Cars and Crossroads:
Touring America's Heartland
SCA Conference 2001
Indianapolis, Indiana
May 30 - June 2, 2001

With generous support from:
Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology
Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana Central Indiana Chapter, Society of Architectural Historians

Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2

Conference Overview

Indiana calls itself "The Crossroads of America" with good reason. In the 1920s, the Dixie Highway, Lincoln Highway, the National Road, and many more long-distance trails crossed the state. Indiana was also home to many early auto makers, including Stutz, Auburn, Cord, Deusenberg, Cole, and Studebaker. Bus tours explored some of the old roads and the delights to be found along them, while some of the presentations focused on the cars and the entrepreneurs who created Indiana's auto industry.

Conference Highlights

Wed. May 30

Auto Industry Walking Tour
Indy Art Deco Tour
Tour of Athenaeum
Dinner and entertainment at the Athenaeum's Biergarten

Thurs. May 31

BUS TOUR 1
Tour included a behind-the-scenes visit to the fabulous West Baden Springs Hotel (currently under restoration), the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (including a trip around the race track).

Fri. June 1

PAPER SESSIONS

  • Dennis Horvath: "Mileposts in Indiana Automotive History"
  • Joan Hostetler: "Diners, Ducks, and Drive-Ins: A Look at Indiana's Roadside Architecture"
  • John Martin Smith: "Restoring the GM Futurliner"
  • John Gann: "Rediscovering Our Un-terstate Highways" Lunch, City Market, on your own Katherine Hamilton-Smith: "Postcards as Documents of Travel Routes"
  • Keith Sculle: "Tracking TraveLodgeš"
  • Tim Barton: "Chicago's Motor Row Historic District"
  • Joseph Marlin: "Ghost Signs of Chicago"
  • Aaron Marcavitch: "Philosophical Questions on Roadside Preservation"
  • Glory-June Greiff: "Without Honor in its Own County: The Snow Flake Motel in St. Joseph, Ml"

Sat. June 2

Bus Tour 2
Lafayette; via Michigan Road to Indiana Beach, then Red Crown Mini-Museum, John Christian Usonian House by Frank Lloyd Wright, Sullivan bank, Frozen Custard. Home via US 231 thru Crawfordsville and Greencastle, then east on US 40. Dinner at the Plainfield Diner.

Closing Reception, Tuckaway. Arts & Crafts home of a famous palm reader whose clients included movie stars, presidents, and - of course - Carl Fisher.

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