We went searching for photos of Indiana in the 1970s and found some great ones to share!
Between the rapidly evolving technology that dealt a painful blow to industrial cities and the devastating 1974 “Tornado Outbreak,” the state faced some hard times…but it wasn’t all bad news; Indiana University dominated the NCAA championship in 1976 with an undefeated record and the blossoming cultural movements of the era kept Hoosier life interesting.
These shots, taken by photographer Paul Sequeria for the Environmental Protection Agency, show the smokey effects of the steel industry in Gary.
Image: WikiMedia / Paul Sequeira The declining demand for steel as well as competition overseas were major factors in the economic downturn of the region.
Gary Steel Plant, 1970.
Image: National Archives / 547198 The dunes near Indiana Harbor with Bethlehem Steel in the background, 1973.
Image: WikiMedia Commons / Paul Sequeira Calumet Park, 1973.
Image: National Archives / 547122 Smokey skies from U.S. Steel over a Gary toll road, 1973.
The Indiana railroads hit their heydey in the mid 1800s, when they were the primary mode of transportation across the state. Although their use has steadily declined since then, the rail network still played an important role in freight movement, and Amtrak passenger trains were a relatively popular means to travel long distances.
Image: WikiMedia / Paul Sequeira
The declining demand for steel as well as competition overseas were major factors in the economic downturn of the region.
Gary Steel Plant, 1970.
Image: National Archives / 547198
The dunes near Indiana Harbor with Bethlehem Steel in the background, 1973.
Image: WikiMedia Commons / Paul Sequeira
Calumet Park, 1973.
Image: National Archives / 547122
Smokey skies from U.S. Steel over a Gary toll road, 1973.
Image: WikiMedia / Jim Pickerell The Fort Wayne Amtrak Station, 1974.
Image: Flickr / rails4me Griffith, IN, 1972
We love photos of old buildings - it’s fun to see how much the architecture has changed over the years!
Image: WikiMedia / Declan Haun The photographer titled this photo “A well-kept house on Franklin Street,” and we’re fans of the white picket fence around this Columbus, IN house from 1973.
Image: WikiMedia / Jack Boucher Stewart Manor in Indianapolis, 1970.
Image: WikiMedia / Jack Boucher Indiana Theater in Indianapolis, 1970.
Image: WikiMedia / Jim Pickerell
The Fort Wayne Amtrak Station, 1974.
Image: Flickr / rails4me
Griffith, IN, 1972
Image: WikiMedia / Declan Haun
The photographer titled this photo “A well-kept house on Franklin Street,” and we’re fans of the white picket fence around this Columbus, IN house from 1973.
Image: WikiMedia / Jack Boucher
Stewart Manor in Indianapolis, 1970.
Indiana Theater in Indianapolis, 1970.
Image: WikiMedia / Jack Boucher
A round barn in Fayette County, 1975.
Image: WikiMedia / Jack Boucher The Jacob Heck Building in Cannelton, 1974. Check out that cool old Shell pump out front!
Image: WikiMedia / Michael Gaebler The “Roofless Church” in New Harmony, 1979.
Some of the buildings are timeless, like Monument Circle in Indianapolis. This photo was taken in 1970.
Image: WikiMedia / Jack Boucher
This Presbyterian church in Monticello was one of many buildings damaged by the tornadoes in 1974.
Image: WikiMedia / NOAA 148 tornadoes touched down across the 13 states during a single 24-hour period on April 3-4. At one point there were 15 separate tornadoes on the ground at once! 319 people lost their lives and nearly 5,500 were injured during this “Super Outbreak.”
Let’s move on to some happier moments…
The Jacob Heck Building in Cannelton, 1974. Check out that cool old Shell pump out front!
Image: WikiMedia / Michael Gaebler
The “Roofless Church” in New Harmony, 1979.
Image: WikiMedia / NOAA
148 tornadoes touched down across the 13 states during a single 24-hour period on April 3-4. At one point there were 15 separate tornadoes on the ground at once! 319 people lost their lives and nearly 5,500 were injured during this “Super Outbreak.”
