Indianapolis just celebrated its bicentennial anniversary! That’s 200 years of remarkable history and stories that have made the wonderful city of Indianapolis into what it is today.
For fun, we will go through a brief timeline of Indianapolis, including where we fit in their extensive history.
1821: Indianapolis Gets Its Name
The State Capital selection committee lands on the location of the new state capital, which is as central in the state as possible, to take advantage of western migration. The state capital location is approved, and the name Indianapolis is chosen.
1824: The Courthouse Goes Up
The Marion County Courthouse is built and acts as the first State House in Indiana. Shortly after, Indianapolis is made the state’s capital city.
1836: The Central Canal
Construction of the Central Canal ended as quickly as it began. Intending to reach 296 miles to the Ohio River and subsequently Lake Erie, production halted due to financial troubles. The canal was never completed, but 8 miles of the Central Canal are still present in the city today.
1847: The First Mayor is Elected
Samuel Henderson is elected the very first mayor of Indianapolis. He started his career as the first postmaster in Indianapolis: working there for eight years. Before his mayoral debut, he would serve again as postmaster for one year, found the Center Lodge, Masonic Order, and served as a town trustee, then president of the trustees.
1848: Central State Hospital Opens
Central State Hospital was originally opened as the “Central Indiana Hospital for the Insane.” A shocking title, but for the times that was where people with mental illness or other ailments would go for treatment. It was run as an insane asylum until at least 1926 when it was known as Central State Hospital going forward. Treatments for patients included farming and physical labor as a form of “occupational therapy” and even included a cannery run by in-house patients. It was eventually closed in 1994 after almost 150 years.
1852: The Nation’s First Union Station Is Constructed
This central station was a hub for multiple railways to meet in the Midwest and branch out across the country.
1890-1894: First Electric Streetcars Are Implemented
From 1864 until 1890, streetcars were strictly mule-drawn. The electrification of the Indianapolis streetcar system was implemented in 1890 and completed four years later.
1911: First Indy 500 Race Takes Place
Even if you don’t know anything about Indiana or racing, you’ve probably heard of the Indy 500. The Indianapolis 500 is an infamous race where drivers go 500 miles! That’s 200 laps. The event takes about 4 hours, and spectators from all across the country come to witness this event.
1931: World’s Largest Coca-Cola Bottling Plant Is Built
While Coke’s current largest bottling plant lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, Indianapolis held the title for quite some time. The gorgeous art deco building was designed by an Indianapolis architectural firm, Rubush and Hunter, who was responsible for 200+ other buildings across Indiana. It has since been transformed into a center with shops, restaurants, and a movie theater, but the building itself is a beautiful monument to the city’s history.
1974: Market Square Arena Opens
Market Square Arena opened in 1974 as the world’s fifth-largest sports arena, only to be imploded in 2001. It was home to the Indiana Pacers NBA team for decades until it was replaced by the Conseco Fieldhouse (now Bankers Life Fieldhouse) in 1999 before its demolition.
1984: The Baltimore Colts Relocate to Indianapolis
The Baltimore Colts became the Indianapolis Colts who went on to form the career of NFL great Peyton Manning from 1998 to 2011. He helped them win Super Bowl XLI in 2007 against the Chicago Bears.
1990: CEO Brad Goldstein Founds PFM Roofing
Impact Roofing (previously PFM Roofing) was founded in 1990 after Brad Goldstein discovered homeowners were getting screwed over by bad roofers and bad roofing jobs. He set out to change that by founding a company focused on supplying customers with better customer service and reliable roofing work.
1996: Victory Field Opens
Sports Illustrated and Baseball America have recognized Victory Field as the Best Minor League Ballpark in America. Home to the Indianapolis Indians minor league team, Victory Field is a staple in downtown Indianapolis for families and baseball fans to enjoy games throughout the summer.
2008: Lucas Oil Stadium Opens
With the success of the Indianapolis Colts, they needed a stadium to reflect that. Lucas Oil Stadium opened in 2008, and hosted Super Bowl XLVI just four short years later, in 2012.
2016: The 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Takes Place
The 100th Running of the Indy 500 became a true spectacle and was quite the celebration. 33 drivers competed, including Marco Andretti, the third generation of the infamous Andretti racing family.
2020: PFM Roofing Rebrands to Impact Roofing
Many things changed in 2020: including PFM Roofing rebranding the Impact Roofing you know and love today. The change brought the company to the next echelon of service—with a new logo, website, and chapter of providing customers with the best roofing service.
From our residential roofing to siding and gutter installation, Impact Roofing customers can rely on our steadfast and high-quality approach to providing them with the care and attention their home deserves. Homeowners of Indianapolis have relied on us for over 30 years: see why with a FREE estimate today.
