity and advancement of cultures around the world.

Office of Admissions: 765-494-1776
Campus visits: 4 a day, Monday through Friday. One on Saturday during the school year. 45-minute presentation and 90-minute walking tour.
Prospective students visits: September at Purdue. Other states throughout the year.
Parking: Complimentary in the Grant Street Parking Garage.

Indiana University at Bloomington (IUB), located on over 1900 acres in the center of the city, was founded as the all-male Indiana State Seminary in 1820. The first professor was hired in 1823 and classes opened the following year with 10 men enrolled. Officially renamed to Indiana University in 1838, enrollment changed in 1867 to co-educational. The IU residential campus, rebuilt from 1884 – 1908, with its historic buildings and lush landscaping, is considered one of the five most beautiful in the country, and has been described as a public institution offering an Ivy League experience. Enrollment at IUB for 2006-2007 was 38,247, with 33,707 full-time and 4,540 part time students, and over 9% international.

Over 1800 faculty members teach at this traditional Arts & Sciences University, where there are over 16 schools and colleges including Nursing, Journalism, Law, Education, Labor, Business, and Fine Arts. The Jacob School of Music has won international acclaim, and ranks in the top three along with Juilliard and Eastman. Excelling in voice, opera, orchestra conducting, and jazz, it presents more than 1,100 performances and eight operas each year. Culture and the performing arts are of primary interest at IUB with the African American Art Institute and Museum, ballet, art festivals, and recitals. In addition, it is the only university to offer a formal degree in Human-Computer Interaction and Computer Security. IUB is a leader in research, one of 60 members in the Association of American Universities, and has some of the most advanced medical care in the country at its eye, speech, and hearing centers

The University is a member of the Big Ten Conference, with a strong intercollegiate athletic program, having won numerous national championships in swimming, basketball, soccer, and track and field. The University also promotes many non-varsity sports such as rugby and ice hockey; its martial arts program is considered the best in the country.

Campus life centers around the 500,000 square foot Memorial Union, the largest student union in the U.S. The Union has a hotel, stores, restaurants, a theater, and study and meeting space. Over 400 extracurricular activities and groups at IUB include everything from social and political to recreational and cultural. The Lilly Library, founded in 1960 with J.K. Lilly’s collection, houses over 400,000 items of interest including rare books, manuscripts, sheet music, and 30,000 mechanical puzzles from Jerry Slocum. The Lilly Library also features the first printed works of Shakespeare, the letter from George Washington accepting the presidency, Abraham Lincoln’s desk, and the treasured papers of Orson Welles, Ezra Pound, and Edith Wharton. Currently on exhibit at the Library is Mustard Gas and Roses: The Life and Works of Kurt Vonnegut. In addition, the Herman B. Wells Library, named for the former chancellor, is the 13th largest university library in North America. Other cultural sites at IUB include the Mathers Museum of World Cultures, the Neil Marshall Black Culture Center, and the Lee Norvelle Theater and Drama Center.

Indiana University at Bloomington strives to increase awareness and set standards for understanding the diversity of culture in the world through education, research, and communication.

Admissions Office: 812-855-3512. Visitor Information Center: 812-856-4648

May, of course, is not just a time of celebration; it is also a time of remembrance. It is fitting therefore that a Memorial Day service is conducted on the Friday before the race as a part of the 500 Festival. Open to the public on the north steps of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, it serves as a reminder of all the lives that have been sacrificed for our nation’s freedom through every war and conflict. The memorial service includes a wreath-laying ceremony, a military flyover, and a horse-drawn caisson to symbolize the passing of brave men and women.

The 500 Festival program includes a Friday morning breakfast with mayors from Indiana cities and the coronation of the Festival Queen. The Queen is chosen from the 33 princesses who represent colleges and universities in Indiana, and serve as hostesses and volunteers for the city during the Festival. In addition, American Family Insurance sponsors a full day for visiting the Indy Motor Speedway, getting autographs, taking the family car around the 2.5- mile track, and visiting the Hall of Fame Museum. Reservations required for both events.

