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📜 This Week in Indiana History 📜

The Battle of Corydon Rages in the Hoosier State (1863)

Only one battle during the American Civil War occurred in Indiana — the Battle of Corydon. The minor engagement at the site of Indiana’s first state capital took place on July 9, 1863, occurring just a handful of days after the Battle of Gettysburg. 

Originally part of Morgan’s Raid, which saw the Confederacy blast its way through Kentucky and into Northern territory, the Battle of Corydon put 400 Federals against the much larger force of Confederate men. The Indiana Legion held the line on three attacks until Colonel Lewis Jordan finally raised the white flag to surrender to the Confederacy. General John Morgan and the Confederate soldiers briefly occupied Corydon and looted the local businesses before departing.

If you are interested in learning more about the battle, the site of the clash is preserved to this day at the Battle of Corydon Memorial Park. It is also a good place to see the first state capitol building in Corydon.

📰 Hoosier Headlines 📰

Victory Field Celebrates 30th Anniversary on July 11

On July 11, the Indianapolis Indians will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Victory Field. The ballpark has outlasted Market Square Arena, the Hoosier Dome (later the RCA Dome), and the Circle Centre Mall, all while providing a major boost to the development of White River State Park and downtown Indy.

Learn more about the Indians’ ballparks and history before the team moved to the Vic, and why you should be there Saturday night. (Get Indiana)

Indians broadcaster Howard Kellman is in his 50th season with the team and remembers July 11, 1996, like it was yesterday. You can listen to Dom Miranda’s full interview with Kellman here. (YouTube)

Nate Spangle also sat down with Indians president and CEO Randy Lewandowski and chairman of the board Bruce Schumacher, who both shared their memories of the team’s move from Bush Stadium to Victory Field. Couple things of note: marketing promotions were a little more on the wild side back in the day, and stadium upgrades are coming to Victory Field for the 2027 season. Full pod available here. (YouTube)

Concerts in Central Indiana; Fairs & Festivals Statewide

Major concerts are scheduled for Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville and Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park in Indianapolis tonight through Sunday, July 12. The first wave of county fairs also started this week and continue through the weekend, and festivals in Peru and Crown Point take center stage Friday thru Sunday. (Get Indiana)

Visit the Rotary Jail Museum in Crawfordsville

Crawfordsville, Indiana stakes claim to the only rotating jail still in existence (thankfully, it’s not used anymore). Tour the Rotary Jail Museum yourself and learn its history here. (Get Indiana)

Trine State Recreation Area: Seeing Through an Artist’s Eyes

An oasis for fishing, bird watching, quiet mornings, and scene trails? IN the Parks host takes us to Trine State Recreation Area in Steuben County. (Get Indiana)

Hoosier to Know: Nicole Pence Becker

Nicole Pence Becker spent over a decade as a journalist, storyteller, and marketing professional. Today as the owner and operator of the award-winning Pence Media Group (PMG), she's channeled the credibility she earned in media into something that's helping businesses tell their stories. Learn more about Nicole and how PMG can make an impact on your business or nonprofit. (Get Indiana)

The Hoosier Who Caddied for Presidents

Tom Kelley, president of Kelley Automotive Group, once caddied for presidents. He also learned a few things from legendary IU men’s basketball coach Bob Knight.

Indiana Trivia Top Fives

Get Indiana’s Will Hudson quizzed Nate to see if he could name the top five in each of the below categories.

Five Hardest Golf Courses in Central Indiana
Five Largest Universities in Indiana
Five Fastest Growing Cities in Indiana

Indiana State Fair “Taste of the Fair” Foods Unveiled

Taste of the Fair is back at the Indiana State Fair from Aug. 7–23, and the menu of nearly 50 items has our mouths watering. Check out some of the craziest combos below.

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Travelers Point Distillery

The small town of Kirklin, Indiana is a gem itself. But a hidden gem within the gem? That’s Travelers Point Distillery.

@natespangle

Hidden Gem in Indiana 💎 Travelers Point 📍 Kirklin, IN #indiana #thingstodoinindiana

Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park

Want to climb, zip, and swing through the trees? Here’s why a trip to Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park in Indianapolis’ Eagle Creek Park should be on your summer to-do list. (Get Indiana)

What’s your Hidden Gem? Submit here to have it featured!

Events This Week

Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration – Various venues in Indianapolis – July 9 through July 19 - IBE kicks off one of the largest cultural events in the country today at Grace Apostolic Church, where U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock delivers the keynote message under the 2026 theme "Our Legacy, Our Influence, Our Future." Details

Perry County 4-H Fair – Perry County Fairgrounds in Tell City – Thursday–Monday, July 9–13 - Riverfront Perry County's annual 4-H fair with grandstand entertainment, livestock competitions, midway rides, and food vendors. Details

Martin County 4-H Fair – Martin County Fairgrounds in Loogootee – Thursday–Tuesday, July 9–14 - Southwest Indiana's Martin County 4-H celebration with livestock shows, tractor pulls, food vendors, and midway entertainment. Details

Kroger Symphony on the Prairie: The Music of "Star Wars" – Conner Prairie Amphitheatre in Fishers – Friday, July 10 at 8 p.m. - The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra performs John Williams' iconic Star Wars score under the stars, with a Star Wars trivia contest before showtime. Tickets

Morgan County Fair – Morgan County Fairgrounds in Martinsville – July 10 through July 18 - Central Indiana's Morgan County kicks off nine days of 4-H exhibits, harness racing, tractor pulls, queen contests, and fair food south of Indianapolis. Details

Fountain County 4-H Fair – Fountain County Fairgrounds in Veedersburg – Friday, July 10 through July 16 - Western Indiana 4-H fair with livestock shows, midway rides, demolition derby, tractor pulls, and family entertainment on U.S. 136. Details

Greene County Fair – Greene County Fairgrounds in Bloomfield – July 10 through July 17 - Southwestern Indiana's Greene County 4-H fair with livestock competitions, grandstand events, midway rides, and small-town summer fun. Details

👏 1 Big wIN 👏

If you don’t have friends in low places, it’s about time you get some because country music artist Garth Brooks is set to perform in Indiana for the first time since 2022 and first time in Indianapolis since 2017! He’s kicking off his “Blame It All On My Roots” tour at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Aug. 21–22.

🎧 He Quit Comedy for 20 Years… Then Came Back at 48 🎧

🎙 On today's show I shared some laughs with Westfield-based comedian Chris Ryan, who returned to stand-up after a 20-year break.

Ryan got his start in IU's Full Frontal Comedy in the mid-'90s alongside Straight No Chaser, training in Chicago improv at ImprovOlympic, and moving to Los Angeles in 1998 with $2,000 from a near-fatal car accident. In LA he worked at Paramount while pursuing stand-up, auditioned for MadTV, and waited alongside Seth Meyers, who was offered SNL the same week.

The setback helped prompt Ryan's exit, grad school in journalism at Illinois, and a move to Indianapolis. After 15+ years in healthcare marketing, therapy and a company sale pushed him to write and perform hour-long shows, including Thermometer and Nothing Means Anything, centered on parenting twins, adolescence, and midlife reinvention.

If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about:
- Ryan's Journey in Comedy From IU to Chicago to LA
- Why Ryan Stepped Away from Comedy
- Scripting, Speeches, and Improv

Listen on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube!

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