Indianapolis Word Search

BIRD – Larry Bird, legendary basketball player born in West Baden Springs, Indiana, who became synonymous with Indiana basketball culture and later coached the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis.

BREADED – Refers to the iconic breaded pork tenderloin sandwich, a massive Indiana delicacy featuring a thin, breaded cutlet larger than the bun, found throughout Indianapolis restaurants and diners.

BREWERIES – Indianapolis has experienced a craft brewing renaissance with numerous local breweries like Sun King, Metazoa, and Fountain Square Brewing creating distinctive beers and vibrant community gathering spaces.

BRICKYARD – Nickname for Indianapolis Motor Speedway, originally paved with 3.2 million bricks in 1909. The yard of bricks at the finish line remains an iconic symbol of racing.

CANAL – The Indianapolis Canal Walk is a three-mile urban waterway offering scenic paths, paddleboats, public art, and connections to cultural attractions in the downtown White River State Park area.

CIRCLE – Monument Circle is the heart of downtown Indianapolis, featuring the iconic Soldiers and Sailors Monument and serving as the city’s central landmark and gathering place for events.

COCKTAIL – St. Elmo Steak House’s legendary shrimp cocktail features an extraordinarily spicy horseradish sauce that has been a beloved Indianapolis dining tradition since 1902, known for clearing sinuses instantly.

COLTS – Indianapolis’s NFL team since 1984, the Colts brought Super Bowl championships and legendary quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck to the city’s passionate football fans.

CULTURAL – The Indianapolis Cultural Trail is an eight-mile urban bike and pedestrian path connecting neighborhoods, cultural districts, and attractions while showcasing public art and promoting healthy, sustainable transportation.

FEVER – The Indiana Fever is Indianapolis’s WNBA team, winning three conference championships and the 2012 WNBA Championship, representing women’s professional basketball excellence in the state.

FOUNTAIN – Fountain Square is a historic Indianapolis neighborhood known for its bohemian atmosphere, vintage shops, live music venues, theaters, and the iconic duckpin bowling alley in the basement.

GENCON – Gen Con is North America’s largest tabletop gaming convention held annually in Indianapolis, attracting over 70,000 attendees for board games, role-playing games, and gaming culture celebration.

HOOSIER – The term for Indiana residents, Hoosiers embody Midwestern values and pride. While its origin is debated, it represents Indiana’s unique identity and welcoming, hardworking spirit throughout Indianapolis.

INDY – Common nickname for Indianapolis, especially associated with the Indianapolis 500 race. “Indy” represents the city’s racing heritage and serves as shorthand for Indiana’s vibrant capital city.

LETTERMAN – David Letterman, legendary late-night television host born in Indianapolis, attended Ball State University and maintained strong ties to his Indiana roots throughout his influential entertainment career.

LUCK – Andrew Luck, Stanford quarterback who became the Indianapolis Colts’ franchise player from 2012-2018, leading the team to multiple playoffs before his unexpected early retirement from professional football.

MANNING – Peyton Manning, Hall of Fame quarterback who spent fourteen seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, winning Super Bowl XLI and becoming one of the greatest players in franchise history.

MIDWEST – Indianapolis exemplifies Midwestern culture with its friendly hospitality, strong work ethic, affordable living, central location, and balance between urban amenities and traditional heartland values and accessibility.

MONUMENT – The Soldiers and Sailors Monument stands 284 feet tall in Monument Circle, honoring Hoosiers who served in the Civil War and earlier conflicts, defining Indianapolis’s skyline since 1902.

PACERS – The Indiana Pacers are Indianapolis’s NBA team since 1976, previously dominating the ABA with three championships and maintaining a passionate basketball tradition in Indiana’s basketball-obsessed culture.

RACING – Indianapolis is the racing capital of the world, home to the Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400, and numerous racing organizations, making motorsports central to the city’s identity.

SPEEDWAY – Indianapolis Motor Speedway, built in 1909, hosts the legendary Indianapolis 500 race each Memorial Day weekend, attracting hundreds of thousands of fans to the world’s largest spectator venue.

VONNEGUT – Kurt Vonnegut, acclaimed author of “Slaughterhouse-Five” and other novels, was born and raised in Indianapolis, often referencing his hometown in his satirical, thought-provoking literary works.

ZOO – The Indianapolis Zoo in White River State Park features award-winning exhibits, ocean aquarium, botanical gardens, and innovative animal conservation programs, attracting families and visitors year-round to downtown.