Saturday morning, the day before the Indy 500, families can have breakfast with all the cartoon and Disney characters who will be in the Festival Parade. The buffet also includes one bleacher ticket for the parade. The 90-minute parade, sponsored by Indianapolis Power & Light, is the highlight of the 500 Festival - Indianapolis Colts quarterback and MVP of Superbowl XLI, Peyton Manning was grand marshal of the 2007 parade. Led by 33 Indy 500 drivers in groups of three, floats, marching bands and drill teams from Indiana high schools and universities, celebrities, specialty groups, and thousands of balloons thrill the crowds that line the streets of downtown Indianapolis. The parade route goes down Pennsylvania Avenue to Washington and back up Meridian, ending at 11th Street. The Snakepit Ball is held every year as a part of the Saturday evening entertainment. Next year’s 2008 Festival Parade is scheduled for May 24, 12 Noon.

The countdown to the 500 Festival begins with the OneAmerica Mini-Marathon, the 8th largest running event in the U.S., with over 35,000 runners each year and another 3,500 for the 5K Finish Line Marathon. A Health Fitness Exposition is open to the pubic at the Indiana Convention Center. Contestants are invited to attend the Friday evening Champions Pasta Dinner, where celebrities make guest appearances and Celebration of Life awards are presented to people who have overcome special challenges to participate in the race. Following the two races, families and friends gather at Military Park for R&R, food, and entertainment. The post-race party is free for participants and guests, and the public is welcome to enjoy live music, food and drink, and shop for Indy 500 merchandise. Registration is now open for the Saturday, May 3, 2008 running of the Mini-Marathon.

In addition, the Festival sponsors a Rookie Marathon, just for kids ages 3-12. This non-competitive run begins at Ohio and Meridian Streets, with distances measured in blocks and based on age. All participants receive a goodie bag, a runner’s bib with the big number 1, and a finisher’s medal, duplicating the Mini-Marathon contestants. Registration: 317-614-6464.

A historical exhibit of the past 50 years of the Festival is on display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum through September 2007. The 500 Festival in May 2008 promises to be another gala celebration, with a preliminary schedule of events already in place. The Legacy Art Project will feature Donald Lipinsky’s sculpture, paying tribute to the many volunteers, athletes, and people of the community who have dedicated their time and effort in support of the Festival. It will remain on permanent display in downtown Indianapolis.

500 Festival Hotline: 317-614-6400. On street and garage parking along the parade route.

The old Washington Bridge, built in 1916, is now a pedestrian crossing linking the Indianapolis Zoo and the White River Gardens to the attractions on the east bank of the River. Displays of outdoor sculpture by regional artists were introduced to the Park in 1999, and every two years, selected artwork is offered for sale to the public. In addition, permanent outdoor sculpture includes Palm by John Mishler, and Convergence, by Carreno, Morales, and Thomas, consisting of two parts at street and Canal levels. The water promenade takes us past limestone carvings, the rose window, and Paluzzi’s Totem to the 17-foot waterfall at McCormick’s Rock, where the Canal meets the White River. The Rock represents the site of John McCormick’s cabin, one of the founders of Indianapolis in 1824.

City dwellers escape from urban life to enjoy the lazy days of summer in the 250-acre White River State Park. Residents and tourists come to jog, walk, roller blade, and cycle, where all types of cycles can be rented including 4-wheel surreys, choppers, and tandems. Boating along the Canal is popular, as well, with kayaks, paddleboats, and gondolas for rent. Plan a picnic and spend a Sunday in the Park, watch an Indians baseball game at Victory Field, named the best minor league ball park in the U.S., relive history and visit the museums, or just drift in a gondola doing absolutely nothing!

