Hoosier History Live

Host Nelson Price, the "connoisseur of all things Hoosier," engages guests in a lively, live conversation about topics relating to Indiana history. Original shows are aired on WICR 88.7fm Saturdays from 12pm-1pm.

The History of Indiana Harbor and East Chicago 07/17/2026

The History of Indiana Harbor and East Chicago Originally aired 06/14/2025. Although never separate towns, Indiana Harbor and East Chicago often were regarded that way as they evolved into becoming, as guest Joseph Pete puts it, “one of the most heavily industrialized places on Earth.” The communities near Lake Michigan also became a diverse area, with more than 100 different nationalities represented in the 1932 graduating class of a high school in Indiana Harbor. Joseph Pete is the author of “Lost East Chicago and Indiana Harbor” and a reporter for the Times of Northwest Indiana newspaper. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/42096670

Auto Races Before the Indianapolis 500 07/15/2026

Auto Races Before the Indianapolis 500 Originally aired 06/07/2025. Before the first Indy 500 in 1911, there were auto races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May 1910 after the track was paved with bricks. Those thrilling early races and the spectacular aviation shows at the Speedway in June 1910 that featured the Wright Brothers are discussed with Nelson’s guest, racing historian . /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/42096605

Prohibition in Indiana 07/13/2026

Prohibition in Indiana Originally aired on 5/3/2025. Indiana “went dry” before Prohibition went into effect nationally in January 1920. Guest , assistant director of the honors program at Butler University, talks with Nelson about a range of aspects of this colorful and controversial era including moonshine makers and one of the largest raids in the Midwest unfolding in southeastern Marion County. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/42018375

Thomas R Marshall: The Hoosier Vice President Who Didn't Seize Power 07/10/2026

Thomas R Marshall: The Hoosier Vice President Who Didn't Seize Power Thomas R. Marshall was vice president in 1919 when President Woodrow Wilson suffered debilitating strokes that created a crisis. Before that, Marshall had been a popular governor of Indiana who is remembered for his wit, including the line: “What the country needs is a really good 5-cent cigar.” Nelson’s guest is Ray Boomhower of the Indiana Historical Society. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/42002565

Hoosier Food and Dining Preferences 07/08/2026

Hoosier Food and Dining Preferences Originally aired 04/12/2025. The full menu for this show doesn't just include food traditionally associated with Indiana such as tenderloins, sugar cream pie, persimmons and catfish. Nelson and guest Bradley Hohulin, the dining reporter for the Indianapolis Star, also delve into whether restaurant and menu preferences here differ from other regions. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/42002480

Latino Heritage in Indiana 07/06/2026

Latino Heritage in Indiana Chili parlors owned by Mexican Americans were popular in Indianapolis as early as 1907 and during the 1920s and ‘30s, a “hot tamale craze” occurred from Elkhart to Evansville. Nelson is joined by Nicole Martinez-LeGrand of the Indiana Historical Society to follow up on previous explorations of the early Mexican heritage in the state, including new details about a “Lost Barrio” of the 1950s and ‘60s. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41971505

Historic Hoosier Women 07/03/2026

Historic Hoosier Women Originally aired 03/29/2025. Guest David Steele shares his knowledge on two trailblazing women he has spent time researching and shares the impact they have had on Hoosier history. One of them was an Indianapolis school principal and the other a jazz pianist in Richmond. Their lives were entwined with a range of aspects of Indiana history, from our Native American heritage to our jazz recording heyday. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41856060

In Memoriam Dan Wakefield 07/01/2026

In Memoriam Dan Wakefield Originally aired 03/22/2025. Nelson is joined by Susan Neville, Will Higgins, and Pat Chastain to honor acclaimed novelist, journalist and screenwriter Dan Wakefield. Dan passed away in March 2024. The 55th anniversary of his national bestseller “”, which is set in his hometown of Indianapolis, was in March 2025. The group discuss his compelling life and impact, which involved coverage of the civil rights movement, challenges with alcoholism, and friendships with other legendary Americans. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41855985

Caroline Scott Harrison 06/29/2026

Caroline Scott Harrison /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41855905

Early Days of State Legislature in Indianapolis 06/26/2026

Early Days of State Legislature in Indianapolis Originally aired 03/08/2025. What happened 200 years ago when the Indiana General Assembly met for the first time in Indianapolis? Where did the legislature stay in 1825, how did they entertain themselves, and what kinds of issues were they coping with? Nelson explores all of that with guest Libby Cierzniak, a retired lawyer and lobbyist, whose career has been intertwined with the Indiana Statehouse. Libby writes about Indianapolis city history on her blog called . /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41801270

