Hoosier State Stories

Before Jesse James and Butch Cassidy became legends, one of America’s first moving train robberies happened in Indiana. This week on Hoosier State Stories, Mike and Kylie head to Seymour to tell the story of the Reno Gang, a group of outlaws who helped change American crime history. From the 1866 train robbery to the Pinkertons, Marshfield, and the violent rise of vigilante justice, this is a story of railroads, fear, revenge, and a state caught between law and lawlessness.

Deep in the rugged hills of Southern Indiana, a sprawling oasis of luxury and vice emerges. From the "Eighth Wonder of the World" to the era of Pluto Water and illegal high-stakes gambling, Mike and Kyle tell the story of how French Lick and West Baden became the playground of the elite and the infamous.

A quiet stretch of track outside Hammond turned into one of the most shocking moments in Indiana history. In the early hours of June 22, 1918, the Hagenbeck‑Wallace Circus was asleep aboard its train when a troop train slammed into it at full speed, sparking a fire that spread faster than anyone could escape. Mike and Kylie walk through the chaos, the heroism, and the heartbreaking aftermath , from the wreck itself to the creation of Showmen’s Rest, the mass grave marked by stone elephants. It’s a story of loss, resilience, and a circus community determined to keep the show alive.

In the mid-1800s, steel rails carved their way across Indiana farmland, transforming quiet towns into busy hubs of commerce and connection. Railroads didn’t just move freight , they reshaped the state’s economy and identity. This episode explores how the railroad era helped turn Indiana into the Crossroads of America.

In the early 1900s, the Lincoln Highway became the nation’s first transcontinental road, linking New York to California through the heart of Indiana. Mike and Kylie trace its path across the Hoosier State and uncover how it changed travel, business, and small-town life forever.

In 1906, U.S. Steel built a city from the ground up along Lake Michigan. Gary, Indiana quickly became a symbol of industrial power and opportunity. In this episode of Hoosier State Stories, Mike and Kylie explore how the city rose fast and what its story says about Indiana and the American dream.

On any given Friday night in Indiana, high school basketball isn’t just a game — it’s an event. In this episode of Hoosier State Stories, Mike and Kylie spotlight the seven largest high school gyms in the state and explore why small towns built arenas that rival small colleges. From packed bleachers to deafening student sections, we take you inside the buildings that define Hoosier basketball culture.

During the Civil War, Indianapolis became home to one of the largest Union prisoner-of-war camps in the North. Camp Morton held thousands of captured Confederate soldiers inside the capital city. In this episode of Hoosier State Stories, Mike and Kylie explore what life was like behind the fences, how the camp affected Indianapolis, and what its legacy still reveals about Indiana’s role in the war.

In July 1863, the Civil War crossed the Ohio River and stepped onto Indiana soil. Confederate cavalry moved through southern Indiana, local militia rushed to defend their towns, and the Battle of Corydon became the only Civil War clash fought in the state. In this episode of Hoosier State Stories, Mike and Kylie tell the story of the day Hoosiers realized the war was no longer far away.

He grew up in Indiana. He became Public Enemy Number One. In Public Enemy: The Indiana Kid, we explore John Dillinger’s rise during the Great Depression , from prison to crime spree, from folk legend to federal target and the lasting legacy of the outlaw who put Indiana in the national spotlight.

For days, the rain fell without mercy. Then the rivers took over. Homes floated away. Downtown streets became waterways. Families climbed to rooftops waiting for rescue. In “The Week Indiana Went Under,” we tell the story of the Great Flood of 1913 — the storm that changed Indiana and tested the resilience of an entire state.

Indiana didn’t just grow in the 1880s it ignited. When natural gas erupted from the ground, it sparked one of the fastest economic booms in state history. Towns exploded with opportunity and industry thrived. For a moment, it felt limitless. Then the pressure dropped. In “When Indiana Burned Bright,” we tell the story of ambition, excess, and the fire that changed Indiana.