Outdoor concerts attract numerous visitors to the Lawn and the large terraced amphitheater, located across from Victory Field and overlooking the river. Named one of the top 100 outdoor concert arenas in the world, an average of 10 concerts are held each year. Equipped with VIP seating and excellent acoustics, the amphitheater will seat up to 6,000 people The 2007 season will include performances by the Indianapolis Symphony, Bob Dylan, and Bryan Adams with George Thorogood and the Destroyers. In addition, there are other activities held at the Park such as the Indiana Jazz Fest, Irish and Family Festivals, and walk/run events for medical and charitable causes. Outdoor and indoor cafes at city attractions along the Central Canal are popular places for visitors and residents alike, along with free Friday lunchtime and Thursday evening concerts.

The Buggs Temple facility at the north end of the Canal Walk, dating back to 1918 as a church building, was planned for redevelopment in 2003 and will open to the public this summer. The facility will house a marketplace, two restaurants, and a bar overlooking the River and the downtown skyline.

Cycle rentals: $5 - $24 (group rates available).
Hours: May 31 – Aug 15, 9:30 a.m. to sunset; August 21 – Oct 31, Friday, 11 a.m. to sunset and Saturday & Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to sunset. Open all holidays.

Paddleboats & Kayaks: $10 - $25.
Hours: May 31 – Aug 15: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Aug 21 – Oct 31, Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Gondolas: Wednesday – Sunday, 5 – 10 p.m. (Private rides up to 11 p.m.)
Prices (a/o 2006): Public rides – 15 minutes @ $15/per person (includes 3 songs in Italian); 30 minutes @ $30/per person (six songs).
Private rides – 15 minutes @ $75(up to 6 passengers) 30 minutes @ $150; and 1 hour @ $300.

White River State Park Info: 317-233-2434

The Museum houses over 50,000 objects and includes pre-20th century European and American art, Eastern art, and English and European porcelain from the 18th and 19th centuries. In addition to Irish, Asian, and African textiles, there are fashion collections of 19th and 20th century women’s apparel and accessories from Indiana designers such as Bill Blass, Norell, and Halston. Featured attractions at the Museum include Eli Lilly’s collection of Chinese ceramics, bronze, jade, and artwork representing over 4,000 years from the Neolithic period to the Qing dynasty. New acquisitions to this collection in 2004 include 28 Ming and Qing dynasty paintings. An impressive collection of jade figurines was given to the Museum in 1971 by Professor Norris Shreve of Purdue U., and more than 1200 works of African art were donated by the Eiteljorg’s.

There are portraits, landscapes, and religious subjects from the Clowes collection, and paintings from the Japanese Tosa and Nanga art schools and the 14th through the 16th century. The Museum also has American and neo-impressionist art such as Georges Seurat’s Channel of Gravelines, and rare paintings by Pissaro, Finch, and Toorop. Other attractions include Pantzer’s collection of J.M.W. Turner’s watercolors, 19th and 20th century Hoosier art, and the Glick collection of studio glass. French and American modern art include gifts from the 1928 Gandoliers, a group that purchased and donated to the Museum over 160 paintings by Modigliani, Matisse, and Toulouse-Lautrec.

The amazing video art Nature Holds My Camera by Sam Easterson is on display through July 2007. The film was made from small video cameras mounted on animals and plants living in their natural habitats. Admission - $6.00/adults, $3.00/children. Other events at the IMA this year include Piranesi’s Views of Rome through January 2008, Indianapolis artist Rasdell’s African Roots In Cuban Soil, and Prints From Paris from the Vollard Gallery. Currently on display is Tony Fehrer’s unique installation of clotheslines and hanging plastic bottles filled with red ink, the first in a series of art created for the Efroymson Family Entrance Pavilion. The IMA will also exhibit Roman art from the Louvre in September 2007 and Adrian Schiess’ exhibition of abstract panels of lacquered aluminum.

Oldfields - Lilly House & Gardens, a part of the 152 acres of IMA grounds, is a 26-acre estate and museum. The original Oldfields was purchased by the Lilly’s in 1932 from the Landon’s and is now an American Country Place historic landmark open to the public. The 22-room mansion and former home of Joseph Lilly has eight restored rooms on the first floor and a second floor of exhibits from Lilly’s collections of nautical objects, books, and gold coins. Visitors can explore the history of the Lilly family and the architecture and interior design of this historic landmark. Free tours through the Ravine, the Formal, and the Allee and Border gardens are offered at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday through October 16. The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park, scheduled to open in 2009, will have 100 acres of wetland, lakes, and woods for the largest urban art park in the U.S.

Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, & Saturday – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday & Friday – 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday – 12 Noon to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Year’s. Gardens & Grounds: Daily, dawn to dusk.

Admission: Free. (Except for special exhibitions.) Museum Info: 317-920-2660
Parking: Free underground parking garage. Wheelchair accessible spaces in garage adjacent to Museum and outdoor lots. Strollers and wheelchairs available at reception desk inside the Efroymson Family Entrance Pavilion.

Dining: Pucks, Lunch, Dinner, & Sunday brunch. Reservations – 317-955-2315. IMA Café – 11 a.m. to 3 pm., Tuesday – Saturday, 12 Noon to 3 p.m., Sunday.
Group, school, and self-guided tours available. Five shops on premises.

Banners, hanging from the 50-foot ceilings of the Great Hall, display the current winners of all NCAA national championships. A main attraction in the Hall of Champions is the sculpture of the Flying Wedge, symbolizing the establishment of the NCAA in 1906 after this football play was outlawed as being too dangerous. The 600-pound lifelike figures were carefully molded from wax and cast in metal in the vintage uniforms copied from an early 1900 Spaulding catalogue. A replica of the Flying Wedge, awarded for outstanding leadership and service, is one of the highest awards given by the NCAA. In addition to the numerous photographs and stories of college athletes, there are plaques of rosters and records on the Wall of Champions for every college sport.

The second floor of the Hall includes tributes to individuals for their achievements above and beyond the game itself including Jackie Robinson from UCLA, the first African American chosen for MLB and the NCAA Award of Valor to Shannon Smith, a high school student who drowned while saving the 6-year old son of Hawaii’s head coach Fred vonAppen. One of the most deserving of his place of honor is Paul Robeson, who went from humble beginnings as the child of an escaped slave and schoolteacher to become Phi Beta Kappa and valedictorian of his graduating class at Rutgers. Robeson, also named All-American in 1917 and 1918, was one of only three African Americans at the time; however, he may be better known for his superb singing voice in Porgy and Bess and the classic Old Man River. The Hall of Honor features other well-known sports figures and former student athletes, as well, such as Jack Nicklaus, Althea Gibson, and John Elway. In addition to reliving the excitement of March Madness in the Madness Theater, there’s a typical locker room theater for viewing the real life film of student athletes and famous coaches such as Bear Bryant, Pat Summit, and Knute Rockne. Sports enthusiasts can practice their skills on the old-fashioned basketball court, or find their NCAA favorites on the Wall of Champs.

In 2006, the Hall of Champions was host to the 100th birthday celebration of 100 moments in the history of the NCAA. From June through December 2007, the Hall is sponsoring an interactive exhibit of 15 different sports and science topics, and it will host the 7th annual Stay in Bounds golf open at Hawthorns Country Club in Fisher, Indiana on June 18th. Speakers at the Hall have included MVPs and quarterbacks such as Bill Rhoden, Doug Williams, and James Harris. In August of this year, the featured speaker will be Pat Williams, Senior VP from the professional basketball team, Orlando Magic. A reception honoring Tennessee State University track and field team coach Ed Temple and the Tigerbelles Olympic medallists will be held September 30 at the Hall as a part of the Circle City Classic this year.

Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday – 12 Noon to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays (with some exceptions). Extended hours: March 12 – April 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Memorial Day – Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; June 20-22 – USA Track & Field Championship Days, Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Admission: Adults & Seniors - $3.00, Students - $2.00, Children under 5 – free.
(Note: The Circle of Champions community program sponsored by the Hall was established to benefit school children. Four levels of ticket purchases are available, with each donated in the name of the contributor to schools and youth organizations for children who might otherwise not be able to afford ticket prices for field trips.)
Parking: $3.00 - Underground lot garage next to the Hall. Campus gift store on premises.

