Why is a Hoosier a Hoosier or, a Purdue alumnus, a boilermaker? Did you know that Florence Henderson, who played Mrs. Brady, came from Indianapolis, or that comedian, Red Skelton, came from Vincennes? Learn more about this friendly, Midwestern State. See how many of these Indiana facts you know.

Indiana University is home to the largest student union building in the world. It is over 475,000 square feet.

Indiana limestone is world-famous and can be found in such buildings as the Empire State Building, Chicago’s Tribune Tower, and the new Native American Museum in Washington DC.

Indiana is called the “Mother of Vice-Presidents.” Five Indiana men have held that office: Schuyler Colfax, Thomas A. Hendricks, Charles W. Fairbanks, Thomas Marshall, and Dan Quayle.

Famous Indiana natives have included funnyman David Letterman, broadcast journalist Jane Pauley, pop singer John Mellencamp, songwriter Cole Porter, actors Steve McQueen and James Dean, basketball star Larry Bird, and popcorn king Orville Redenbacher.

Ft. Wayne held the first professional baseball game on May 4, 1871.

Indiana’s Parke County is known as the “Covered Bridge Capital of the World.” It has over 32 of these picturesque bridges.

“Indiana” means “Land of the Indians,” but today, fewer than 8000 Native Americans live in the state.

Ft. Wayne native, Syvanus F. Bower designed the world’s first patented gasoline pump.

The American Federation of Labor (AFL) union first met in 1881, in Terre Haute.

And, by the way, although there are at least a dozen theories, no one knows for sure why Indiana natives are called Hoosiers. Suffice it to say, it’s just a catchy and colorful name for the friendly, wholesome folk that call our 19th state home.

By Sandy Mitchell