The people of Indiana are usually called Hoosiers. The largest ancestries in the state are the Germans (forming as much as 22% of the population), the British and Irish. Indiana has the distinction of being the birthplace of international figures like Michael Jackson, David Letterman and Abraham Lincoln.

Indiana has many popular museums like the Dubois County Museum (showcasing German heritage and even containing a 2-storey German log house) and the Indiana Railway Museum (boasting a 32 km train ride through the Hoosier National Forest and one of the state’s longest tunnels). The Immaculate Conception Monastery at Ferdinand has a domed chapel with exquisite stained glass windows, while the Saint Meinrad Archabbey (built in 1854) is one of only two archabbeys in the US. West Baden Dome is a National Historic Landmark and has one of the largest domes in the western hemisphere.

Indiana is best known for the Indianapolis 500 car race held annually during the Memorial Day weekend. The Indiana State Fair is held every summer and sees close to 750,000 visitors, while the Chocolate Week is a much-awaited event in mid-January. The Sassafras Tea Festival in April has an actual re-enactment of the Civil War and is a must-see. Indiana’s International Festival is held in November at Michigan City.