Circle City Classic highlights African American culture, celebrating the achievements of students, national leaders, and the quality of education that is available, as well as paying tribute to past and present sports heroes. The Classic opens on game day with a parade, sponsored by American Family Insurance, of marching bands and drill teams from across the country, star performers, celebrities, and dignitaries. A free Fall Festival begins on the same day and lasts until 11 p.m. at the Pan Am Plaza across from the Dome. Other entertainment leading up to and following the game includes casino and cabaret nights, a pep rally with free tours of the NCAA Hall of Champions, a golf tournament, and the coronation of Miss Circle City Classic.

The Circle City Classic is much more than a football game and a weekend of fun, however. It sponsors a year-round program designed to develop the mental and physical potential of the youth of Indianapolis. Through the efforts of the sponsors of this event, several million dollars in scholarships have been awarded to deserving young men and women at colleges and universities throughout the U.S. In addition, the Indianapolis Black Alumni Council holds a college fair at Crispus Attucks Middle School, where parents and prospective students can visit with officials from over 50 schools across the nation. Other programs offered by the Circle City Classic include college readiness workshops and scholarship awards for students entering their senior year in high school, youth football and cheerleading clinics, high school basketball recruitment and networking, and sports journalism.

The Indianapolis Colts Classic Coaches Luncheon is a main attraction that features the Major Taylor award and student athlete awards. Marshall “Major” Taylor was the remarkable world cycling champion in the late 1800’s who grew up poor, delivering newspapers in Indianapolis to become a professional racer, setting records when blacks were seldom acknowledged in the sports world or elsewhere for their abilities. Although Taylor died penniless and was buried in a pauper’s grave, he was honored posthumously and reburied in Chicago with a memorial service in 1948. This award pays tribute to the Major and his achievements, and is given to a black athlete, coach, or administrative official for their contributions to sports. Previous Major Taylor award winners have included Muhammad Ali, and Olympic gold medallists Jackie Joyner-Kersey, Dominique Dawes, and Shani Davis.

October 6, 2007: Winston Salem State vs. Florida A & M, RCA Dome, kickoff 4 p.m.
Circle City Classic Office – Ph: 317-237-5222
RCA Dome Box Office: 317-262-3389

Gradually, other avenues in different areas of Indianapolis opened up to the black population. As residents moved and once prosperous businesses closed, the area suffered culturally and economically. Many of the original buildings were either abandoned or demolished, making way for office space. However, much of the art and architecture along Indiana Avenue still reflects the African American heritage of jazz. John Spaulding’s Untitled (Jazz Musicians), located at North and Martin Luther King Jr. Streets, consists of five bronze sculptures of jazz musicians: the guitarist represents his father James Spaulding, his brother James Jr. on sax, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Ray Appleton on drums, and Larry Ridley on bass. Another sculpture by Spaulding, a collage of brass musical instruments, is located at the Lockefield Gardens Apartment Complex. Other architecture along the Avenue include Glory by Barry Gibbs, representing the old Miller Center, the AME church, a contrast between the old and the new, and the Walker Theater, an impressive example of African American art deco.

One of the most notable persons from Indiana Avenue was Madam C.J. Walker, the philanthropist and entrepreneur who developed the first line of hair care and beauty products for black women. Born Sarah Breedlove to a former slave family, this remarkable woman went from picking cotton, washing clothes, and cooking for others to residing in her own grand villa in Irvington on Hudson in New York state. Through determination and hard work, Madam Walker founded the Walker Manufacturing Company in 1906, which became the largest African American business in the U.S. by 1917. This self-made millionaire left 2/3 of her estate to Tuskegee Institute, the NAACP, and Bethune College, and served as an inspiration for many other African Americans. The Madame Walker Theater Center, constructed in 1927, was opened by her daughter A’Lelia as a Center for the manufacturing business, a place to socialize, and a performance arena for jazz musicians. Although the Walker Building fell into disrepair, it was restored in 1988 and is now considered the Indianapolis center for cultural and performing arts from the African American perspective.

