History tv is joining our spectrum Cable Partners to showcase the history of indianapolis. To watch more video from the cities on our tour, visit cspan. Org cities tour. We continue with our look at the history of indianapolis. We are driving around downtown indianapolis with our guest from the Indiana State Museum. What is your role with the museum and what are we looking at today . Curator of social history at the Indiana State Museum which means i spend a lot of time doing research and in particular africanAmerican History. Today we are glad to visit the historical locations that help to tell the story of africanamericans in indianapolis. Why were africanamericans coming to indianapolis . Many africanamericans were coming here because we were a free state although we did have laws that did challenge the freedoms for africanamericans coming here. 1825,w that as early as previous to that, there were some appear. We know that there were 55 africanamericans living here in the city and that population continued to grow. It was a slow growth but it continued to grow. We are entering what would have been the heart of the Africanamerican Community. As we crossed the site here, as you look to your right, you will see a lot of activity. You will see a large brick building in the background. An african methodist episcopal church. To 1860lding dates back nine however, the congregation dates back to 1836 when two men established what was then known as indianapolis station. To 1869lding dates back and the congregation worshiped here until 2016. The congregation was more than just a place of worship. It was a place for social activity, a place to gather. It had a school so it was educating the Africanamerican Community that would have lived here. This is indian avenue. Indiana avenue was the heart of the Africanamerican Community. Imagine going back to the 40s and 50s. Theaterjust clubs, jazz clubs. Iname walker was formed 1867. She passed away in 1919. She was an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, and she was someone dedicated to helping others. It became wellknown because of her beauty product and what she was able to build within that company. She definitely is someone who was very important to the community. She moved to indianapolis in 1910 because of the network. There was a strong africanamerican population. A good physical location and she moved here in 1910. She established a lab here. She had a Beauty School and provided an opportunity for a lot of women here and across the country. 1919, her death in may of she began purchasing land. Her daughter would see the completion of the madame walker theater which would have the coffee pot. It would have a theater, a ballroom, a casino. It was a welcoming place for africanamericans. Indianapolis was not technically legally a segregated city. However, there were things that took place in the city that seem to have limitations for the people who were living there. It provided a place for everyone to go. We are on trade street. This is a place where this is as built homes district. These homes go back to the 1950s. Take 20 hours per week or more and do work on their homes constructing and building. This was a place after world war ii. There were over 100 homes built. Very much within the Africanamerican Community. Homes but tothe your right, you will also see or begin to see the high school. The high school was built and it opened in 19 seven. Prior to that, you had students attending the other high schools in indianapolis. , theylanned for students ended up with a total enrollment of 1300. You had teachers who were phenomenal. They were not able to get a job somewhere else. So you had a school within the community. Amazing teachers. This became a source of pride. It closed as a high school in 1986 and became a middle school. Now, it is a high school again. We hope to continue that tradition of sharing the history of the school. As we continue on indiana avenue , the heart of the Africanamerican Community, you see to your left the garden. Built as a public works project. Between 1935 and 1938. Of the stammer had, this was a place where africanamericans could come and find a home. It had 748 units. Here,d families living several individuals from today who remember and talk about growing up here. There were financial limitations for individuals who live there but again, it was a school there and you could have a home. What were some of the challenges for the People Living in indianapolis at that time . Adequate housing. That was a challenge. That is why you had Something Like the garden. The properties that were destroyed, demolished to build had been labeled as slums. Now youre able to have a home for that. Jobs that as individuals had . Andwere people surviving making it through . Locks field closed and in 1983, all but seven of the original buildings were torn down. Now we are going to ransom place. We can go down cam street and turn right here. Mr. Ransom was the attorney for the street isin named after the ransom family. We have the original structures but also new construction. This neighborhood early on, you had european and immigrant. The 1920s, you had a strong africanamerican presence. Were right across my park. This is in recognition of the historic district. You had an individual, jean spears who moved here in 1987 and she worked hard to help with the preservation of this neighborhood and this community. This park is a great place to recognize that. You see madame walker and george knox. Washington is also there. He was here because they were the ymca. Madame walker had donated money to establish it continuing her philanthropy. It that you hope people learn about the history and the city . There is a rich history. About empowerment. There were reasons why individuals stated that community. They continue to thrive. There was success and growth and progress. Our cities tour staff recently traveled to indianapolis to learn about the rich history. To watch more history from indianapolis and other stops on our tour, visit cspan. Org cities tour. You are watching American History tv all weekend every weekend on cspan3. Peter talks about lessons from history that shaped temp during his Vietnam War Service and later as a businessman and leader. He is the former president , ceo and board vice chair of marvel entertainment. Part of anation was annual conference and washington, d. C. I am going to take the