My free time at General Assembly was spent exploring the Indiana State Museum, just a few blocks away from our hotel. I walked along the canal and got to the door just as the steam whistle on the tall outdoor clock was announcing ten o’clock, and a few notes of “Back Home in Indiana”! (I have video of this on my camera.) I started my tour with the IMAX movie, “Under the Sea,” and was nose to nose with brightly colored fish, eels, sharks, and other sea creatures. Exiting on the second floor, I started my museum tour through Indiana history, from early Native American cultures to 20th century inventors, entertainers, and politicians. (Even David Letterman made the notables list!) Got to try a few “chores” that occupied the time of early settlers … lifting a bucket of “water”, stacking wood, churning butter. Disciples of Christ were mentioned in the religious heritage section. In the display about World War II, I found a story about an army chaplain. Rev. Wilbert Sullivan, Clinton, Indiana, was a Disciples minister. He served in the Army Chaplain Corps until Aug. 1944. He went to Butler University. [I checked his bio file this morning. Born 1893, died 1976, he served churches in Indiana, before and after WWII. He was ordained at Downey Avenue Christian Church in 1919. He graduated from Butler with MA in 1939. ] Besides all the interesting exhibits, I enjoyed a delicious lunch in the Tea Room. I ordered off the “Historic Menu.” The tea room was a fixture in downtown Indianapolis, and re-opened for a “second life” at state museum. I bought a few postcards and gifts for great-nieces at the gift shop. I enjoyed my tour of Indiana history!
SKH 8/5/2009