Hoosier stuff

Even if you're a Hoosier, there are almost certainly a few things here you didn't know:


Tomato juice was first served at a French Lick, Indiana, hotel in 1925.

The first tomato juice factory was also in French Lick.

The world's largest orchid species collection is found at Ball State University in Muncie.

The first regulated speed limit (20 - 25 mph!) was initiated on Indiana roads in 1921.

The steepest railroad grade in the world is in Madison.

An average of 400 funnel clouds are sighted each year in Indiana .

The city of Gary was built on fill brought from the bottom of Lake Michigan through suction pipes.

There are only two Adams fireplaces in the United States. One is in the White House and the other in the Diner Home in Indiana

Josie Orr, wife of former Indiana Gov. Robert Orr, flew bombers and cargo planes during World War II.

The Indianapolis Methodist Hospital is the largest Hospital in the Midwest.

One of the first complete bathrooms in Indianapolis was in the home of Hoosier poet, James Whitcomb Riley.

The career of Dorothy Lamour (famous for the Bing Crosby-Bob Hope
Road Movies) was launched in Indianapolis.

Aviatrix Amelia Earhart was once a Professor at Purdue University.

Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis is the largest cemetery in the U.S.

The Allen County Library in Fort Wayne houses one of the largest genealogy libraries in America.

Wabash was the first electrified city in the U.S.

Pendleton was the site of the first hanging of a white man for killing Indians.

The Courthouse roof in Greensburg has a tree growing from it.

The world's first transistor radio was made in Indianapolis.

Clark Gable and wife Carole Lombard (born in Fort Wayne) honeymooned at Lake Barbee near Warsaw , Indiana .

The American Beauty Rose was developed at Richmond.

Elkhart is the band instrument capitol of the World.

Frank Sinatra first sang with the Tommy Dorsey band at the Lyric Theater in Indianapolis .

Purdue Alumnus Earl Butz served as the Secretary of Agriculture.

U.S. 231 is the longest highway in Indiana (231 miles).

Johnny Appleseed is buried at Fort Wayne.

The singing McGuire Sisters spent their childhood summers at the Church of God Campground in Anderson.

The main station of the Underground Railroad was in Fountain County.

There are 154 acres of sculpture gardens and trails at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Nancy Hanks Lincoln is buried in Posey County.

Crawfordsville is the only site in the world where crinoids are found. A crinoid is a form of deep-water marine life that looks something like a starfish.

Pendleton was the site of the 'Fall Creek Massacre.' A museum housing 3,500 artifacts of pioneer heritage now exists on that
site.

St. Meinrad Archabbey in Spencer County is one of only 2 archabbeys in the U.S. and seven in the world. (Abbey Press is an
operation of the archabbey.)

A German V-1 buzz bomb, believed to be the only one on public display in the nation, can be found on the Putnam County Courthouse
lawn in Greencastle.

Roberta Turpin Willett was born in Indiana.

James Dean was born and is buried in Indiana.

The world's tallest woman, Sandy Allen, lived in Indiana .

Red Skelton was born in Vincennes.

Mae West and Claude Akins were from Bedford.

The inventor of the television, Philo T. Farnsworth, lived in Fort Wayne.