Indiana means "land of the Indians." The state was given that name because of the many Native Americans who lived there. Indiana's nickname is the "Hoosier State." The origin of the state's nickname is uncertain. Some people believe it comes from an old Saxon word meaning "hill dweller" because many of the regions early settlers were the children of English highlanders. Others believe it might come from the pioneer greeting, "Who's yere?" meaning "Who is here?" There are still others who trace the nickname back to the 1820s, when Samuel Hoosier, a contractor working on the Ohio Falls Canal in Kentucky, hired many men from the Indiana side of the river. The men Hoosier hired were first called "Hoosier's Men" and then simply called "Hoosiers."
Indiana limestone, also called Bedford limestone or Salem limestone, is the highest quality of limestone found in the United States. It is a type of rock primarily composed of calcium carbonate that was formed over millions of years as marine life accumulated and decomposed at the bottom of a shallow sea that covered the Midwest during the Mississippian Period. Nowadays, the most productive area for quarrying Indiana limestone is between Bloomington and Bedford in Monroe and Lawrence counties. There are currently nine active quarries that take out 2,700,000 cubic feet (76,456 cubic meters) of limestone per year. Limestone is mostly used on the exterior of buildings. Indiana limestone is used in construction across the United States, and covers such notable buildings as the Empire State Building, the Flatiron Building, the Rockefeller Center, and Yankee Stadium in New York City; the Pentagon, the United States Holocaust Memorial and Museum, and numerous other public buildings in Washington, D.C.; and the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. It was also used extensively to rebuild Chicago after the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.
Indiana State is one of the most beautiful states of the United States of America. The climate of Indiana State, United States remains pleasant almost all round the year making it an all season destination where the tourists come in plenty to enjoy its awesome scenic beauty and loads of other sightseeing attractions. The Indiana overview shows Indiana to be one of the most well planned states with a great historical culture. The perfect geography of the state keeps the climate of Indiana comparatively pleasant all the year round.
Most parts of the state enjoy a humid continental climate throughout the year. The summers are generally hot to humid and the winters are cool at the onset and become cold in the following months. However, the climate of Indiana differs somewhat at the extreme southern zones of the state. This part of the state experiences predominantly a humid subtropical climate with winters which are mild. In the summers, the mercury can shoot up to an average of 29 °C but there is a significant drop in the temperature in nights when the mercury level shows 16 °C. The temperatures in the winters are a little too fluctuating with an exception to the northern region of the state which maintains a temperature above the freezing point for most part of January. The mercury can drop down to a minimum of -8 °C or below. Because of the humidity factors, the state has a good precipitation level measuring an average of 1,000 mm.
Most parts of the state enjoy a humid continental climate throughout the year. The summers are generally hot to humid and the winters are cool at the onset and become cold in the following months. However, the climate of Indiana differs somewhat at the extreme southern zones of the state. This part of the state experiences predominantly a humid subtropical climate with winters which are mild. In the summers, the mercury can shoot up to an average of 29 °C but there is a significant drop in the temperature in nights when the mercury level shows 16 °C. The temperatures in the winters are a little too fluctuating with an exception to the northern region of the state which maintains a temperature above the freezing point for most part of January. The mercury can drop down to a minimum of -8 °C or below. Because of the humidity factors, the state has a good precipitation level measuring an average of 1,000 mm.
Indianapolis: You’ll probably know Indianapolis as the self-proclaimed racing capital of the world. We can’t help thinking that Monaco.
Nashville: Nashville Indiana is located in beautiful Brown County Indiana, just one hour south of Indianapolis IN; Nashville is known to many country music fans as "Little Nashville".
Broad Ripple: Santa Claus is a small town located in southwest Indiana and is home the Holiday World and Splashy Safari Theme Park.
Hartford City: Hartford City is the county seat of Blackford County in northeastern Indiana. Blackford County is the third smallest county in all of the state.
Nashville: Nashville Indiana is located in beautiful Brown County Indiana, just one hour south of Indianapolis IN; Nashville is known to many country music fans as "Little Nashville".
Broad Ripple: Santa Claus is a small town located in southwest Indiana and is home the Holiday World and Splashy Safari Theme Park.
Hartford City: Hartford City is the county seat of Blackford County in northeastern Indiana. Blackford County is the third smallest county in all of the state.