The 2007 program schedule for the Walker Theater includes Jazz on the Avenue on the 4th Friday of each month, Downtown Live on the 1st Friday of each month (admission $10), and Laughin on the Avenue, the last Tuesday of the month. In addition to concerts, plays, lectures, banquets, book signings and writers’ symposiums, the event calendar is filled with commemorations and celebrations in story and song about the African American people and their history. A majority of these programs are free and provide entertainment for the entire family.

Many of the graduates from the area’s first high school Crispus Attucks, which opened in 1927, became leaders in our nation’s history of sports, science, business, and music. There is a museum behind the high school, now known as Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet School, at 1140 Martin Luther King Jr. Street. Four galleries and 70 exhibits of school year books, sports memorabilia, and photographs from 1927 to 1986 focus on African Americans and their achievements. Open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., for self-guided tours. Admission is free and guided tours are available by calling 317-226-2432 in the Indianapolis area.

A small .28-acre park with a few picnic tables in a three-block area of single story frame houses is about all that remains of Ransom Place, a once prestigious neighborhood. Listed on the National Register, it was named after Freeman Ransom, a business and civic leader who made his home here in 1910. Redevelopment of other areas in this historical district, however, is ongoing and visitors can enjoy a variety of art, culture, and entertainment along Indiana Avenue today.

Madam Walker Theater Tours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Groups of 10 or more, adults - $5.00, children $3.00. Student discounts. Tickets at Box Office and online. Ph: 317-236-2099. Theater parking lot.

The world’s largest water clock greets visitors as they enter the Welcome Center of the Museum, where four levels and 12 galleries of exhibits invite further exploration. Carousel Wishes and Dreams, a genuine 20th century carousel of carved wooden animals, is one of the main attractions. Still fully operational, the entire family will enjoy a musical ride on the old-fashioned carousel, one of only 175 that remain. Next on the agenda might be Story Avenue, a typical neighborhood street, where children can listen to and learn about African American traditions and culture through stories and song. Playscape is a special area for ages 5 and under, when accompanied by an adult, to play in the water or sand, plant flowers, or build with blocks.

All Aboard centers around a 35’ long, 55-ton steam engine designed by Ruben Wells in 1868. The steam engine was built specifically to push cargo up the steepest grade in the U.S., Indiana’s Madison Hill. There are 100 toy trains at the entrance to this fascinating display, and a train track through tunnels, signals, and lights. As you travel back in time to the 1890’s, the engine leaves the station accompanied by special lighting and sound effects. This is a must-see attraction for the kids and for the kid in all of us. Here, you can play at selling tickets, send Morse code, or take a ride in a tool car past the American Flyer or Blue Comet model trains, as you relive the history of the people who made the railroads famous across America.

Passport to the World provides interaction and education for children in visits to other countries while attending celebrations such as a Mexican Day of the Dead or watching a Malinese puppet show. Items from a collection of over 50,000 items of folk art and toys, donated by Frank and Theresa Caplan of Creative Playthings, are also on display and add to the learning experience. Passport to the World takes you on the Good Ship Discovery across the ocean to Imagination Island, for a time of let’s pretend. At the end of the journey, we may go to the 4th floor overlook to watch international performers in the Plaza.

Visitors can dig for fossils, explore the Paleontology Lab, and view some of the finest dinosaur artwork in the world in the Dinosphere exhibit. Real fossils from the Cretaceous era are displayed in natural settings of palmetto and palm settings, as well as the recent discovery of the 66 million year old Dracorex hogwartsia. The What If galleries answer the questions we might ask in exploring three separate environments: the underwater coral reef, the dinosaur age, and an Egyptian tomb. The 350-seat Lilly Theater offers three or four plays a year, as well as live magic, juggling, music, dance, and animal shows. Fifty slide projectors in the 150-seat SpaceQuest Planetarium bring the universe to life. In addition, the Children’s Museum provides a library for research, a hands-on biotech-learning center, and a science lab with a fresh-water pond, a backyard crawl through, and a 20’climbing wall. Further on, there is a construction site, with child-size dump trucks and bulldozers, a creek of moving water, and a dock shop to build and sail boats.

