On this date in 1899...

...Nothing of astounding historical significance happened in Indiana.

BUT July 1, 1899 is the stated birthday of that famous (fictional) archaeologist Henry Walton Jones, Jr. You probably know him better as Indiana Jones. (Don't call him Junior, though; he hates that.)

And there's your random fiction fact for the day! Happy July, Hoosiers. And if you're visiting our friends north of the border, remember that it's Canada Day up there!

On this date in 1816...

On June 29, 1816, Indiana's first state constitution was completed, preparatory to its submission to Congress in petition for statehood. (The Indiana Territory was officially granted statehood by Congress in November; statehood became official December 11 of the same year.)

The 1816 constitution was later thrown out, replaced by one written in 1851 (which still stands)... but Indiana would not have become a state without the government established by the first one, so we'll give it some credit.

So, happy 196th constitutional-establishment anniversary, Hoosiers!

On this date in 1876...

On May 10, 1876, a 37-year-old Civil War veteran opened a small laboratory in a brick building at 15 W. Pearl St. to manufacture medicine. His 14-year-old son quit school to help him run the business, which they founded with only $1,400 in capital. The sign over the door simply read, “Eli Lilly, Chemist”.

Undoubtedly one of the best business decisions ever made in the city of Indianapolis. The rest is pharmaceutical history.