Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana is the second-oldest surviving automobile racing track in the world ,having existed since 1909. With a permanent seating capacity for more than 257,000 people and infield seating that raises capacity to an approximate 400,000, it is the largest and highest-capacity sporting facility in history. Considered relatively flat by American standards but high-banked by Europeans, the Motor Speedway is a two and a half mile, nearly rectangular oval with dimensions that have remained essentially unchanged since its inception. |
White River State Park covers 250 acres in Indianapolis, Indiana, just west of the downtown area at 801 W. Washington Street. Among the attractions located in or near the park are the Indiana State Museum and IMAX Theater, Indianapolis Zoo and White River Gardens, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art, NCAA Headquarters and Hall of Champions, the Medal of Honor Memorial, and Minor League Baseball - Victory Field. It is America’s only urban cultural state park. Restoration on this area began in the late 1980s. |
Marengo Cave was discovered on September 6th, 1883 by Orris and Blanche Heistand, brother and sister. Blanche and had heard some of the boys discussing a sinkhole they had found in the woods nearby. They suspected it might lead to a cave and were talking of returning later. Blanche, along with her brother Orris, took two candles and set off into the woods. The children crawled down a narrow passageway and were the first humans known to set foot in Marengo Cave. There are almost 5 miles of known passageway to date at Marengo Cave, making it one of the longest caves in Indiana. |
Located in Santa Claus, Indiana, Holiday World opened on August 3, 1946 and was founded by Louis J. Koch under the name Santa Claus Land. Holiday World was the first themed amusement park in the United States, preceding Disneyland by nine years. In 1984, the park expanded to include Halloween and Fourth of July sections, and the park's name was changed from Santa Claus Land to Holiday World to reflect the emphasis on all holidays. In 1993, Splashin' Safari was added. The park gained national attention in 1995 when wooden roller coaster "The Raven" opened during the park's 50th season. |