Special exhibits include the 43’ tower, Fireworks of Glass, the largest blown glass structure in the world, by artist Dale Chihuly. This permanent Museum structure weighs over 18,000 pounds, with more than 14 shapes and 4800 pieces of glass in the ceiling and the tower above it. Chihuly’s Fiori dei Bambini, a spectacular garden created with colorful mosaic glass, is on display through the first week of September 2007. For a unique online experience, visit the Dakabi quilt exhibit, a gift to the Museum from the author and children’s book illustrator, Jayoung Choi Cho. Originally from Korea, Jayoung composed her master’s thesis at the University of Arizona in a quilt of delightful stories and drawings relating to her heritage and her experiences while living in America.

It is estimated that more than a million people visit the Museum’s collections of over 100,000 artifacts and enjoy several thousand programs and special events each year. Staffed by some 400 people, mostly volunteers, the Children’s Museum provides education, social and cultural awareness, and a variety of entertainment to be enjoyed by visitors and residents alike.

Hours: Mar 5 – Sep 3, Sunday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sep 5 – Mar 4, Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Mondays (except for January 1 & 15, February 19).
Extended/Special Hours: Family night, 1st Thursday of each month, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Admission free. First Saturday of each month, open at 9:00 a.m. for members.

Admission: Adults (18-59), $12.50, Seniors (60+), $11.50, Youth (2-17), $7.50.
Free admission: Jan 1, 15, Feb 19, Apr 29 (Day of the Children), Christmas Eve from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Groups of 20 or more – save 20%. Student groups - $6.50 Adults, $4.00 youth.

Museum store and food court on premises. Handicap accessible. Parking garage.

The Wholesale District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, and much of the architecture from the early 1900’s has been preserved. Six of the original buildings including Concordia House, Hotel Lockerbie, and Hotel Severin are restored as hotels, restaurants, and offices. The Majestic Building, the city’s first skyscraper, the Murphy Building, now converted into lofts, and the Chesapeake Building, now a Hampton Inn, all remain a part of the District’s history. With Monument Circle, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, and the Eli Lilly Civil War Museum at its center, the District has over 300 shops and restaurants, hotels, museums, clubs, and bars. The entire area has a great deal of charm with sidewalk planters of flowers and greenery, outdoor cafes, lighted trees, and canopied marquees.

Circle Centre Mall, featuring two blocks of shopping and dining, opened in 1995. The Mall is an interesting combination of modern and historic, having kept several of the original building entrances in its architectural design. The seven-story Arts Garden is a glass enclosed exhibit and performance center located adjacent to the Mall. Other attractions in the Wholesale District include the Conseco Fieldhouse, home for the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever basketball teams, and the RCA Dome where the Indianapolis Colts currently play, but are scheduled to move to their new Lucas Oil stadium in 2008. The Hilbert Circle Theater, built in 1916, was renovated from 1982 – 1984 and is now home to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. The Symphony performs classical, pops, and holiday music every weekend throughout the year. Theatergoers enjoy the non-profit professional plays at the Indiana Repertory Theater and the appeal of the original Spanish baroque architecture of the old Indiana Theater built in 1928.

The Wholesale District sponsors numerous events throughout the year including the Circle of Lights, the day after Thanksgiving ceremony, and the IPL May Festival parade featuring the Indy 500 drivers. Other activities in and around the District include the Strawberry Festival in June, the September opening of the performing arts season, and the weeklong exposition of African American culture and history in July.

Residential, commercial, and retail development in the Wholesale District has grown tremendously in the past few years and property is much in demand. Prime real estate such as the Conrad Indianapolis Residences, luxury suites and apartments at The Block, and exclusive lofts at the Meridian and the Janus offer the convenience of a downtown location and the amenities of urban living at its finest.

