Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis

The Indiana Historical Society (IHS), established in 1830, is among the oldest and largest historical societies in the United States. Often referred to as "Indiana's Storyteller," it is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich history of Indiana and the Old Northwest. The IHS is located in the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center on West Ohio Street, within Indianapolis’s vibrant Canal and White River State Park Cultural District, alongside notable neighbors like the Indiana State Museum and the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art.

The IHS offers diverse resources, including a vast collection of photographs, artifacts, and manuscripts at the William Henry Smith Memorial Library, featuring rare items like an Abraham Lincoln glass plate negative. It publishes historical works, supports educators, sponsors National History Day, and appoints 92 county historians. The Indiana Experience, launched in 2010, brings history to life with "You Are There!" exhibits featuring costumed interpreters.

The IHS’s collection is a robust repository of Indiana’s heritage, featuring 45,000 cataloged printed items, 14,000 pieces of sheet music, 3,300 artifacts, and 1,700 maps. Unique items like a 130-year-old Bible used to swear in Indianapolis’s mayor and digital access to over 70,000 images.

The Indiana Historical Society’s impact extends beyond its archives. It actively supports local museums and historical groups, ensuring Indiana’s past remains accessible and engaging for future generations. Renovated and renamed in 2009, the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center continues to serve as a cultural cornerstone, hosting over 112,000 visitors annually and offering innovative ways to experience history.