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Welcome to the official page of the Indiana Bicentennial Commission.
In December 2011, former Governor Mitch Daniels appointed a fifteen member commission, chaired by Lt. Governor Becky Skillman and former Congressman Lee Hamilton, to oversee the planning and execution of a statewide celebration for Indiana’s 200th birthday.
Mission
Indiana's past and its present are worth celebrating. the Commission will foster a state-wide observance of Indiana's bicentennial that will highlight our past and energize us for our future. This celebration will reflect the aspirations of all Hoosiers and endeavor to reveal the special character of Indiana to people elsewhere.
Vision
From its earliest days, Indiana has been a special place to live and work and raise a family. This has been a state long committed to expanding access to education, improving economic opportunity in every community, and creating a society that strives to hold on to the brightest of its own and compete successfully in the nation and the world. it pursues these shared goals with a spirit of cooperation, and without pretense.
Values
Bicentennial celebrations throughout the state will stimulate thought and conversation about Hoosiers, their distinctive characteristics, and their achievements in economic, political, and cultural fields. These celebrations will help all Indiana residents better understand our shared values, our common civic connections, and our prospects for an even better future.
Senate Bill No. 561 added the creation of the Indiana 2016 Bicentennial Commission to commemorate Indiana's statehood to the Indiana Code.
The bill was sponsored by State Representative Todd Houston (R-Fishers).
The bill passed the House on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 unanimously. The bill passed in the Senate in February 2013 with a vote of 49-0.
You can view a copy of Senate Bill No. 561 by clicking: Senate Bill No. 561
Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed Senate Bill No. 561 into law on May 9, 2013.