Most People Don’t Know These 7 Awesome Things Came From Indiana

Hoosiers are pretty creative individuals. Whether the invention happened in Indiana or someone from Indiana was responsible for it, there are a lot of inventions the world has Indiana to thank for. Did you know these things exist thanks to Indiana?

1. The First Gasoline Pump

The very first gasoline pump was born on September 5th of 1885 in Fort Wayne. The only thing more interesting than this piece of information is the fact that it was invented by a man named Sylvanus Freelove Bowser.

2. Theme Parks

Most people do not know this, but theme parks were actually invented in Indiana. Santa Claus Land was the world’s first theme park opening on August 3rd of 1946. This makes the theme park nine years older than Mr. Disney’s first theme park in the state of California.

3. The Machine Gun

Richard Gatling from Indianapolis is credited for being the inventor of the first machine gun. This invention happened in 1862.

4. Gasoline Powered Vehicle

Elwood Haynes, from Kokomo, created the first successful vehicle powered by gasoline in the year 1894.

5. Motorized Airplane

Did you know one of the Wright brothers was born in Millville, Indiana? Orville Wright was born in Dayton, Ohio and the Wright brothers invented the first motorized airplane in Dayton, Ohio. However, his brother Wilbur Wright was born in Millville, Indiana. Without Indiana, the motorized plane wouldn’t be possible!

6.) Mechanical Corn Picker

John Powell invented the first mechanical corn picker in Kokomo in 1920. Shocker, right? The state known for corn would be the spot where something was invented to make picking corn a little easier!

7.) First Household Washing Machine

William Blackstone decided to build a birthday present for his wife in 1874 to make it a little easier for her to clean their clothing. He built a machine that would remove dirt and wash clothing. This was the first washing machine designed to be used in a home.

There you have it! Washing clothing in your home, flying on motorized planes, enjoying theme parks, and not having to pick corn by hand were all made possible thanks to the creative people of Indiana. What's your favorite Indiana invention?