Fight Songs of Bygone High Schools 06/25/2026

Fight Songs of Bygone High Schools Originally aired 03/01/2025. Originally aired 03/01/2025. Ever hear of the former Monroe City High School, where the mascot was the Blue Jeans? How about the Bunker Hill High School, where the mascot was the Minutemen? For this Hoosier History Live show, Nelson is joined by Reta Williams, a retired principal from Clinton County who found the lyrics and other details about the fight songs of more than 620 bygone high schools across Indiana that were at risk of being lost. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41801125

Noble Sissle: Trailblazing Lyricist and Broadway Producer 06/22/2026

Noble Sissle: Trailblazing Lyricist and Broadway Producer Originally aired 02/15/2025. Nelson’s guest on this Black History Month show is , author of the biography, “The Robust Life & Times of Noble Sissle.” Indianapolis native, Noble Sissle was the lyricist and co-producer of the first hit Broadway musical by and about Black people titled “Shuffle Along” (1921). He was a tenor, orchestra conductor and member of the Army regiment known as the “Harlem Hellfighters” during World War I. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41714560

Ask Nelson and Ed Fujawa 06/19/2026

Ask Nelson and Ed Fujawa Originally aired 02/01/2025. Host Nelson Price is joined by local historian Ed Fujawa, author of “Vanished Indianapolis” and creator of the the blog, . The pair interview each other between phone calls from listeners. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41672825

The Great Tri-State Tornado of 1925 06/17/2026

The Great Tri-State Tornado of 1925 Although the in 1925 is considered the deadliest continual tornado in U.S. history, it’s been nearly forgotten. This show, which originally aired on 01/25/2025, describes the devastation. , author of “The Great Tri-State Tornado” shares his knowledge of the event and its outcomes. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41672635

Architecture in Indianapolis (Part 2): 1870-1900 06/15/2026

Architecture in Indianapolis (Part 2): 1870-1900 Originally aired 01/18/2025. Several of the most lavish structures in city history were constructed in Indianapolis between the 1870s through 1900. Architectural historian James Glass returns to talk with Nelson about this era of the city. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41638280

Historic True Crime in Indiana 06/12/2026

Historic True Crime in Indiana Content awareness for listeners: This show does contain discussion about violence relating to guns and murder and may not be suitable for listeners that are sensitive to this subject matter. Originally aired on 01/11/2025. On February 1st, 1960, 44-year-old principal Leonard Redden opened fire with a shotgun at a school in Hartford City, Indiana. This story and others are discussed by Nelson and his guest, , author of “No Place Like Murder 2”. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41604980

Indianapolis Public Schools and the Education of Black Students 06/10/2026

Indianapolis Public Schools and the Education of Black Students Originally aired 01/04/2025. Historians and discuss the ways that Indianapolis Public Schools handled the education of Black children and teenagers from the beginning of Indiana’s statehood in 1816, through the founding of Indianapolis in the 1820s, and up through much of the 20th Century. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41493085

Forensic Genealogy 06/08/2026

Forensic Genealogy Originally aired 12/21/2024. is a fascinating emerging field of work. Nelson’s guest, , was hired by the Indiana State Police as their first genetic genealogist. Bradley shares how genealogy and DNA have been used to solve cold cases, including high-profile Indiana cases. He discusses misconceptions about law enforcement and forensic genealogy. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41492885

Architecture in Indianapolis: The 1800s 06/05/2026

Architecture in Indianapolis: The 1800s Originally aired on 12/14/2024. Distinguished architectural historian , and author of the new book , shares his knowledge about historic churches, private homes and other structures in the circle city. Some of the buildings constructed in the 1800s are still standing, while others have been demolished. He also reviews architectural styles popular during the early and mid -1800s, including . /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41492825

Sculpting Famous Hoosiers 06/03/2026

Sculpting Famous Hoosiers Originally aired 12/7/2024. In 2024, a life-sized sculpture of John Mellencamp was dedicated on the Indiana University's campus in Bloomington. It is not the only outdoor artwork on campus created by Indiana sculptor , who was Nelson’s guest for this show. He also created a bronze sculpture of legendary composer Hoagy Carmichael playing a Steinway piano. To create a bronze sculpture Michael begins by creating the image in clay. For John Mellencamp’s sculpture, he used a photo taken by Mellencamp’s former wife Elaine at the rock star’s request. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41484975

Historic Preservation in Indiana: A Retrospective with Marsh Davis 06/01/2026

Historic Preservation in Indiana: A Retrospective with Marsh Davis Originally aired 11/23/2024. Although Marsh Davis has been president and CEO of since 2006, his involvement goes much further back with what has become the largest statewide preservation organization in the country. Marsh retired in the spring of 2025. He was Nelson’s guest on this archived show from 2024. The two explore successes and a few disappointments in the crusade to save historic sites across the state. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41480040

