Now the two institutions are coming together againg to present a exhibit at the airport’s KIND Gallery titled “Memories, Wonders, and Dreams: Stories from 100 Years”—a centennial tribute to the world’s largest children’s museum.
The exhibit is located post-security in Concourse A at IND and will be showcasing a curated selection of objects and photographs from the museum’s vast archive and collection through January 26.
The exhibit honors Hoosier natives and state institutions with significant roles in aviation history and is located in the IND Bag Claim, near Carousel 3.
The list includes the first flight at Kitty Hawk, the Apollo 11 mission, Amelia Earhart, the Tuskegee Airmen and Rolls Royce.
Here’s a sample of the people, places and achievements honored in the exhibit:
Wilbur Wright, a Millville, Ind., native flew the first airplane flight in 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
Margaret Hamilton, from Paoli, Ind., invented software engineering and wrote the code for the Apollo 11 mission, helping to put Neil Armstrong on the moon in 1969.
Lewis A. Jackson, an Angola, Ind., native combined his aviation skills with his education degree to become the Director of Training for the 99th Pursuit Squadron of Tuskegee Airmen during World War II.
Col. Harvey Weir Cook, a Wilkinson, Ind., native, a military hero, and the namesake of the Indianapolis International Airport campus, was instrumental in educating the public in the 1930s about the history of flight and aviation via his radio show sponsored by Pennant Syrup.
Purdue University. Amelia Earhart joined the staff in 1935 as the “Counselor on Careers for Women” and during her four years there encouraged many women to join Purdue’s aeronautics engineering program.
Earlier this week, the sports department at StuckatTheAirport.com declared the basketball court at Indianapolis International Airport (IND) the Airport Amenity of the Week.
Even though it was only Monday. And even though the temporary court is a no-real-basketballs-allowed promo for the festivities and special events surrounding the NBA All-Star 2024 game to be held in Indianapolis on February 18.
Here’s more about that court and more information about what IND Airport has in store for travelers now through the NBA All-Star 2024 weekend.
About that court
The basketball court is a decal located pre-security in the airport’s public gathering area, which is called the Civic Plaza. The court is 50 feet wide by 94 feet long and is the same size as a professional basketball court. The basketball goals are courtesy of the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Basketball graphics galore at IND Airport
Graphics celebrating the NBA All-Star 2024 weekend are also in the IND bag claim area and other parts of the airport.
And there’s more to come.
IND officials tell us that a 6-foot-tall ceramic basketball will be rolled into the bag claim area, there will be live music from local musicians, custom artwork by local artists in the airport’s KIND Gallery, and pop-up shops with all manner of NBA All-Star merch.
Blue Skies at IND
If you’re heading to Indianapolis during the NBA All-Star 2024 weekend, or anytime, be sure to look for the newest major piece of public art at IND Airport.
Blue Skies, by Brenna McCarty, is suspended more than 65 feet in the air from the terminal roof structure and is composed of hundreds of acrylic spheres.
This must be what they mean when they say ‘Hoosier Hospitality.’
The 2024 NBA All-Star game will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 18.
To promote the exhibition game and to make fans feel welcome, Indianapolis International Airport (IND) has turned its central terminal area, called the Civic Plaza, into a full-length basketball court, complete with stanchions, glass backboards, and a painted ‘hardwood’ floor.
The only thing missing? The basketballs.
No dribbling, dunking, or basketball playing is allowed.
a full-length basketball court has been installed in the middle of Indianapolis International Airport to welcome fans to next month's #NBAAllStar2024 🤩
We can tell travel is inching back to ‘normal’ because airports are hosting fun events and encouraging travelers to stick around and engage.
Two great examples: Indianapolis International Airport (IND) welcomed the Sweets & Snacks Expo to town (yes, that’s a thing!) with an in-terminal chocolate sculpting demonstration.
And as part of its ongoing Elevate Love Project, El Paso International Airport (ELP) has motivational messages on restroom mirrors.
