Indiana’s First Governor – Jonathan Jennings

Native to Readington Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, Jonathan’s parents were Reverend Jacob and Mary Kennedy Jennings. Both of his parents practiced medicine, as in addition to his ministerial duties Jacob was a doctor. Mary assisted him in his practice and may have possessed a medical degree. Sometime around 1790 the family migrated to Dunlap Creek in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, where Jonathan grew up. He attended the public schools in the area and received home schooling. His mother passed away in 1792 and his sister Sarah, and his brother, Ebenezer took over his care. He studied law at Washington, Pennsylvania. Sometime before 1806 he moved to Steubenville, Ohio, to join his brother’s law practice. Continue reading Indiana’s First Governor – Jonathan Jennings

New Podcast/Video – James R. “Jimmy” Hoffa

James R. “Jimmy” Hoffa (February 14, 1913 – disappeared July 30, 1975)
The son of John and Viola Riddle Hoffa, James was native to Brazil, Indiana. His father, a coal miner, died of lung disease when Jimmy was seven years old. His early education was sporadic, due the the necessity of his having to work to help support the family. His mother went to work upon the death of her husband and eventually moved the family to Detroit. Continue reading New Podcast/Video – James R. “Jimmy” Hoffa

Visiting Indiana’s Public and Botanical Gardens

Indiana possesses a wealth of botanical gardens, allowing plant researchers to study the plants growing there as well as provide casual visitors a place to learn about, and enjoy, them. Readers of Indiana Botanical Gardens will discover the history of botanical gardens in addition to listings of the world’s, United States and Indiana’s botanical gardens. Continue reading Visiting Indiana’s Public and Botanical Gardens

The Central Canal Walk in Indianapolis

In the dawning years of the Nineteenth Century, the quest for fast, cheap transportation of freight over long distances seemed in reach with the construction and economic success of the Erie Canal. The Erie Canal connected New York City with the Great Lakes. It spurred New York’s growth as a major commercial center. It also provided encouragement more canal construction across the United States. Landlocked states like Indiana seized on canals as the answer to open markets in inland cities that lacked navigable rivers. The Wabash and Erie was the first of these projects tackled by Indiana. Continue reading The Central Canal Walk in Indianapolis

Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial

Landscape architects Ann Reed and Eric Fulford received the commission to design the Memorial. Workers began preparing the site in November 1998 with actual construction beginning in January 1999. The memorial consists of two overlapping circular arcs. Access to the memorial is by concrete ramps and stairs. It is about 800 feet long and 48 feet wide. The dedication took place on Memorial Day, May 28, 1999. The Memorial honors the nations Medal of Honor’s recipients. Continue reading Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial

Fort Harrison State Park

Training, Induction and Release Facility
During the First and Second World Wars, many young Indiana men were inducted and released from Fort Harrison. The fort served as a training facility for officers. During World War II, the Fort also served as a detention center for many Italian and German Prisoners of War. The Army established a Military Police training center in the Fort in 1942. At war’s end, the Army declared the Fort as surplus property. The Army did not abandon the Fort, using it as a National Guard training facility. The Benjamin Harrison Air Force Base operated there from 1948 until 1950 until the equipment and personnel were moved to Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan. Until 1990, the fort served as a training facility for various Army activities and in 1965, the Defense Information School moved there. Continue reading Fort Harrison State Park

Visiting Hayes Arboretum

The Nature Center, located in a former dairy barn, offers plenty to do for an afternoon’s relaxation. A bird viewing room is equipped with comfortable chairs and a large window overlooking a bird feeding station. Birds of all kinds and squirrels can be seen actively feeding at the various types of bird feeders. The Nature Center is located in an old renovated dairy barn that was originally constructed in 1833. Continue reading Visiting Hayes Arboretum

Madonna of the Trail Monument

Forming a Committee
The DAR National organization appointed a committee to come up with an idea to honor the hardy pioneer mothers that journeyed west with their families to settle the west. The committee first proposed to have painted wooden markers along the route of the National Road Trail honoring the women. This idea was superseded by the concept of placing 12 statues in various states along the route. The DAR commissioned August Leimbach to sculpt the statues. Composed of Missouri granite, the statues are identical and are 10 feet high and weigh 5 tons. There is one statue in each of state, each of which is along the National Old Trails Road. Continue reading Madonna of the Trail Monument

Visiting the Joseph Moore Museum at Richmond Indiana

Joseph Moore (February 29, 1832 – July 09, 1905)
The son of John Parker and Martha Cadwalader Moore, Joseph was native to Washington County, Indiana. After completing his elementary school education he attended the Friends Boarding School in Richmond, Indiana 1853. He would serve as an assistant teacher while attending the school. After graduating he worked as a teacher in various schools until 1859, when he enrolled at Harvard. He graduated from Harvard with a Bachelor of Science degree. Continue reading Visiting the Joseph Moore Museum at Richmond Indiana

Visiting Indiana’s Public and Botanical Gardens

Indiana possesses a wealth of botanical gardens, allowing plant researchers to study the plants growing there as well as provide casual visitors a place to learn about, and enjoy, them. Readers of Indiana Botanical Gardens will discover the history of botanical gardens in addition to listings of the world’s, United States and Indiana’s botanical gardens. Continue reading Visiting Indiana’s Public and Botanical Gardens

Whitewater Valley Railroad

Constructed as part of the Indiana Mammoth Internal Improvement Act of 1836 signed by Governor Noah Noble on January 27, 1836, the Whitewater Canal was to form an integral part of southeastern and eastern Indiana’s transportation system. The ambitious act, in concert with the Panic of 1837, bankrupted the state and brought a major political party to its knees. Continue reading Whitewater Valley Railroad

Birthplace of Wilbur Wright and Museum

The third of seven children born to Milton Wright and Susan Catherine Koerner Wright, Wilbur was born near Millville, Indiana. The family would remain in Indiana until 1869, when Milton Wright, a Bishop in the United Brethren Church, moved to Dayton, Ohio. The Wrights would return to Indiana in 1881, where Wilbur and his younger brother Orville took up kite flying. Continue reading Birthplace of Wilbur Wright and Museum