Plus, Colts making roster cuts.
 
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Today’s Forecast

39º | Cloudy | 0% chance of rain | Sunrise 8:06 a.m. | Sunset 5:33 p.m.
 

History

The history of the Indiana Central Canal
People paddling on the canal in a swan boat
You know it’s summer when you start seeing these swans. | Photo by INDYtoday team
Today, the area where the canal meets the White River is bustling with activity.

Teenagers hit the stairs with busted skateboards, families have picnics in the grass, friends get a workout pedaling swan-shaped boats, and 20-somethings who met on a dating app take awkward first date walks together. But what did the canal look like almost 200 years ago, and why was it built in the first place?

Getting around town hasn’t always been easy. In the early 1800s, people had to walk, ride horses, or hitch up a wagon to travel and conduct business. But once the Erie Canal was completed in New York, Hoosiers saw new opportunities to use waterways to optimize and accelerate local trade.

In 1836, the General Assembly passed the Mammoth Improvement Act, which funded eight major projects to improve transportation throughout Indiana. This included the construction of the Indiana Central Canal.

Downtown canal with skyline in background

We love a nice stroll on the canal.

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Photo via @gizadventures

Originally intended to run 296 miles, work on the canal suddenly stopped when the state faced bankruptcy in 1839. Only 26 miles had been dug, and about nine of those were operational.

But despite being considered a failure, the canal still helped Indy grow. Laborers flocked to the area, and in 1904, the Indianapolis Water Company began constructing the White Water Purification Plant.

In the 1980s, the city started restoring the 150-year-old canal, extending it into White River State Park and eventually constructing the Canal Walk. Soon after, in 2004, the canal and White River State Park was designated as one of Indy’s six cultural districts.

Have a good story of your own centered around the canal? Send it our way.
Events
Tuesday, Aug. 29
  • Spanish Conversation Circle | Tuesday, Aug. 29 | 5-6 p.m. | Central Library, 40 E. Saint Clair St., Indianapolis | Free | Join the Spanish Conversation Circle to practice and improve your Spanish skills in a comfortable and welcoming place.
  • IMAX Indy Presents: “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” | Tuesday, Aug. 29 | 7 p.m. | IMAX Theater in the Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington St., Indianapolis | $18 | Throw it back with this classic sci-fi thriller from the 1970s about an Indiana electric lineman who finds his ordinary life daily turned upside down after a close encounter with a UFO.*
Wednesday, Aug. 30
  • Hot Walk Indy #17 - Carmel | Wednesday, Aug. 30 | 5-9 p.m. | Sun King Carmel, 351 Monon Blvd., Carmel | Free | Join this inclusive social walking club that meets four to six times a month — usually with a social activity before or after.
Thursday, Aug. 31
  • Golf Workshop | Thursday, Aug. 31 | 5-5:45 p.m. | Indianapolis Healthplex, 3660 Guion Rd., Indianapolis | $0-$10 | Learn to improve your drives with mobility, stability, and strength.
Friday, Sept. 1
  • Harrison Center First Friday | Friday, Sept. 1 | 6-9 p.m. | Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware St., Indianapolis | Free | Check out this gallery opening featuring the inaugural Katharine B. Sutphin Invitational, featuring 35+ of Indianapolis’ best artists invited by the Katharine B. Sutphin Foundation.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Closed
  • Green District — a quick-service restaurant featuring salads + wraps — closed its final two locations in central Indiana Friday, Aug. 25 after the company filed for bankruptcy. Five Green District restaurants have opened and closed in Indy since late 2019. (IBJ)
Announced
  • Indiana Black Expo Inc. announced that the grand marshal of this year’s Circle City Classic parade will be Indy native + nationally renowned artist and entertainer Trevor Jackson. The parade will take place on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 10 a.m. starting at North and Pennsylvania streets. Get event info. (WRTV)
Sports
  • The Colts are in the process of cutting the roster from 90 players to 53 — and it must be completed by 4 p.m. today. One of the team’s more notable cuts was veteran running back Kenyan Drake. (IndyStar)
State
  • Gov. Holcomb announced that the state is planning to spend $7.7 million on new firefighter training sites. The first phase of the large-scale plan will include four new physical training locations to be built in Corydon, Linton, Rensselaer, and Wabash. These new sites are expected to be ready for use in the first quarter of 2024. (IBJ)
Travel
  • The price of domestic airfare at IND increased by 17.14% in the past year, according to SmartAsset. Prices rose from $332.42 in the first quarter of 2022 to $389.39 in the first quarter of 2023. IND’s price increase is above the nationwide average of 16%.
Number
  • 22,073,465. That’s how many minutes more than 27,000 Hoosiers collectively dedicated to reading this summer. The Indianapolis Public Library’s summer reading program for adults also saw a 60% registration increase + a 143% increase in participation.
Giveaway
  • Calling all grill masters and tailgating fanatics: We’re launching the Ultimate Midwest Tailgate Giveaway, in partnership with Hotel Tango Distillery and Simple Times Mixers, where one winner will win a red hot prize package (valued at $1,300+). Enter by Monday, Sept. 4 at 11:59 p.m. We’ll be announcing the winner on Wednesday, Sept. 6.*
Finance
  • How many cards are in your wallet? Make your answer “one.” Earn a $200 sign-up bonus simply by spending $500 in your first three months with this card. Pair that with 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for your first 15 months — oh, and unlimited cash back.*
Seasonal

🍁 A fall feeling

What Indy seasonal fall events are you most interested in?
INDY_Eagle Creek Park_fall foliage_OCT2022
Believe it or not, this is a bird’s eye view of Eagle Creek Park in October. | Photo by @siduloid
Last week’s heat wave aside, autumn is fast approaching. Indy summers are always eventful, but fall is just as fruitful with pumpkin-spiced, apple-scented fun.

This is where you, our wonderful readers, can share what stories you would like to see in the newsletter in the coming weeks. Here are a few things we have in mind:
  • Regional pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and hay rides
  • Indoor/outdoor fall concerts and music festivals
  • Fall foodie and drink events
  • Seasonal sips at local coffee shops
  • Seriously scary fun for the brave of heart
Click the button below to vote on your favorite fall activities, and let us know if we’re missing something you need the 411 on.
Vote for your fall favorite
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The Wrap
 
Shea Stapley.png

Today’s edition by:
Shea
From the editor
Speaking of fall favorites, one of the highlights of fall for me is visiting Tuttle Orchards for an apple cider donut and a peach slushie.
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