Crooked

After work, I went to the Natatorium to take care of some business, 

then walked back downtown to go to dinner.

A thunderstorm had passed through, leaving the city wet 

and shiny in the late afternoon sun.

I passed by the Indiana State Capitol building

where I saw this fine old tree, crooked and mossy.

Sadly, my first thought was that the tree's appearance

describes perfectly the corruption of the processes

inside that beautiful building. 

Downtown Indy, 1893

I turned the corner into one of the American art galleries at the IMA,

and caught sight of the profile of a big domed building that looked familiar to me.

I checked the identification label on the wall, and found the huge

oil painting,Washington Street, Indianapolis at Dusk, was, indeed

a scene showing the State House, on the north side of Washington Street,

surrounded by the hubbub of her citizens, perhaps on their way home from work.

The painting was done by German artist, Theodor Groll, 

when he came to judge German paintings at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

He stayed in Indianapolis, visiting relatives, during the period when

this painting was done, from 1892-1895.

The one thing I can tell about the differences between life 

in 1893 Indy and today, is that public transportation

was much better then.

Reflection

Since 1977, the statue of Indiana Governor Thomas Hendricks has enjoyed this unlimited view into the rooms on the northwest side of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. In his lifetime, Hendricks not only served as the state's sixteenth governor, but was also a Representative in Congress and the twenty-first Vice President of the United States under Grover Cleveland. Even with all the experiences he had serving the people of his state and nation, it is a sure thing he's seen enough through those windows that could sear the bronze eyes out of a statue. Oh, wait a minute, I forgot ... he was a politician, after all.

  

Rotunda Color

The picture above is of the stained glass rotunda of the Indiana State House. The capitol building was renovated, restored and just overall rescued from numbing drabness in the 1980's. Now it is beautiful, but what has been going on in that building this past legislative season is not at all attractive. It seems that certain people have forgotten that their job is to govern in the best interests of all the people, not just their own. The next pictures show the interior of the main hall and a detail of one of the chandeliers.

The picture below shows a statue of Governor Oliver P. Morton (1861 - 1867), facing east towards Monument Circle. Officially, it is the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, dedicated in 1901 to honor Hoosier veterans of the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Civil War and the Spanish-American War. Located in the center of the city, the Indiana Civil War Museum is located inside the monument. 

A couple weeks ago, the statue representing Lady Victory was taken down for much needed repairs and renovation. Plans are underway to remodel the street and sidewalk area around the Circle, but the final design has yet to be determined.