The Indiana Hoosiers basketball team won the NCAA Division I Tournament with an undefeated 32 - 0 record!
Image: National Archives The 1976 NCAA Champions posing for photos with President Gerald Ford.
Image: WikiMedia / Rick Dikeman IU Center Kent Benson was the only starting player to return to the court in 1977, the year after IU snagged the NCAA title.
Birch Bayh served as an Indiana Senator from 1963 to 1981. This Terre Haute native is the only NON-founding father to write two Constitutional Amendments: the 25th Amendment, ratified in 1963, which established the process for transition of power if the President is harmed or killed, and the 26th Amendment, ratified in 1971, which lowered the national legal voting age to 18.
Image: National Archives
The 1976 NCAA Champions posing for photos with President Gerald Ford.
Image: WikiMedia / Rick Dikeman
IU Center Kent Benson was the only starting player to return to the court in 1977, the year after IU snagged the NCAA title.
Image: WikiMedia / Birch Bayh Senate Office - Senatorial Papers of Birch Bayh Bayh addressing college students in 1970.
Image: WikiMedia / Birch Bayh Senate Office - Senatorial Papers of Birch Bayh Bayh is also considered the “Father of Title IX,” (passed in 1972) which prohibited the discrimination against women in education programs.
We love this photo of Senator Bayh working out with Title XI students at Purdue.
Student life seemed pretty relaxed back in the 70s.
Image: WikiMedia / Declan Haun What a nice sunny study spot for this Columbus East Senior High School student in 1973.
Image: WikiMedia / Declan Haun Art students at Columbus East Senior High School in 1973.
Image: WikiMedia / Declan Haun Columbus East Senior High School, 1973.
Image: WikiMedia / Declan Haun Frances Smith Elementary School students walking between classroom buildings and the play area in 1973.
In fact, kid life in general looked pretty awesome.
Image: WikiMedia / Paul Sequeria Kids at the Breakwater in Michigan City, 1973.
Image: Flickr / Daniel Arvesen This kid has excellent balance! Photo taken in Carmel, IN, 1970.
Flickr / Thomas M Parsons Families fishing on Strahl Lake in Brown County State Park, 1976.
That’s not to say the grown-ups didn’t have fun too.
Image: Flickr / L P We won’t lie: we totally want to be hanging out with this family in Bloomington in 1972.
With only 13 channels, Hoosiers in 1973 had way more fun AWAY from their TV.
Flickr / Jim Ellwanger
Live entertainment is way more fun anyway…
Image: WikiMedia / Rick Dikeman …like at this Yes concert in Indianapolis in 1977.
Three Cheers for the Hoosier State!
Image: WikiMedia / Rick Dikeman (With the marching band at the Bloomington 4th of July Parade, 1978.)
Do you have any “groovy” stories from the ’70s? Share your adventures with us in the comments section below!
Image: WikiMedia / Birch Bayh Senate Office - Senatorial Papers of Birch Bayh
Bayh addressing college students in 1970.
Bayh is also considered the “Father of Title IX,” (passed in 1972) which prohibited the discrimination against women in education programs.
We love this photo of Senator Bayh working out with Title XI students at Purdue.
What a nice sunny study spot for this Columbus East Senior High School student in 1973.
Art students at Columbus East Senior High School in 1973.
Columbus East Senior High School, 1973.
Frances Smith Elementary School students walking between classroom buildings and the play area in 1973.
Image: WikiMedia / Paul Sequeria
Kids at the Breakwater in Michigan City, 1973.
Image: Flickr / Daniel Arvesen
This kid has excellent balance! Photo taken in Carmel, IN, 1970.
Flickr / Thomas M Parsons
Families fishing on Strahl Lake in Brown County State Park, 1976.
Image: Flickr / L P
We won’t lie: we totally want to be hanging out with this family in Bloomington in 1972.
Flickr / Jim Ellwanger
Image: WikiMedia / Rick Dikeman
…like at this Yes concert in Indianapolis in 1977.
(With the marching band at the Bloomington 4th of July Parade, 1978.)
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