Indiana Theater

The Indiana Theater is one of the few buildings in Terre Haute that has been restored over the years and is still in use today. This 89 year old building was created in 1921 by Frank Lloyd Wright who has 18 other theaters that are still standing today in the United States. The Indiana Theater has 1,600 seats and is decked with a "Spanish baroque" theme, consisting of 38 hand-carved sculptures and a cascading fountain on a lobby landing. The final cost was $750,000, which is between $50 to $90 million in today's money. When this theater was first created, the workers were required to wear Spanish costumes and during many movies (which were silent at that time) live peacocks would flock about the 54-foot-wide stage. Throughout the years, Indiana Theater's stage gave way to many big bands and operettas, eventually showing movies with sound. The movie screen, which can be raised for live performances, is the second largest screen in the state of Indiana. The theater has been refurbished to look exactly as it did when it was first built. It is still open to private movie and stage shows and many other types of functions such as weddings or reunions.

History on Campus

Not many students can look outside their classroom window and see the home of a former presidential candidate for the United States of America. At Indiana State University, we are a part of those few students who can. Just outside of the College of Business and Education stands a big white house that was once owned by Eugene V. Debs. The former American union leader built and moved into this house in 1890 with his wife, Kate. He was sent to prison in 1919 for protesting against World War I in his famous anti-war speech. While in prison, he ran for presidency his fifth and final time, but lost the election. When he was released years later, Debs arrived back to this house in Terre Haute and was given a tremendous welcome by thousands of people right outside. This house now serves as a museum and has been restored to look as it did when Eugene Debs lived there.

The Coca-Cola Bottle

Many have no idea that the first Coca-Cola bottle was made in Terre Haute, Indiana. A man named Chapman J. Root opened a glass company in Terre Haute in 1901 called Root Glass Works which used to stand on the northeast corner of 3rd and Voorhees Street. It was here that he chose the Coca-Cola bottle design out of 11 other choices. The infamous Coca-Cola bottle design that was chosen was constructed to resemble a Cocoa tree pod.

Coca-Cola continued to play a major role in the Root family business which is now called Root Organization. Along with their huge contribution to the Coca-Cola business, the Root family also donated $1.5 million for the construction of Root Hall, an office building and classroom which still stands at Indiana State University. Although Chapman passed in 1945, a bottling plant of the Root Glass Company is still standing in Terre Haute today at 924 Lafayette Ave.

A Hautian's Point of View

It's hard to believe that I've lived in Terre Haute for 21 years and am only beginning to learn about the history of it. I've never thought much about the negative ways that people view this town until I began college. Suddenly, I was meeting people from many different areas and being asked frequently where I was from. The responses I got when I told them I was from Terre Haute was never a positive one and I have since gotten used to being referred to as a "Hautian". I hope by doing this blog that I prove being a "Hautian" isn't so bad afterall.