Forgot to take my camera on this trip with Heidi, so here is a list of places I visited while she was at her conference.
Soldiers and Sailors Monument
Recognized as one of the world's outstanding monuments, the structure has come to symbolize both the City of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana. The Limestone used for the monument comes from the Romona quarries of Owen County. It stands 284 feet, 6 inches high, only 15 feet shorter than the Statue of Liberty. It cost $598,318 in 1902. It has been estimated that building a similar structure today would cost more than five hundred million dollars.
Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum is located inside the base of the monument.
Indiana War Memorial MuseumThis building has three main floors. On the upper level is the Shrine Room. The Shrine Room, symbolizing peace and unity is made of materials from all over the world, symbolic of the world wide nature of the "Great War." The room is 110' tall and 60' square. The 24 blood red pillars made of Vermont marble support the vast ceiling. Hanging in the center of the room is the Star of Destiny made of Swedish Crystal to guide the welfare of the nation. Below that is the flag of the United States. In the center of the room, below the flag, is the Altar of Consecration, the altar to the flag.
The main floor houses exhibit space, offices, meeting rooms, and the Pershing Auditorium. Listed on this level are the names of all Hoosiers who participated in WW I and all Hoosiers killed or missing in action from WW II, Korea, and Vietnam. The building also contains a free military museum that portrays the history of Indiana's veterans from the Battle of Tippecanoe, through to the present.
Among the items on display are numerous military firearms, a Korean War era helicopter, a Navy Terrier missile that can be armed with an atomic nuclear war head, and hundreds of other artifacts, photos and documents.
State Capital Building One hundred years after its completion, Indiana's State House underwent a major renovation/restoration . A thorough cleanup of the stonework was required both inside and out. Marble and granite columns, pilasters, and capitals in the interior were cleaned and polished to a rich luster. Details of the eight Carrara marble statues in the rotunda became visible for the first time in many years during this cleaning.
The massive art glass interior dome, a hallmark of the State House, received repairs. To ensure that light filtered evenly through the dome to the floor of the rotunda more than 100 feet below, workers painted the interior surface of the outer dome with highly reflective white epoxy paint and added artificial light behind the glass. As a result, the colors of the interior dome glow richly even on cloudy days.
Scottish Rite Temple Tudor-Gothic style cathedral, judged during its early days as one of the world's most beautiful buildings. Gothic tower rises 212 feet and contains a 54-bell carillon. Banquet, wedding and meeting facilities available. Admission is free and complimentary tours are offered weekdays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Public lunch served in Double Eagle Cafe, Monday - Friday, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Closed Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
American Legion Mall Extending from St. Clair Street to North Street between Meridian and Pennsylvania, is home to the World War II and Korean and Vietnam Wars Memorials. The World War II Memorial, on the east side, is the first memorial to be shaped like a half-circle. The convex side tells a brief history of the war and pays special tribute to Hoosier Medal of Honor recipients and distinguished Hoosier units. The opposite side features excerpts from letters sent home from the warfront and a timeline of events throughout the war. A database with the names of those Hoosiers killed in action is located next to the memorial.
The Korean and Vietnam Wars Memorial is located on the southern end of the mall. The two appear to be separate entities, but in actuality, they combine to become one memorial. They are two pieces of a whole cylinder, not equally split, however, because more soldiers were killed or MIA in the Vietnam War. Thus, that section is slightly larger. One side of the memorial features a map and letters sent home from soldiers. On the other side, visitors can find the names of Indiana veterans killed or MIA in both wars.
Veterans' Memorial Plaza, located north of the Indiana War Memorial, was completed in 1930 as an honor to Hoosier veterans. In 1975, grassy areas were added and trees were planted, honoring the Bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence. On the north side of the Plaza wave the American flag and 50 flags representing each state. The 100-foot tall Obelisk fountain in the center of the park stands as a symbol of the hopes, strength and desires of this nation. Near the base of the Obelisk are representations of law, science, religion and education.
Historic Union Station Crowne Plaza is now housed within America's first "Union Station" and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The Romanesque Revival-style facility features 273 guest rooms and conference space. Most notable is the Grand Hall with its distinctive arches and columns, and soaring stained glass barrel ceiling and matching 20-foot stained glass wagon wheel windows.
The Crowne Plaza has 26 authentic Pullman Train Car sleeping rooms, named and decorated after famous personalities from the early 1900's. Another popular feature of the hotel is the white fiberglass ghost travelers dressed in period clothing.