After a packed week in Louisville, we continued our trip north, stopping at a KOA campground east of Indianapolis. Whereas the last campground had us in an upgraded site with paved seating area, swing, and furniture (but very, very tight, had a tree right in front of our door), our site in Indy was super long (you could park two of RV’s in our space), lots of open space and, as we’d find out later, subject to minor flooding when it rained. Just one of the joys of camping – the variety of different sites and pros/cons you can find at each. The one in Indy was great because, as you can see from the pic below, we had tons of shade!
All that gravel got covered with an inch of water whenever it rained!
Our visit to Indy would not be as busy but would include TWO HUGE activities. Of course, the first that comes to mind is to visit the one and only home of the Indianapolis 500, otherwise known as the Brickyard. We upgraded our museum visit to get a tour around the track and to several important locations around the track. Specifically:
- A lap around the track (granted, in a golf cart!)
- An opportunity to stand at the finish line and “kiss the bricks”, a yard- wide remainder of the original brick race track from over 100 years ago.
- A visit to VIP levels of the Pagoda as well as the Media Center
- A tour of Gasoline Alley
- A visit to see the official pace car used for this years Indy 500
- A chance to stand on the victory stage and winners circle
It’s amazing how large this track is, how much is held inside the track and the idea that over 100,000 people fill this every year to see the most famous race in history. Later, we were also able to hunt down some special beer – Hinchtown Hammerdown in honor of our favorite Indy Car Driver, Jame Hinchcliff!
In addition to seeing the track and related locations, we also visited the Indy Museum which is actually located inside the track (you drive under the track and into the infield to park at the museum). Inside were cars from many of the races, including the very first winner! There was also a special section honoring 50 years since Mario Andretti won his Indy 500 in 1969. Lots of amazing machines and history to take in.
As some may recall, while in Alabama, we visited a Medical Museum in Foley. In Indianapolis, there is another Medical Museum that is housed in a building built in the late 1800’s to help teach and advance the study of medicine. It remained in use until a few decades ago and has been retained in its original condition. We spent an hour touring this unique piece of medical history.
Not sure we like the title…”pathological”? 
Lecture hall with original chairs 
Original museum with various medical specimens 
Autopsy table. Note the floor is painted red… 
Original tiles in lab area 
Beautiful custom round work table 
These residents have been here since the start. No one wants to move them since they were preserved with arsenic. 
Doctor work areas
The rest of the visit had a military slant to it. We made a quick visit to the USS Indianapolis Memorial. For those not into WW II history, this ship delivered the first atomic bomb so that it could later be dropped on Japan in order to quicken the end of the war. Afterwards, while enroute to its next assignment, it was torpedoed and sunk only days before the end of the war. Of a crew of over 1,100, about 900 went into the water but only about 300 survived until rescue 5 days later. About 600 succumbed to exposure and shark attacks due to errors made by the navy before and after the sinking. Many years later the captain of the Indianapolis was absolved of any blame due to a push by surviving crew members who uncovered multiple errors and coverups by the navy. A sad story but also one of amazing strength
Finally, on one of the last days in the area, Dan traveled south about 45 minutes to a small army reserve base outside the town of Franklin, Indiana. His destination was Camp Atterbury. This army facility was originally built in 1942 as a training facility to help ramp up for WW II. It was built as a temporary facility but it has continued to serve on and has been closed and then reactivated for every major army engagement from Korea to the Gulf War. Dan’s reason to visit was personal – this was where his father, Sidney, arrived after completing Officer Commission Service training and assignment to go to the Korean War. Born in Massachusetts, Sid realized he might be drafted for the war and thus enlisted and went the OCS route. Although he was a “yankee”, he was, ironically, assigned to the Dixie Division, comprised mostly of troops from various southern states. He arrived in mid ’52 and departed at the end of the year. But, in between, he met a woman who was working at the base in an administrative function. Her name was Jean Huntsberry and they would later meet and get married before he shipped off for Korea in January of 1953. And thus, in a way, this was where Dan’s history started. They had a small museum with some displays as well as some equipment displayed outdoors.
Dad’s division info 
A helmet much like Sid would have worn 
A guide from the 50’s when dad and mom where at Camp Atterbury 
A jeep from the Korean War era
We stayed close to camp for most meals but did venture out for a local favorite for one day – an Indy Tenderloin. This is a pork tenderloin, beaten flat and fried, presented as a “sandwich” but as large in diameter as a basketball!!! Yummy as can be!!!
A great week in Indy. Next stop, northern Indiana, specifically the RV Capital of the WORLD – Elkhart. Stay tuned for the next post that includes a visit to the Motorhome/RV Museum (yes, there is such a thing!).