INDIANA STATE PARKS and the HOOSIER IMAGINATION, 1916-1933 by STEVEN MICHAEL BURROWS DISSERTATION Submitted in Partial Fulfillme
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INDIANA STATE PARKS AND THE HOOSIER IMAGINATION, 1916-1933 BY STEVEN MICHAEL BURROWS DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Landscape Architecture in the Graduate College of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2017 Urbana, Illinois Doctoral Committee: Professor M. Elen Deming, Chair Associate Professor Kathryn Oberdeck Professor D. Fairchild Ruggles Associate Professor Stephen Sears Abstract This dissertation focuses on changing conceptualizations of history and heritage to investigate how the burgeoning system of state parks in Indiana between 1916-1933 reflected the state’s own struggle against modernity. I argue that the parks were physical manifestations of the “Hoosier Imagination,” part of an on-going conceptual reframing of local identity. Fully a century ago, the people of Indiana successfully campaigned to protect certain portions of the state’s original domain and to keep these areas as a heritage passed down to future generations. During an era of constant change, the parks were imagined to be part of the collective memory of the people and a connection to a mythologized pastoral history of the state, though this history often ignored or marginalized culturally problematic parts of local history such as acknowledging the role of Native Americans. However, I argue that these seemingly “natural” sites cannot be seen as distinct from urban matters. Instead, Indiana’s state parks are inexorably linked to urban matters, dynamics, and systems. Close examination of archival source material and contemporary newspapers show that the parks were central to the dissemination and display of modern ideas about history, biology, technology, and personal health, as well as evolving cultural values concerning bureaucratic efficiency. These sites afforded Indiana space to position itself in the vanguard of Progressive Era social and economic growth, creating a veritable laboratory to consolidate the newly minted authority of the state. I further draw connections between local statecraft and large-scale imperial formations, an idea that I have coined called “local imperialism.” Ultimately, this study demonstrates that the Indiana State Parks were physical sites at which Hoosier residents and institutions could continually re- imagine the past, present, and future of the state. ii Acknowledgements When I first entered the doctoral program in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the Fall of 2009 lacking anything resembling a concrete plan for what my dissertation topic would be, I nevertheless believed that I would breeze through the program in five or six years. Ah, the naïveté of youth. So first, I want to thank my committee chair and friend, Elen Deming, for being patient with me each time I came into your office having once again figured out just how hard this whole process would be! These were never just discussions about course work or the dissertation, but also about personal and professional growth. That said, I do want to thank you for the hand-written comments on each page of each draft that came your way over the years. Your suggestions were invariably on- point, and your investment of time helped to convince me of the potential value of my own work. To the other members of my committee, I especially want to thank you for teaching classes with such a broad range of subject material, much of which is in this project. Thank you to Stephen Sears; your commitment to Midwestern studies is palpable. To Kathryn Oberdeck, thank you for helping me to appreciate many of the larger social issues occurring in the United States during the Progressive Era. And to Dede Ruggles, your breadth of knowledge and exacting standards in all things helped shape the direction of this research in countless ways. Thank you. I want to thank the Department of Landscape Architecture for their financial support—in the form of both assistantships and fellowships—during my time at the University of Illinois. The assistantships, in particular, were much more valuable than the monetary gain that came iii with it. They allowed me to be in the studio or classroom with students, which helped me develop the pedagogical tool kit that I take with me into the future. I am grateful to the staff at the Indiana State Library who were constantly retrieving documents for me each time I filled out a new call slip. Thanks also to those at the smaller branch libraries around the state of Indiana, particularly the Rockville Public Library and the Jasonville Public Library. And to the Clinton Public library, whose spotty wi-fi service made it possible to just sit and write rather than getting sidetracked trying to find additional journal articles on-line. To Karin Woodson at the Parke County Historical Society Museum, Ben Clark and Ginger Murphy at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and to Barbara Tibbets, head naturalist at Turkey Run State Park, thank you for your interest in this project, and for allowing me to nose through boxes and file cabinets at your offices in search of evidence. To my friends, I also want to say thank you. To Casey McArdle, especially, it was always helpful to bounce ideas off of you as you were writing your own dissertation. Maybe now we can finally get cracking on our article about rhetorical landscapes. Thanks also to Bill Gulde, who introduced me to the Junior Historical Society way back in high school. Your enthusiasm for Indiana history was contagious, and no doubt found its way into this work. To my parents, Bob and Kathy, I cannot thank you enough for the love and support that you have given to me, even if you could never really explain to your friends what your son was still doing in school at his age. To Scott, Christy, Brook, Callen, Katie, and Penelope, thanks for not asking too often when I would finally graduate (or at least for directing that question to Elizabeth!). I am only sorry that Bob isn’t here to celebrate with us. And finally, to Elizabeth, Ellie, and Amelia, there is nothing I could ask for than just to be with the three of you. I dedicate this to you. iv Table of Contents Figures ................................................................................................................................ vi Chapter One – Introduction ................................................................................................ 1 Chapter Two – The Midwestern Imaginary ...................................................................... 18 Chapter Three – Turkey Run State Park and the Centennial Celebration ........................ 56 Chapter Four – Spring Mill and Shakamak State Parks, and the Exhibitionary Complex ................................................................................................. 114 Chapter Five – Pokagon and Mounds State Parks, and Imperialist Nostalgia ................ 169 Chapter Six – Conclusion ............................................................................................... 222 Works Cited .................................................................................................................... 239 v Figures Chapter 1 Figure 1.1 – The Indiana State Park System in 1933 .............................................. 3 Chapter 2 Figure 2.1 – “View of the World from 9th Avenue” ............................................. 27 Figure 2.2 – Seal of the State of Indiana ............................................................... 40 Chapter 3 Figure 3.1 – Proposed Centennial Plaza in Downtown Indianapolis .................... 61 Figure 3.2 – Indiana Products Dinner Pamphlet (a) ............................................. 71 Figure 3.3 – Indiana Products Dinner Pamphlet (b) ............................................. 72 Figure 3.4 – John Lusk .......................................................................................... 82 Figure 3.5 – Visitors in the Canyons of Turkey Run ............................................ 84 Figure 3.6 – Spotlight on Turkey Run State Park, 2017 ....................................... 87 Figure 3.7 – Spotlight on McCormick’s Creek State Park, 2017 ......................... 97 Figure 3.8 – “We Have Turkey Run For Thanksgiving” .................................... 102 Chapter 4 Figure 4.1 – Organization of the Department of Conservation .......................... 121 Figure 4.2 – Attendance at Turkey Run – 1919-1921 ........................................ 124 Figure 4.3 – Map of Main Market Highways ..................................................... 131 Figure 4.4 – Network of New Highways ............................................................ 132 Figure 4.5 – “After Workin’ Up to a Car” .......................................................... 136 Figure 4.6 – Turkey Run State Park and Swartz-Light ....................................... 138 Figure 4.7 – Spotlight on Spring Mill State Park, 2017 ...................................... 143 Figure 4.8 – Spotlight on Shakamak State Park, 2017 ....................................... 153 Figure 4.9 – Wabash Senior Study Camp ........................................................... 157 Chapter 5 Figure 5.1 – Brochure for Dubois County Pageant ............................................. 182 Figure 5.2 – Brochure for Michigan City Pageant .............................................. 183 Figure 5.3 – Brochure for Bartholomew County Pageant .................................. 184 Figure 5.4 – Brochure for Decatur