White River State Park
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| Designation | State Park |
| Location | Indiana USA |
| Nearest City | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Area | 250 acres |
| Date of Establishment | 1979 |
| Governing Body | White River State Park (Development Commission) |
White River State Park covers 250 acres (1 km²) 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.
As America’s only urban cultural state park, White River State Park (http://www.inwhiteriver.org) serves as a diverse resource through the preservation of greenspace, waterways, nature, education, culture, and entertainment destinations that benefit the lifestyles of the community. Welcome to Indiana (Indianapolis) . . . and to White River State Park (801 West Washington Street).
The following listing is a mere snapshot of key points of interest and founding dates surrounding White River State Park and the Central Canal Cultural Dictrict. Please review at your leisure.
White River State Park Visitor’s Center (Dr. Frank P. Lloyd Sr.) and Park Map
2003 (Opens).
White River State Park (Development Commission)
1979 (Founded).
2003 (The Children’s Maze; The Oval – with TBD possibilities like an Outdoor Ice Skating Rink; The Lawn @ White River State Park – Home to world-class outdoor concerts & festivals with a capacity of 5,000 – 6,000).
1870 – 1969.
1980 (Accepted into the National Registry of Historic Places).
The Indianapolis Zoo
1988 (Park’s 1st attraction).
FYI: 1964 – 1988 (Originally on East-side of Indianapolis @ Washington Park).
White River Gardens @ The Indianapolis Zoo
1999 (Opens).
Washington Street Pedestrian Bridge & Art Sculptures in the Park
1916 (Open as part of the National Road).
1994 Old National Road, U.S. 40 linking U.S. East to West (Renovations start).
1999 (Art Sculptures in the Park begins).
Waterfront and Park Greenspace
Celebration Plaza, Amphitheater, McCormick’s Rock.
[ National Institute for Fitness and Sport (NIFS) ]
Not one of the Park's attractions, but part of the Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) downtown campus and a neighbor to White River State Park.
[ IUPUI ]
1960’s (Factories move out, pushed in part by the growth of IUPUI).
NCAA Headquarters & NCAA Hall of Champions Museum
1999 – 2000 (Relocation from Kansas City to Indianapolis and opens).
National Federation of State High School Association Headquarters (NFHS)
1999 - 2000 (Relocation from Kansas City into former Acme Evans Grain Mill Supervisors Building).
Trivia (Historic Pumphouse and NFHS buildings only two left from Park’s industrial past).
1836 (Development begins but only 9 miles are built from downtown Indianapolis to nearby village of Broad Ripple).
Trivia (Central Canal project ultimately bankrupts state of Indiana – Due to Railroad Transportation).
1996 (Indiana completes construction of the canal extension at a cost of $20 million).
White River State Park Parking Garage
Convenient "pay for parking" open to the public.
Indiana State Museum
2002 (Opens).
The IMAX 3D Theatre @ White River State Park
1996 (Opens as Indiana's only IMAX theatre).
Congressional Medal of Honor
1999 (Opens and dedication).
1822 (Indianapolis’ 1st documented 4th of July Celebration).
1852 (Indiana’s 1st State Fair).
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 Society ]
1830 (Founded).
1999 (Opens).
Not one of the Park's attractions, but a neighbor to White River State Park.
[ State Capitol Building & Government Complex & Cafeteria ]
Not one of the Park's attractions, but a neighbor to White River State Park and open to the public.
[ Wheel Fun Rentals - Canal Walk @ Firehouse #13 ]
Canal boat rentals (Open April – October).
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art
1989 (Park’s 2nd 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).
Numerous bike riding rentals (Open April – October).
White River State Park - Outdoor South Parking Lot
Convenient free parking open to the public (and sometimes "pay for parking" during events).
Victory Field Baseball Park
1996 (Opens as home of the Indianapolis Indians playing games from April – September).
2005 (Triple-A affiliate of MLB Pittsburgh Pirates).
White River State Park Visitor’s Center (Dr. Frank P. Lloyd Sr.)
2003 (Opens).
2005 (V.C. the cat takes residence).
Open to the public with Information galore found inside!
The Lawn @ White River State Park (on The Governors Lawn)
2004 (Inaugural year for Indianapolis' only downtown world-class outdoor live entertainment concert series: Indigo Girls, Guster with Rufus Wainwright and with Ben Folds, Lyle Lovett, Crosby Stills & Nash, The Allman Brothers Band, 311 with The Roots, . . .).
2005 (Year two for Indianapolis' only downtown world-class outdoor live entertainment concert series).
2006 (Successful 3rd year for Indianapolis' only downtown world-class outdoor live entertainment concert series: Umphrey's McGee with The Disco Biscuits, The Allman Brothers Band with The Derek Trucks Band, moe. with Gomez, O.A.R. (...of a revolution) with Jack's Mannequin, Phil Lesh & Friends, Guster with Ray LaMontagne, The Black Crowes with Robert Randolph & The Family Band and with Drive-By Truckers, 311 with The Wailers and with Virgin Millionaires, Widespread Panic, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals with Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, . . .).
[edit] External links
| Indiana State Parks |  |
|---|---|
| Brown County - Chain O' Lakes - Charlestown - Clifty Falls - Falls of the Ohio - Fort Harrison - Harmonie - Indiana Dunes - Lincoln - McCormick's Creek - Mounds - O'Bannon Woods - Ouabache - Pokagon - Potato Creek - Prophetstown - Shades - Shakamak - Spring Mill - Summit Lake - Tippecanoe River - Turkey Run - Versailles - Whitewater Memorial - White River |
