White River State Park
Encyclopedia
White River State Park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
Area
Area is a quantity that expresses the extent of a two-dimensional surface or shape in the plane. Area can be understood as the amount of material with a given thickness that would be necessary to fashion a model of the shape, or the amount of paint necessary to cover the surface with a single coat...
White River State Park covers 250 acres (1 km²) in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, just west of the downtown area at 801 W. Washington Street
Washington Street (Indianapolis)
Washington Street is the primary east-west street in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The street follows the route of the National Road for almost all of its length in the city of Indianapolis. For a time, its entire length was designated as U.S...
. It is also one of six designated cultural districts
Indianapolis Cultural Districts
Indianapolis has six designated neighborhoods as Cultural Districts: Broad Ripple Village, Massachusetts Avenue, Fountain Square, the Wholesale District, the Canal & White River State Park, and Indiana Avenue.-Broad Ripple Village:...
in Indianapolis. Among the attractions located in or near the Park are the Indiana State Museum
Indiana State Museum
The Indiana State Museum is a museum located within White River State Park in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. The museum houses exhibits on the history of Indiana from prehistoric times up to the present day. It has one of the four IMAX theaters in the state of Indiana.-History:The museum was started...
and IMAX
IMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
Theater, Indianapolis Zoo
Indianapolis Zoo
The Indianapolis Zoo in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, first opened to the public in 1964. Its current home in White River State Park was opened in 1988 with a size of . The zoo hosts more than a million visitors each year and plays a role in worldwide conservation and research, including...
and White River Gardens
White River Gardens
The White River Gardens are botanical gardens located adjacent to the Indianapolis Zoo at 1200 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. The gardens are a part of the White River State Park....
, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art, NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Headquarters and NCAA Hall of Champions
NCAA Hall of Champions
The NCAA Hall of Champions is a museum, exhibition center, and conference center that is located adjacent to the national office of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in White River State Park in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States...
, the Congressional Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
Memorial, Victory Field
Victory Field
Victory Field is the name of the current minor league baseball park that is the home of the Indianapolis Indians of the International League. It is located in Indianapolis, Indiana....
as home of the Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
Baseball, Military Park, The 1-800-QUIT-NOW Lawn @ White River State Park Concert Series as Indianapolis' premiere downtown outdoor concert venue, and the Indiana Cross Country Arena @ White River State Park.
It is considered America’s only urban cultural state park.
Restoration on this area began in the late 1980s, based around the Indiana Central Canal
Indiana Central Canal
The Indiana Central Canal was a canal intended to connect the Wabash and Erie Canal to the Ohio River. It was funded by the Mammoth Internal Improvement Act, Indiana's attempt to take part in the canal-building craze, started by the Erie Canal. $3.5 million was allocated for the project, the...
. The Canal was originally engineered in the 1830s as a way to ship goods through the state of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, but the project went bankrupt
Indiana Mammoth Internal Improvement Act
The Indiana Mammoth Internal Improvement Act was a bipartisan law passed by the Indiana General Assembly and signed by Whig Governor Noah Noble in 1836 that greatly expanded the state's program of internal improvements. It added an additional $10 million to spending and funded several projects,...
and the Indianapolis section of the Canal was the only section that was ever dug. Although the Canal was never used for what it was built for, recent restoration and development have changed the area and it is currently functioning as a cultural center within the city of Indianapolis. One of the proposed focal points of the Park, Indiana Tower
Indiana Tower
Indiana Tower was the proposed centerpiece of White River State Park in Indianapolis, Indiana. Designed by César Pelli in 1980, the plan was ultimately scrapped.-Proposal:...
, was never constructed.
Key dates
The following listing shows key points of interest and founding dates surrounding White River State Park and Central Canal Cultural District:-
- 1870 - Opens as the original water pumping station for the city of Indianapolis.
- 1969 - Pumping Station closed.
- 1980 - Accepted for inclusion on the National Register for Historic Places.
- 1981 - Renovations complete and reopens as the Park's headquarters and Visitors' Center.
- 2003 - Opens.
- Indianapolis ZooIndianapolis ZooThe Indianapolis Zoo in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, first opened to the public in 1964. Its current home in White River State Park was opened in 1988 with a size of . The zoo hosts more than a million visitors each year and plays a role in worldwide conservation and research, including...
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- 1988 - Park’s first attraction established.
- White River GardensWhite River GardensThe White River Gardens are botanical gardens located adjacent to the Indianapolis Zoo at 1200 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. The gardens are a part of the White River State Park....
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- 1999 - Opens.
- Historic Washington Street Pedestrian Bridge & Art Sculptures in the Park
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- 1916 - Opens as part of the National Road.
- 1994 - Historic National Road U.S. 40 previously linking the U.S. from East to West start renovations.
- 1999 - Art Sculptures in the Park begins.
