Indianapolis

We arrived Zionsville, Indiana late Jan 27 and stayed for the next four nights at our niece and nephew, Tom and Sharon C’s, wonderful home.  We were greeted at the door by their overlarge-sized and -hearted golden retriever Fitz.  Once we made our way past him, we gave hugs to Tom and Sharon and sat down to catch up over a glass of wine. 

As mentioned, the next day we played in the bridge tournament (and on Wednesday). However, we spent Tuesday poking around Indianapolis.

Benjamin Harrison home

     Having just seen the Lincoln home, we decided to check out Benjamin Harrison’s home.  Harrison is one of several Presidents I know little about.  I did learn that he was President when four states entered the Union, and that he worked (unsuccessfully) to expand voting rights for Blacks.  His house was larger and statelier than Lincoln’s, but didn’t hold the “wow” factor of walking where Lincoln had walked. 

"As long as the grass will grow and the rivers flow, the remaining lands will be yours.” We also visited the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art.  Part of this museum is dedicated to understanding the Native people who originally and still call Indiana home—especially the Miami, Potawatomi, and Delaware.  According to oral traditions, each time a treaty was signed and land given up, the tribe was given the above promise.  Between 1795 and 1840, virtually every treaty was broken.   

     The museum had delineated areas with art representative of each of the major tribal areas of North America.  I liked seeing a “taste” of the art from each culture within one museum – from Navajo saddle blankets to Inuit sculptures.  

     I didn’t spend as much time in the Western Art part of the Museum, but did see one huge three-panel panorama of the Grand Canyon.  Couldn’t imagine how someone painted it... must have had really long handles on his or her paint brushes!

Beet Burgers - Yum!

     We ate lunch at The Three Carrots vegetarian restaurant. I had a beet burger which was out of this world.  Wished they sold these in the freezer section back home!! 

                                      

Last, I did not get up to Kokomo while near Indianapolis.  I had told everyone that I was going to go see its “roadside attraction” that cracked me up when I first read about it.  Kokomo is known for having the “world’s largest sycamore tree stump... formerly known as the world’s largest sycamore tree.”  Maybe next time, Kokomo.