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Indianapolis General Information

It's known as the "Crossroads of America," and not just because half the population of the U.S. is within a day's drive. Indianapolis is the city where down-home meets sophistication and barbecue meets gourmet.

Its fast growing downtown offers a hoppin' nightlife alongside symphony and the theater, fine arts and historical monuments - not to mention the renowned Children's Museum, Indianapolis Zoo, NCAA Hall of Champions' and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy you-know-what - all in a compact, visitor-friendly package.

The 12th largest city in the USA, with more than 1.6 million residents in the greater Indianapolis area, offers excitement yet remains Midwest-friendly. Hoosier Hospitality isn't just a slogan. The welcome mat is out at nearly 22,000 guest rooms in 167 hotels within the city limits alone, and its neighborhoods are just as accommodating, offering stunning bed-and-breakfasts, ethnic eateries and a wealth of galleries and boutiques.

Some cities are known for being home to Fortune 500 giants. Indianapolis is hometown to one of those companies: Eli Lilly and Co., the giant pharmaceutical firm. Other major businesses include communications firms, medical technology companies and real-estate development corporations.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the largest spectator sports facility in the world with more than 250,000 permanent seats, is home to the Indy 500 every May, NASCAR's Brickyard 400 in August and the US. Grand Prix Formula 1 race (moved to June in 2004), but the huge complex is open all year to visitors. The Hall of Fame Museum displays around 75 vintage and contemporary racers, including the Marmon Wasp that Ray Harroun drove to victory in 1911 at the very first 500, and A.J. Foyt's four winning cars. Visitors can ride around the 2.5 mile oval in a tour bus - at a moderate speed - to appreciate its size.

The Indianapolis Zoo and White River Gardens are sister institutions, the only destination in the country accredited as a zoological park, aquarium and botanical garden, all situated on 70 acres of parkland. At the zoo, you can check out the white rhino exhibit or catch a whale and dolphin show. There's even a tame roller coaster and an area called the Enchanted Mill where kids can cool off under sprinklers during warm weather. Next door, White River Gardens features a glass-enclosed conservatory, a variety of gardens, and a library and resource center where you can research garden questions.

Downtown's return as the city's powerful center got a major boost in 1995, with the opening of Circle Centre, a $319.5 million downtown shopping mall. Now, a basketball arena, football and baseball stadiums, the zoo, an urban park and the convention center anchor the thriving commercial and cultural zone - with special emphasis on culture: This year, a new, 12-acre ArtsPark is being created along the south bank of the White River, a $10.7 million addition to the already stunning Indianapolis Art Center. The Herron School of Art is tripling its space with a $26 million gallery-and-auditorium complex, and the planned Indiana Museum of African-American History, targeted to open in 2007, will debut a performing arts center, a genealogical research library and exhibit space. Check out the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association for more information about what to do and see while you're in Indianapolis.

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