- NCAA Headquarters & NCAA Hall of ChampionsNCAA Hall of ChampionsThe NCAA Hall of Champions is a museum, exhibition center, and conference center that is located adjacent to the national office of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in White River State Park in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States...
Museum
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- 1999–2000 - Relocated to Indianapolis from Kansas City.
- National Federation of State High School AssociationsNational Federation of State High School AssociationsThe National Federation of State High School Associations is the body that writes the rules of competition for most high school sports and activities in the United States. Most high schools, whether public or private, belong to their state's high school association; in turn, each state association...
Headquarters (NFHS)
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- 1999–2000 - Relocated to Indianapolis from Kansas City.
- Indiana State MuseumIndiana State MuseumThe Indiana State Museum is a museum located within White River State Park in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. The museum houses exhibits on the history of Indiana from prehistoric times up to the present day. It has one of the four IMAX theaters in the state of Indiana.-History:The museum was started...
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- 2002 - Opens.
- 1996 - Opens as Indiana's only IMAX theatre.
- 1996-Present - Operates as the largest IMAX in Indiana.
- 1999 - Opens and dedication.
- Military ParkMilitary Park (Indianapolis)Military Park is the oldest park in Indianapolis, Indiana, covering . In accordance with the Indiana Constitution, the land that forms Military Park cannot be sold; only Monument Circle and half of the Indiana State Capitol share this distinction...
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- 1822 - Indianapolis's 1st documented 4th of July Celebration.
- 1852 - First Indiana State FairIndiana State FairThe Indiana State Fair is an annual fair held in Indianapolis, Indiana, usually in the month of August. The first fair was held in 1881 and the 2009 fair had the highest number of attendees at 973,902....
. - 1861 - Civil War encampment until 1865.
- Present day - Home to many charity events, festivals, outdoor concerts, etc.
- Trivia - The land known as Military Park is one of only three pieces of property that is forbidden by the Indiana Constitution to be sold – the other two are Monument Circle and half of the State Capitol building.
- Indiana Historical SocietyIndiana Historical SocietyThe Indiana Historical Society is one of the United States' oldest and largest historical societies and describes itself as "Indiana's Storyteller". Housed within the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, it is located at 450 West Ohio St...
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- 1830 - Founded.
- 1999 - A neighbor of White River State Park located just east of West Street (City of Indianapolis Property) that opened in 1999.
- State Capitol Building & Government ComplexIndiana Government Center NorthIndiana Government Center North is a high rise in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was completed in 1960 and has 14 floors. It is primarily used for office spaces for the government of Indiana.-External links:**...
& Cafeteria
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- Not one of the Park's attractions, but a neighbor to White River State Park and open to the public.
- Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western ArtEiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western ArtThe Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art is located in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, and houses an extensive collection of Native American art, as well as Western American paintings and sculptures collected by buinessman and philanthropist Harrison Eiteljorg...
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- 1989 - Opened as the park’s second attraction.
- 2005 - Opens expanded gallery space, state-of-the-art education facility, performance/special event areas, and indoor/outdoor dining restaurant - doubling the Museum's size.
- Victory FieldVictory FieldVictory Field is the name of the current minor league baseball park that is the home of the Indianapolis Indians of the International League. It is located in Indianapolis, Indiana....
Baseball Park
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- 1996 - Opens as home of the Indianapolis Indians playing games from April to September.
- 2005 - Triple-A affiliate of MLB Pittsburgh Pirates.
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- 2004 - Opens Inaugural Summer Concert Season as Indianapolis's world-class Outdoor Concert Venue.
- 2006 - Named one of the top 100 outdoor concert venues in the world by Pollstar magazine.
- 2007 - Named one of the top 100 outdoor concert venues in the world by Pollstar magazine, doubles concert attendance with 50,000+ spectators, includes 11 shows.
- 2008 - Once again, named one of the top 100 outdoor concert venues in the world by Pollstar magazine and over 50,000 spectators at 8 shows.
- 2009 - Named one of the top 100 outdoor concert venues in the world by Pollstar magazine and another great season with over 50,000 spectators at 12 shows.
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- 2007 - White River State Park partners with The Indiana Invaders, Indy Greenways, Indianapolis Parks & Canals, the National Institute for Fitness & Sport (NIFS), local and international businesses, and community partners to revitalize the flood plain greenspace along the White River for education, health, and recreation opportunities.
- 2008 - Opens in August for the first and unofficial Inaugural Season as Indianapolis's world-class outdoor running venue located along the east bank of the White River with 9 meets and invitationals.
- 2008 - Middle School (Inaugural National Middle School Championships), High School (City of Indianapolis Championships), and Youth (Indiana USA Track and Field Junior Olympics) teams showcase their competitive spirit.
- 2010 - Anticipating its Official Inaugural Season late summer.
External links
- Official State Park page
- White River State Park is located at 39°46′00"N 86°10′11"W