Traditional wisdom tells us that Indiana's just full of corn, farmers, and more corn. Maybe even a little soybeans every now and then! But there is another side to Indiana! From quaint Amish villages, to adrenaline rushing rollercoasters, to the world-famous Indy 500, Indiana has plenty of tourist attractions for any type of vacation!
Lucas Oil Stadium: The Lucas Oil Stadium replaces the now demolished RCA Dome as the home of the Indiapolis Colts NFL team. Located in the heart of Indianapolis, here you can come watch the Colts play in their home arena. When the Colts aren't in town, the stadium is host to a variety of events.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is home to the world-famous Indy 500 and Brickyard races, as well as the occasional Formula One Grand Prix. The Motor Speedway attracts many international vacationers to Indiana, and it's a top Indiana vacation spot due the historical nature of the race.
Indiana Dunes State Park and National Lakeshore: The Indiana Dunes State Park (located in Chesteron, Indiana) and National Lakeshore is located along the Indiana coast of Lake Michigan in Porter, Lake, and LaPorte Counties. The Dunes are a top vacation spot due to the natural beauty of the area and the close proximity to Lake Michigan.
Nashville, Indiana and Brown County State Park: Number seven in my list of the ten best vacation spots in Indiana is Nashville, Indiana. Known as "the artist colony of the Midwest," Nashville is home to dozens of stores of knickknacks and art. It's beautiful in the fall and a great place to visit.
Indianapolis Children's Museum: Last, but not least in my list of the top Indiana vacation spots is the Indianapolis Children's Museum. The children's museum is repeatedly chosen as one of the best children's museums in the country, and has a variety of educational and fun activities for your children. They also have a large IMAX theater that shows both feature films and educational documentaries.
Lucas Oil Stadium: The Lucas Oil Stadium replaces the now demolished RCA Dome as the home of the Indiapolis Colts NFL team. Located in the heart of Indianapolis, here you can come watch the Colts play in their home arena. When the Colts aren't in town, the stadium is host to a variety of events.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is home to the world-famous Indy 500 and Brickyard races, as well as the occasional Formula One Grand Prix. The Motor Speedway attracts many international vacationers to Indiana, and it's a top Indiana vacation spot due the historical nature of the race.
Indiana Dunes State Park and National Lakeshore: The Indiana Dunes State Park (located in Chesteron, Indiana) and National Lakeshore is located along the Indiana coast of Lake Michigan in Porter, Lake, and LaPorte Counties. The Dunes are a top vacation spot due to the natural beauty of the area and the close proximity to Lake Michigan.
Nashville, Indiana and Brown County State Park: Number seven in my list of the ten best vacation spots in Indiana is Nashville, Indiana. Known as "the artist colony of the Midwest," Nashville is home to dozens of stores of knickknacks and art. It's beautiful in the fall and a great place to visit.
Indianapolis Children's Museum: Last, but not least in my list of the top Indiana vacation spots is the Indianapolis Children's Museum. The children's museum is repeatedly chosen as one of the best children's museums in the country, and has a variety of educational and fun activities for your children. They also have a large IMAX theater that shows both feature films and educational documentaries.
Rail: Indiana has over 4,255 railroad route miles, of which 91 percent are operated by Class I railroads, principally CSX Transportation and the Norfolk Southern Railway. Other Class I railroads in Indiana include the Canadian National Railway and Soo Line Railroad, a Canadian Pacific Railway subsidiary, as well as Amtrak. The remaining miles are operated by 37 regional, local, and switching and terminal railroads. The South Shore Line is one of the country's most notable commuter rail systems extending from Chicago to South Bend. Indiana is currently implementing an extensive rail plan that was prepared in 2002 by the Parsons Corporation. Many recreational trails, such as the Monon Trail in Indianapolis, have been created from abandoned rails routes.
Ports: Indiana annually ships over 70 million tons of cargo by water each year, which ranks 14th among all U.S. states. More than half of Indiana's border is water, which includes 640 kilometer of direct access to two major freight transportation arteries: the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway and the Inland Waterway System. The Ports of Indiana manages three major ports which include Burns Harbor, Jeffersonville, and Mount Vernon.
Ports: Indiana annually ships over 70 million tons of cargo by water each year, which ranks 14th among all U.S. states. More than half of Indiana's border is water, which includes 640 kilometer of direct access to two major freight transportation arteries: the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway and the Inland Waterway System. The Ports of Indiana manages three major ports which include Burns Harbor, Jeffersonville, and Mount Vernon.
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Indiana Destinations Hobbies and Interest Rentals