Things to Do in Indiana, United States: City Guides

Indiana is a Midwestern state shaped by rivers, industry, sport, and communities that range from the shore of Lake Michigan to the Ohio River. An Indiana travel guide should include Indianapolis and its major sporting traditions, but also the state’s historic towns, museums, university life, and changing landscapes. Neywo has free audio guides for 4 cities in Indiana, with 212 narrated places in total.

What to see and do in Indiana

Explore Indiana’s history

Indiana’s story reaches back to the period after the Ice Age, when Paleo-Indians arrived in the region. The state’s name means “Land of the Indians.” In the late eighteenth century, the area became part of the Northwest Territory, and American settlement encountered Indigenous resistance.

The Battle of Tippecanoe and the collapse of Tecumseh’s confederacy marked a turning point. Indiana entered the Union in 1816 as the nineteenth state. Settlers arrived mainly from the eastern seaboard and the Upland South, including people of British and German ancestry.

The state also played a role in the Civil War. Indiana fought for the Union and was the first western state to mobilize. Later, natural gas encouraged heavy industry and brought new European immigrants to northern counties. Manufacturing and automobile production transformed much of northern and central Indiana, while the south remained more rural.

See the contrast between city and countryside

Indiana is known as the Hoosier State, and its identity reflects a contrast between industrial cities and rural communities. Indianapolis is the capital and largest city, at the center of a metropolitan area with more than two million people. Since 1990, population growth has been especially concentrated in the counties surrounding the city.

Elsewhere, the landscape changes gradually. Lake Michigan lies to the northwest, while the Ohio River forms much of the southern and southeastern boundary with Kentucky. The Wabash River helps mark the western line with Illinois. The White, Blue, St. Joseph, Maumee, and Whitewater rivers also cross the state.

Indiana is not especially mountainous. Its average elevation is about 760 feet above sea level, and Hoosier Hill in Wayne County is its highest point. Even without dramatic relief, the state offers distinct settings, from the Lake Michigan shore to the Ohio River valley.

Discover Indianapolis

Indianapolis is the main urban center for visitors interested in Indiana’s history, culture, and sport. The city is home to the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, the Madam Walker Legacy Center, Newfields, and The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

Sport is central to the city’s public character. Every May, over Memorial Day weekend, Indianapolis hosts the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Usually called the Indy 500, the race is also known as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

Indianapolis also supports the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League, the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association, and the Indiana Fever of the Women’s National Basketball Association. For a closer look at the capital, explore the Indianapolis city guide.

Visit Bloomington and its university museums

Bloomington brings together education, culture, and museums. The city’s narrated places include the Eskenazi Museum of Art, the Mathers Museum of World Cultures, WonderLab, and Indiana University.

Indiana’s educational life extends beyond Bloomington. Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana is the state’s largest public post-secondary educational institution, and vocational schools operate in every region. Many high school students can attend them for training and help finding work in trade jobs.

Bloomington is a useful stop for travellers who want to experience Indiana through its university and cultural institutions. The Bloomington guide provides a closer introduction to the city.

Walk through Madison, Indiana

Madison, Indiana, is one of the smaller Indiana destinations covered by Neywo. Its narrated places include Anderson, Elwood, Alexandria, and Chesterfield.

The city belongs in an itinerary focused on the state’s communities beyond Indianapolis. It offers a different perspective on Indiana from the large metropolitan center and the industrial areas of the north. Continue with the Madison, Indiana guide.

See Michigan City and Lake Michigan’s edge

Michigan City lies in northwestern Indiana, in the part of the state shaped by Lake Michigan. Among its narrated places are the Old Michigan City Light and the First Congregational Church of Michigan City.

The city is a natural choice for travellers interested in Indiana’s waterside setting and the state’s northern communities. Learn more in the Michigan City guide.

Experience Indiana’s sporting culture

Basketball has a particularly deep place in Indiana life, reaching back to the sport’s formative years. As of 2013, Indiana had produced more National Basketball Association players per person than any other state. The Indiana Hoosiers men’s basketball team has also won national and conference championships.

Auto racing is another enduring tradition, centered on the Indianapolis 500. Together, basketball and racing express something central to Indiana’s public identity: sport is not simply an event on the calendar, but part of how the state presents itself.

Understand Indiana’s modern economy

Indiana’s contemporary character combines manufacturing, transport, education, and a large metropolitan center. Manufacturing became a primary source of employment after the Second World War and remained so into the 1960s. Today, the economy is diverse.

Rail continues to be important, with routes chiefly operated by CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern. The state’s waterways also carry cargo each year. These connections help explain why industry, transport, and education remain closely linked across Indiana.

Explore Indiana with Neywo’s free audio guide

Neywo covers 4 cities in Indiana with 11 walking tours and 212 narrated places in total. Narration is available in 11 languages. The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule.

Download Neywo to explore Indiana through its cities, museums, monuments, historic buildings, and sporting landmarks—and to continue discovering the wider United States.