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Newby Oval

Newby Oval Side OneNewby Oval Side Two

Location: Fall Creek Parkway Trail, just east of 31st St., Indianapolis (Marion County, Indiana), 46205

Installed 2021 Indiana Historical Bureau, Hoosier Antique & Classic Bicycle Club, and Friends of Newby Oval

ID#: 49.2021.1

Text

Side One:

During the bicycle craze of the 1890s, Hoosiers embraced the bike for transportation, recreation, and sport. Women, especially, gained new freedoms and independence. In 1898, Indianapolis businessman Arthur C. Newby and other cycling enthusiasts capitalized on this interest and established a quarter-mile wooden track at Central Ave and 31st St. named Newby Oval.

Side Two:

Built to host the 1898 League of American Wheelmen’s annual meet, Newby Oval attracted many prominent racers, including Marshall “Major” Taylor. The electrically lighted, state-of-the-art track was one of the fastest in the U.S. The venue hosted many other athletic events. With the rise of the automobile, cycling’s popularity waned and Newby Oval was torn down in 1902.

Keywords

Sports