Walking Tours: Historic Landmark Association of Indiana sponsors 90-minute tours leaving from Borders Books and Music at 11 S. Meridian St., 10:30 a.m., Friday and Saturday, May through October. Adults - $6.50; Landmark members, Indiana & Purdue University students, children 13 to 18 - $5.50; seniors and ages 6 to 12 - $3.50.
Parking: Circle Centre Mall garages, $1.50

The strong anti-German feelings that accompanied WWI necessitated a change in the name of the building to The Athenaeum. German societies and many of their cultural activities fell by the wayside, and by the time of the Depression, downtown Indianapolis had suffered a sharp economic decline (as did most cities in the U.S.) and commercial growth came almost to a halt. Since the early 1990’s, however, the redevelopment of Massachusetts Avenue has been ongoing, with individual ownership of shops and restaurants encouraged and historic buildings restored. Today, the district has become a fashionable center for dining, shopping, and the arts, with five theaters, eight art galleries, and numerous entertainment venues.

Massachusetts Avenue, however, is not just commercial buildings and retail establishments, as many residents live above the many shops and restaurants. There are residential and park like areas throughout the district, which also connects to the Monon Trail, where residents and visitors enjoy walking, running, and roller blading.
The Avenue crosses the historic areas of Chatham Arch and Lockerbie Square, the oldest neighborhood of Victorian houses in the city. The Phoenix Theater, established in 1982 by a local group of theater artists, is located in a renovated old church in the Chatham Arch neighborhood. The Phoenix is known for its diversity of style and content in theatrical performances, in addition to sponsoring workshops for aspiring theater artists. The Theater in the Square, located in Chatham Arch, as well, is a community theater, with musical, drama, and comedy productions.

One of the main attractions on Massachusetts Avenue is the historic Athenaeum at 401 E. Michigan Street, built in 1894. It is a massive brick structure of German Renaissance design, with ballrooms, a gymnasium, and meeting rooms. The oldest remaining building in the city from the 19th century, it has kept the atmosphere of the old world with stained glass windows and animal heads. It is also home to the American Cabaret Theater and the Rathskeller Restaurant, also built in 1894 and the oldest restaurant in the city. The Rathskeller, in the basement of the Athenaeum, and the popular outdoor Biergarten feature the best in German cuisine. The Biergarten, open spring, summer, and fall, has live entertainment with local polka, rock, and blues bands. The Rathskeller is open for lunch and dinner, and late night menus until 11:30 p.m. at the Kellerbar. Reservations for dinner recommended - Ph: 317-636-0396. Other nightlife options in the district range from friendly taverns and restaurants such as MacNiven’s, Front Page, and Old Point to nightly live jazz and Sunday poetry readings at the Chatterbox Jazz Club, located across the street from the Murat and the Athenaeum. Comedy Sportz offers a night of hilarious improv, while the Murat Theater has some of the best in musical performances. One of the most popular entertainment venues in the district is the American Cabaret Theater. The Cabaret features a variety of productions such as Disco Nights, an interactive musical in a 70’s disco setting, with a live DJ and audience participation, and High School Musical, an updated stage performance based on the award winning Disney TV movie.

Outdoor art can be found everywhere and anywhere along the Avenue in temporary and permanent exhibits, in painted wall signs and graphics on store fronts and street corners. Visitors to the area will find impressive permanent sculpture such as Eric Nordgulen’s, Viewfinders, at the entrance to the area, James Tyler’s Brick Head 3, and The Phoenix by Dale Enochs. There are several fine art galleries in the district including the 4Star Gallery, Ruschman’s, and Kuaba.

The Indy Fringe Festival, held each summer in the city, is a major attraction on Massachusetts Avenue. Here, for 10 fun-filled days, visitors and residents can enjoy the huge variety of entertainment provided by local, national, and international theater companies and performing artists. Shows run approximately 60 minutes at each of the several theaters, and other acts and performances are ongoing along the Avenue during the 10-day Festival. Attendance has grown dramatically since it began three years ago, with over 9,000 last year and even more expected in 2007. This year’s Indy Fringe Festival opens at the City Market on August 23rd, with a street party at 5:30 p.m. Cost - $10.00/per person, $7.00 for students, children under 12 free; an additional one-time festival fee of $3.00 for all 10 days.