Hotels in Indianapolis, Indiana

A little about Indianapolis...

Indianapolis is the capital city of the State of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. Indianapolis is well known as a city with a strong sports reputation, a reputation the city government encourages. It has been referred to as The Amateur Sports Capital of the World, and the Racing Capital of the World. The people of Indianapolis have hosted major sporting events such as the 1987 Pan American Games, the NCAA Basketball Tournament, the United States Grand Prix, and the city is perhaps most famous for the annual Indianapolis 500. These events, combined with an aggressive downtown revitalizing campaign, have aided in shedding a reputation as a Manufacturing, or Rust Belt, city.

Indianapolis is the home of the following colleges and universities (in alphabetical order): Butler University,Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, Marian College, Martin University, Oakland City University Indianapolis, and the University of Indianapolis(UIndy).

Cultural Districts:
Indianapolis has designated six official Cultural Districts. They are Broad Ripple Village, Massachusetts Avenue, Fountain Square, The Wholesale District, Canal and White River State Park, and Indiana Avenue. These areas have held historic and cultural importance to the city. In recent years they have been revitalized and are becoming major centers for tourism, commerce and residential living.

At the center of Indianapolis is Monument Circle, a traffic circle at the intersection of Meridian and Market Streets, featuring the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument. (Monument Circle is depicted on the city’s flag, and is generally considered the city’s symbol). Monument Circle is in the shadow of Indiana's tallest skyscraper, the Chase Tower. Up until the early 1960s, Indianapolis zoning laws stated that no building could be taller than the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Each Christmas season, local electricians string lights onto the monument. It is lit for the holiday season in a ceremony that attracts tens of thousands of Hoosiers to downtown Indianapolis on the day after Thanksgiving. The "Circle of Lights" festival celebrates the lighting of the city-proclaimed "World's Largest Christmas Tree" which, in reality, is just the monument decked out in lights.

Every May Indianapolis holds the 500 Festival, a month of events culminating in the Indianapolis 500 Festival Parade the day before the running of the Indianapolis 500. The Festival was begun in 1957 and the first Queen of the Festival was Ann Lawrie who was named in 1959.

The Circle City Classic is one of America’s top historically African-American college football tournaments. The football game is the showcase event of an entire weekend. The weekend is a celebration of cultural excellence and educational achievement while showcasing the spirit, energy and tradition of America’s historically black colleges and universities.

Indianapolis is also home to the Indiana State Fair, as well as the Heartland Film Festival, The Indianapolis International Film Festival, the Indianapolis Theatre Fringe Festival, the Indianapolis Alternative Media Festival, the Midwest Music Summit and the Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival.

The Indy International Wine Competition which is the largest U.S. wine competition outside of California is held in Indianapolis every July at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

The city has a vibrant arts community that includes many fairs celebrating a wide variety of arts and crafts during the summer months. They include the Broad Ripple Art Fair,Talbot Street Art Fair, Carmel Arts Festival and the Penrod Art Fair.

Other places of interest:
Butler University
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Indianapolis Zoo
Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens
Heslar Naval Armory
Holcomb Gardens
Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library
Irvington Historic District
Slippery Noodle Inn
White River Gardens

Indianapolis Zoo:
Opened in 1988 the Indianapolis Zoo is the largest zoo in the state and just west of Downtown. It is best known for its Dolphin exhibit which includes the only under-water viewing dome in the Midwest.