Clay County Historical Society, Brazil Indiana

07/21/2026

Long before Interstates and GPS, travelers, traders and families heading West would have traveled on the National Road, making it a lifeline to America’s expansion and growth.

07/21/2026

On July 8, 1863, Confederate General John Hunt Morgan and nearly 2,500 cavalrymen crossed the Ohio River into Maukport, Indiana using two captured steamboats, the J.T. McCombs, a mail boat, and the Alice Dean, a passenger boat. The Indiana state militia, along with Union gunboats, tried to keep the cavalry from crossing but were driven back by Morgan’s artillery fire.

Over the next five days, Morgan and his men would pass through eight counties in southern Indiana, causing mayhem and destruction in towns such as Corydon, Salem, Lexington, Vernon, and Versailles. This was despite his superior ordering him NOT to cross into Indiana.

Follow along as we post a day by day account of Morgan's exploits through Indiana.

And check out this excellent video tour by Adventures With Roger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBLQJs-or2k

07/21/2026

Indiana has sent exactly one of its own to the White House, and most Hoosiers walk right past his front door without knowing it. 🇺🇸 His name was Benjamin Harrison, and the modest brick house he lived in still stands on North Delaware Street in Indianapolis.

Harrison was a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, but he built his own name here in Indiana. He practiced law in Indianapolis, marched off to the Civil War as colonel of the 70th Indiana Infantry and came home a brigadier general, then won a seat in the United States Senate. In 1888 he ran one of the most famous campaigns in American history without ever leaving home, greeting thousands of visitors from the porch of his Indianapolis house in what became known as the front porch campaign. He won, and in March 1889 the lawyer from Delaware Street became the twenty third President of the United States. 🎩

His single term packed in more than people remember. Six new states entered the Union under Harrison, the Dakotas, Montana, Washington, Idaho and Wyoming, more than any President had admitted since George Washington, and he signed the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 that still shapes American business today. When it was over he came back to the same city he always called home, and today he rests at Crown Hill Cemetery while his house on North Delaware Street welcomes visitors as a presidential site. 🕯️ For a state that often feels overlooked in the national story, it is a quiet point of pride that the road to the White House once ran straight through Indianapolis.

07/21/2026

07/14/2026

Happy Birthday Charles B. Hall!!
AUGUST 3 at 7:00 PM
PUBLIC INVITED!

07/14/2026

07/14/2026

Betty Chadwick-Sullivan changed the landscape of television journalism, breaking barriers and capturing history through her lens. In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re spotlighting her groundbreaking career and lasting impact in today’s .

Born in Brazil, Indiana, Chadwick-Sullivan’s path into broadcasting was anything but typical. After working for years as a business manager at a local newspaper, she stepped behind the camera almost by accident—and never looked back. In 1958, she joined WTHI-TV, quickly rising to chief photographer and becoming the first woman in the United States to hold that role in television news.

Her career took her far beyond Terre Haute. Chadwick-Sullivan covered major events such as the Indianapolis 500, presidential inaugurations, and political conventions, while also traveling internationally on assignments, including documenting “Operation Big Lift” in West Germany during the Cold War. She became the first woman permitted to photograph Victory Lane at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, pushing into spaces that had long excluded women.

Known for her relentless work ethic, Chadwick-Sullivan was on call around the clock, even keeping police monitors in her home to catch breaking news. During a devastating downtown Terre Haute fire, she worked for 24 straight hours, stopping only briefly for oxygen before returning to the scene. Her signature jumpsuits—embroidered with her name and station call letters—became a symbol of both her presence and her determination in a male-dominated field.

Beyond the camera, Chadwick-Sullivan’s leadership shaped the future of local journalism. She later served as executive producer and news director at WTHI-TV, mentoring young reporters and influencing the way stories were told. Her impact earned her induction into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame and the Indiana Broadcast Hall of Fame, solidifying her place as a pioneer in the industry.

Betty Chadwick-Sullivan passed away in 1981, but her legacy continues to open doors for women in journalism and photography. Her story is a reminder that sometimes the most unexpected paths lead to the most extraordinary impact.

Information for this post was sourced from the Indiana Broadcasters Association and the Indiana Broadcast History Archive.

If you’d like to learn more about Betty Chadwick-Sullivan and other trailblazers, stop in and chat with our Special Collections Librarians, and be sure to watch for our next .

07/14/2026

07/14/2026