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General Information
Nickname: Hoosier State
State bird: Cardinal
State flower: Peony
Capital: Indianapolis
Date of admission to the Union: 11th Dec 1816
Population: 6,080,485 (2000)
Population density: 64.5/sq km
2000 total overseas arrivals/US ranking: 156,000/27
Time: Eastern (GMT - 5) in the greater part of the State. Daylight Saving Time is not observed in the greater part of the State.
The State: Adjoining Lake Michigan to the north, Indiana features deep valleys, cornfields, foothills and vast farmlands. Amid the rolling plains stands Indianapolis, the State capital and national centre for industry, commerce and culture. The business sector lies at the heart of the city, however many of the tourist attractions are situated on the outskirts. Located downtown are the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art and the Indianapolis Zoo, which is renowned for its large collection of dolphins and whales. Further out are the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Krannert Pavillion, with an extensive display of modern art. A must for families is the Children’s Museum. Indianapolis also offers a selection of musical entertainment to suit all tastes: the Walker Theatre has seen the likes of Louis Armstrong grace its stage, while every August the city hosts a Jazz Festival. The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Indianapolis Opera are other popular options. The most famous sporting event to hit the city is the Indianapolis 500 speedway race on Memorial Day Weekend; a month of shows, exhibitions and parades leads up to the main event. The other big motorsport events are the Brickyard 400 NASCAR race in August, and the US Grand Prix Formula One race, held in late September.
At Wolf Park, an hour northwest of Indianapolis at Lafayette, wolves wander freely and, even when they can not be seen, their piercing howls announce their presence. To the south, Bloomington reaches bursting point during its Festival of the Arts and Crafts in June. Other local highlights are the Antique Mall, Art Museum and Lake Monroe, which lies just south of the town.
State attractions also include the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Park; Amish Acres, a restored 19th-century Amish community at Nappanee; the Conner Prairie Pioneer Settlement; the Squire Boone Caves; the James Dean Memorial Gallery in Fairmount, 16km (10 miles) south of his birthplace in Marion; and Fort Wayne, the scene of many bloody battles.
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