Indianapolis

Leaving Chicago on my way to Pittsburgh, I decided to stop in Indianapolis.  A couple months ago, I didn't stop despite being on the outskirts.

Indianapolis is the second largest U.S. state capital.  Only Phoenix, is larger.  Known best for being the site of the Indy 500, I found the downtown to be quite interesting.

First up was to check out the capitol building.  Built in the late 1800s, it's pretty massive with Roman and Italian influences.  I walked  around the building.  This led me to a bunch of interesting areas.

The Capitol Building

Statue of George

The first spot I came across was a canal park which had a monument to 9/11.  Paddle boats are available to enjoy the water.  It's a great spot to go for a walk or run.

They did a nice job with this canal park

A wonderful spot for paddleboats

9/11 Memorial.  Where were you when you first heard about the planes crashing?

Some of the steel from the Twin Towers

I liked this

From the canal I wondered over towards Lucas Oil stadium where the Colts call home.  It looks like a large factory.  Nearby, I came across the baseball field that's used for the Pirates AAA affiliate.  I'm guessing Indianapolis would support a Major League Baseball team much better than the two Florida cities.

Lucas Oil Stadium next to a real factory

Victory Field

I then entered a traffic circle called Monument Circle, the geographic center of Indianapolis, with its center dedicated to Indiana's fallen soldiers.  An over 200 foot statue, Soldiers and Sailors Monument, is the U.S.'s first such monument in memory of the common soldier.

Soldiers & Sailors Monument

A closer look

The U.S. has had its share of wars in its short history

Civil War

Not sure what this was about

Monument Circle, South

The Capitol from Monument Circle

Monument Circle, North

Walking north, I came to the Indiana War Memorial Plaza.  This is also dedicated to Indiana's soldiers in every American War.  There is a large 200 foot Mausoleum.   The American Legion's national headquarters is located here.  I found there to be quite a few war monuments here.  I wasn't wrong.  Indianapolis is second to only Washington D.C. in its amount of war monuments.

Indiana War Memorial Plaza

The Mausoleum

The Plaza, looking North toward the Public Library

The Plaza, looking South

Sadly, it didn't.

After taking in all the monuments dedicated to war, one can take a peace walk.  It starts near one of the more interesting buildings in the city, the Scottish Rite Cathedral.  It's an affiliate of the Freemasons and it's their largest structure.      

The Scottish Rite Cathedral

It's time for peace

Benjamin Franklin

Mark Twain

Einstein

Good place for a stroll or bicycle

One of only three presidents directly descended from a former president.  Each of them lost the popular vote, but won due to the electoral college.  Unfortunately, Dubya broke the trend and is the only one that was reelected. 

Benjamin Harrison Home