In 50 years, Fishers residents, community leaders, and city staff will open a portal to the past.
Over the past year, the City of Fishers has worked in partnership with Towne Post to curate items for a time capsule for the new Fishers City Hall, set to open in June 2024. The capsule includes contributions from local organizations, businesses, and residents, and will showcase a piece of 2023 and 2024 history for future residents.
Here’s a sneak peek at some of those items:
Letters to the Future
(contributed by Fishers residents)
Throughout the summer of 2023, the City of Fishers invited residents to author letters to the future for the time capsule. We received over 400 letters from residents of all ages, along with community leaders and influencers like Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, Conner Prairie CEO Norman Burns; Hamilton County historian David Heighway; local blogger and podcaster Larry Lannan; and Towne Post CEO Tom Britt.
Brick from former Fishers City Hall, circa 1991
(contributed by City of Fishers)
Fishers City Hall was constructed at 1 Municipal Drive in 1991 when Fishers was just a small town with a population of around 7,500. In 2024, the City will open the new Fishers Municipal Complex, including the Fishers Art Center and City Hall, where this time capsule will reside. The former City Hall was demolished in fall 2022 after it was determined that it was in dire need of millions of dollars of repairs due to foundational and mechanical failures.
Memorabilia from HSE Girls Volleyball IHSAA Champs
(contributed by Hamilton Southeastern High School)
A signed volleyball and team photo showcases the Hamilton Southeastern High School girls volleyball team’s IHSAA Class 4A State Championship win in November 2023. The Royals completed a perfect season with a 33-0 overall record and became the fourth team in Class 4A to win an IHSAA girls volleyball state championship with a perfect record.
Restaurant Menu, circa 2024
(contributed by Four Day Ray)
Locally owned gastropub Four Day Ray is known for their great beer and tenderloin, a Hoosier classic. Since opening their doors in 2016, Four Day Ray has been active in the Fishers community, showcasing local art and participating in community events such as Spark!Fishers and the Summer Concert Series. In 2019, they won the Emerging Employer of the Year award for their outstanding contributions towards disability inclusion in the workplace.
Memorabilia from Fishers High School Marching Tiger Band’s performance in the 2023 Macy’s Day Parade
(contributed by Fishers High School)
Thousands of high school bands across the country applied to perform in the 97th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2023, and just six were selected for the coveted iconic tradition, including the Fishers High School Marching Tiger Band. It was the 260-member band’s first time in the parade, and they marched the streets of New York City to the Nutcracker Suite by Les King on Thursday, November 23, 2023.
Handmade pottery mug
(contributed by Conner Prairie)
Made onsite at local living-history destination Conner Prairie, this mug was contributed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Prairietown in 2024. The Smithsonian affiliate—the first in Indiana—opened a new trail system in spring 2024 and is preparing to open Promised Land as Proving Ground later this year. Conner Prairie also hosts popular annual festivals such as Jupiter Flights, Headless Horsemen, and A Merry Prairie Holiday.
Spike from Nickel Plate Railroad
(contributed by City of Fishers)
The Nickel Plate rail line was the reason Fishers was founded in 1872, originally called Fishers Switch. In those days, it was common for new communities to spring up along railroads, which naturally drew residents and businesses to the area. From 1872 through the 1970’s, the town’s incorporated limits did not stretch much beyond today’s Nickel Plate District boundary. Over the years, Fishers underwent significant change, progressing from a trading post, to rail switch, to burgeoning town, to a modern city with now more than 101,000 residents, making it one of the largest cities in Indiana. In 2017, the City of Fishers partnered with Indianapolis and Noblesville to reimagine the rail line, which had fallen into disrepair, and construct the Nickel Plate Trail. The Fishers portion, which stretches five miles from 96th Street to 146th, offers enhanced connectivity and opportunities for walking, running, and cycling.
Greetings from Fishers print
(contributed by City of Fishers & Wilkinson Brothers)
The Greetings from Fishers mural by local artists Wilkinson Brothers debuted at 8684 E. 116th Street in Fishers’ downtown Nickel Plate District (NPD) in 2023. The NPD was designated as a Statewide Cultural District by the Indiana Arts Commission in 2018 and serves as the hub for vibrant public art, community festivals, and local boutiques and restaurants. The mural will be a key attraction for the new Café Patachou Nickel Plate, set to open next door along the Nickel Plate Trail this year.
Can of Diet Coke
(contributed by City of Fishers in honor of Mayor Scott Fadness)
Fishers first (and only) Mayor Scott Fadness is seldom seen without a Diet Coke in hand.
Historic Photos & News Articles
(contributed by City of Fishers)
Included in the time capsule are old photos showcasing Fishers’ evolution from a small town to a bustling, dynamic city. Photos include the original City Hall on the south side of 116th at the location of the former Gallery 116 shop; downtown 116th Street from the 1980s; and the move of the historic Ambassador House to its current site at Heritage Park at White River. News stories with headline such as Town Representatives ‘Selling’ Community (October 29, 1986) and Fishers official tells of town’s goals for 1987 (March 5, 1987) are also included.