We are excited to welcome the @CandyUSA Sweets & Snacks Expo 🍬🍭🍫 to #LoveIndy! Check out this chocolate sculpture masterpiece of @ESC_Chocolate mascot, Elinor the Elephant 🐘 welcoming conference attendees as they arrive. pic.twitter.com/dOCpvx64OO
— Indianapolis International Airport (IND) (@INDairport) June 22, 2021
Motivational Messages from ELP Airport
A Twitter message from El Paso International Airport (ELP) on National Selfie Day sparked our curiosity about the writing on the restroom mirror in the photo.
It turns out that is part of the airport’s Elevate Love Project, so named to fit with the airport’s call sign ELP.
“Our staff submitted their positivity and we placed them on the mirrors to boost the mood of anyone who sees them,” explains, ELP Education and Graphics Specialist Asa Aguilar. “We have had great responses from the public and many people have submitted to this initiative.”
Here are some samples of the messages and the selfies people have shared. Great idea!
We were also curious about the bird in the photo. And we are pleased to learn that this is Red T. Hawk, El Paso International Airport’s mascot and ambassador.
We think every airport should have a mascot and we’re pleased to add Red T. Hawk to our list.
Stuck at The Airport’s “5 Things We Love About…” series is back for the new year celebrating more features and amenities at airports around the country and the world.
5 Things We Love About Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
From Ron Baron’s ‘Baggage Claim” at IND Airport
1. All the Art at IND
Connections, by Cameron McNall and Damon Seeley at IND Airport
IND has a wonderful collection of permanent and temporary art collections displayed throughout the airport. Many of the pieces were created by artists or poets who live in Indiana or have ties to the Hoosier state.
2. The food at IND
IND is one of those airports where you want to arrive hungry.
The “World’s Best Shrimp Cocktail is served with a signature and very spicy cocktail sauce at Harry & Izzy’s steakhouse in Concourse A. The list of other eateries with local connections includes the Sun King Brewing Co., Shapiro’s Delicatessen, and Tinker Coffee. And check out this Reis and Irvy’s robotic yogurt kiosk.
3. Racing Cars in the IND Terminal
Indianapolis is home to the Indy 500, the largest single-day sporting event in the world. So IND airport displays vintage racing vehicles from the vault at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
Passengers will also hear revving engine sound effects in the pedestrian bridge.
4. Largest Airport Solar Farm
IND lays claim to being home to the world’s largest airport solar farm. The field of panels creates enough energy to power 3,675 average American homes per year. For more energy, the airport has human-powered charging bikes.
5. Souvenir Shopping at IND
Souvenir shopping at IND? Fun options include made-in-Indiana candy at Natalie’s Candy Jar; books by Indiana authors at INK by Hudson and, for a splurge, a crystal basketball from Scoreboard on Concourse A.
Did we miss one of the features you love about Indianapolis International Airport? If so, drop a note in the comments section below. Also let us know which airport you’d like to nominate to be featured in our series next.
The Indianapolis 500 takes place in about a month and Indianapolis International Airport is revving up for the race with a new display of some vintage race cars.
This 1950 Russo–Nichels Special, known as “Basement Bessie,” was built by driver Paul Russo and chief mechanic Ray Nichels in the basement of Russo’s home in Hammond, Ind. and had to be partially dismantled in order to move it to the ground floor. Look for this car on Concourse A near the exit to Civic Plaza.
1962 Mickey Thompson Harvey Aluminum Special
Look for this car on Concourse B near the exit to Civic Plaza
(Photos courtesy Indianapolis International Airport)
This 1933 Essex Terraplane (T8) was owned for short time in 1934 by the notorious criminal John Dillinger (Public Enemy Number One) and used as a getaway car until Dillinger and his brother, Hubert, crashed the car in a farm field.
Between September 1933 and July 1934, Dillinger and his gang went on a Midwest crime spree that included bank robberies, murders and jail breaks that turned the charismatic Dillinger into a folk hero.
Much of the ‘action’ took place in and around Indiana, so it’s somewhat appropriate that for the next few years the flashy car will be on display at the Indianapolis International Airport.