The Art of Architectural Salvage 05/29/2026

The Art of Architectural Salvage Originally aired 11/16/2024. Have you ever been on the hunt for an item for your home like a vintage door knob, light fixtures, bathtub, window or floor register? Nelson's guest is Tim Harmon, former owner of Tim & Company’s Another Fine Mess. The now closed architectural salvage shop on the near east side of Indy sold many salvaged items from numerous architectural eras ranging from as early as 1840 to as recent as 1960. This show had some issues exporting the audio and it cuts out a little early unfortunately. But hey! it's live radio and errors happen. If there is a topic you're interested it, be sure to tune in live if you can on WICR 88.7fm. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41417070

James Whitcomb Riley: Some Misconceptions 05/27/2026

James Whitcomb Riley: Some Misconceptions Originally aired 11/9/2024. Historian and Riley biographer, Elizabeth Van Allen, is Nelson’s guest and shares a range of misconceptions regarding the Hoosier poet. At the peak of his success in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Riley (1849-1916) was the most popular poet in America. Although his poetry celebrated rural life, the well known poet lived as an urbane sophisticate during his fame. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41416535

Martinsville Murder of Carol Jenkins in 1968 05/25/2026

Martinsville Murder of Carol Jenkins in 1968 Originally aired on 10/26/2024. Content awareness for listeners: This show does contain discussion about violence and may not be suitable for listeners that are senstive to this subject matter. For many decades the murder of Carol Jenkins, a young Black woman from Rushville, Indiana, remained unsolved and a cold case. In September 1968 Carol was murdered in Martinsville, Indiana, a known sundown town. In 2001, a series of revelations began to unfold involving former investigative reporter, who is Nelson's guest for this show. She was left a chilling voice message that helped solve the case. Sandra discusses the case and her role in helping discover what actually happened on that evening in September 1968. Sandra produced a documentary, , about the infamous case and its aftermath. It is now on a broadcast run on PBS stations. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41411700

Historic Urban Sites in Indianapolis 05/22/2026

Historic Urban Sites in Indianapolis Originally aired 10/19/2024. The downtown Indy building known as City Hall has been in the news recently. At the time this show aired, there were plans to renovate and include it as part of a hotel, art gallery and apartment project. But what is the history of the historic building, which has been sitting vacant after several various uses, including as the home of the Indiana State Museum from 1967-2002? Nelson and his guest Connie Zeigler, author of “ explore Old City Hall’s history, along with other urban sites in Indy, including Riley Towers apartments and a mortuary owned by the first African American funeral director in a state. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41327850

Horror Movies: Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, and Their Indiana Connections 05/20/2026

Horror Movies: Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, and Their Indiana Connections Originally aired 10/05/2024. Indianapolis-based film historian and preservationist , has been restoring a rare movie serial, “King of the Kongo”, that starred Boris Karloff a few years before he became internationally famous as the Frankenstein monster in 1931. Boris Karloff’s daughter, Sara Karloff, joins by phone from California for part of the show. Eric also shares insights about two silent movies starring Lon Chaney that were written by a controversial screenwriter from Noblesville, Indiana. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41327355

Population Shifts in Indiana: Future Projections and Historic Comparisons 05/18/2026

Population Shifts in Indiana: Future Projections and Historic Comparisons Originally aired 9/28/2024. Even though we’re a history show, Nelson and his guest, discuss the future. Carol is director of the at the IU Kelley School of Business. In September 2024, the center released population projections for the next 40 years, including growth rates for specific counties. Nelson and Carol also explore population rates throughout decades past, including the 1930s and 1980s. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41327025

Collecting Pop History 05/15/2026

Collecting Pop History Originally aired 09/21/2024. , of Indianapolis, whose vast collections include music, movie, and sports memorabilia, shares tips and advice about collecting autographs and much more. A full time collector for several decades, Tom buys and sells memorabilia including stage costumes, lyrics, musical instruments and autographs of famous people. He also has written several books, including one about his extensive collections. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41289215

From the Purdue Archives: 1903 Football Team Trainwreck, Black Students Denied Admission to Dorms in the 1940s, and More 05/13/2026

From the Purdue Archives: 1903 Football Team Trainwreck, Black Students Denied Admission to Dorms in the 1940s, and More Originally aired on 09/14/2024. Nelson is joined by Purdue University historian to explore an array of compelling stories, including a horrific collision involving train cars carrying Purdue football players, fans, faculty and alumni for a big game against IU in 1903. Passengers included a football player among those taken to the morgue who recovered and eventually became the governor of Indiana. John and Nelson also discuss the story of two African-American sisters who were denied admission to dorms in the 1940s, and more. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41243810

Famous People Influenced By Kurt Vonnegut 05/11/2026

Famous People Influenced By Kurt Vonnegut Originally aired 8/31/2024. Nelson is joined by Julia Whitehead, founder and CEO of the to discuss the author's impact on his peers and those who came after him. /episode/index/show/hoosierhistorylive/id/41243385

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