Passengers: The Indiana Railway Experience
The collection of items in this exhibit is not meant to tell the complete story of the railroad, but to provide a snapshot of the passenger experience in Indiana, told by tangible material culture that have been carefully preserved at the Indiana State Library over time. The quintessential train passenger is not easily defined, evolving while containing surprising variety within each era. The early days of railroad expansion are often romanticized as part of our nation’s story, but call up the dirt and grime of pre-pavement travel. On the other side, the days of luxury lounge and dining cars might be the first image to come to mind for many, an era which evokes a sense of adventure enabled by better technology and faster service. The commuter story is perhaps less nostalgic, but they were at the crux of the interurban commuter lines, particularly Indiana’s own South Shore Line, which was considered a technological triumph when it was finished in 1908.
Brightly colored posters featuring the Gary steel mills represent the interdependent relationship between commuter rails and industry. The electric interurban lines were capable of transporting workers via the commuter lines and serving the mills with their electric freight lines. These advertisements would have been seen alongside those depicting leisurely weekend ridership. Railway timetables, photographs and even a drool-worthy menu from Union Station in Indianapolis which played host to thirteen commuter lines at its height, are meant to provide a brief glimpse into the passenger experience in Indiana. The state boasted over 7,400 miles of railway at its peak in 1920, 1,825 of that interurban lines, which made Indiana second only to Ohio for commuter lines.
- Artists: Various
- Installation: April - July 2023
- Location: Concourse A and B
Through its history, the Indiana State Library has developed strong collections in the fields of Indiana history and culture, Indiana state government and United States government publications, Indiana newspapers, genealogy and family history resources on Indiana and the eastern United States, Braille, large print, and books on tape for the visually impaired, library science, and American history, politics, and economics. Its collections in these areas support research by state agency employees, scholars, genealogists, librarians, students, Indiana residents who are blind or physically challenged, and the general public. The Library Development Office works to improve and support the libraries of Indiana through assistance, training, and supervising the distribution of state and federal funds.