W.C. Madden, an author and historian, offers a thoughtful visual essay on the growth and evolution of the city. Mr. Madden has written extensively on Indiana history and baseball. His other books include Baseball in Indianapolis and Indianapolis in Vintage Postcards, both published by Arcadia Publishing in 2003.

Inaugurated as the state capital in 1825, Indianapolis was patterned after the nation's capital and laid out on a mile-square grid with Monument Circle at its center. As the city grew and experienced the tumult of the Civil War, legislators decided to erect a monument to the war's fallen servicemen. In 1902, one of the world's most outstanding memorials was completed-the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Surrounding Monument Circle, "The Circle City" gets its nickname from the prominence and historical significance of the central city structure. Throughout the years, Indianapolis has maintained its commitment to honoring the achievements of Hoosiers. This dedication to Indiana has given the capital its own rich history, told not only through monuments and memorials, but also through the architecture, parks, businesses, and people that make up the heart of Indianapolis. This new book documents the heroes and history of the city, using an impressive collection of vintage photographs from the late 1800s through the early 1900s juxtaposed against present-day images.