Indiana University: 200 Years in the Making

The Indiana Seminary was founded by the Indiana General Assembly on January 20, 1820. During its inaugural year, the school featured just one teacher who taught Ancient Greek and Latin. The school expanded its curriculum and became Indiana College in 1828 and Indiana University in 1838. January 20, 2020 was Indiana University’s 200th anniversary.

From 2016 through 2020, the IU Office of the Bicentennial engaged with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the public and provided exciting programs that celebrated, chronicled, and explored IU’s history and inspired ideas for Indiana University’s third century.

Indiana University Bicentennial Final Report

The Bicentennial Final Report

Read about programs, activities, and accomplishments.

Read now

Virtual Traveling Exhibit

Explore IU’s impact on the state through videos, images, and objects.  

Get started
The Bicentennial Final Video

The Bicentennial Final Video

Learn about bicentennial achievements and legacy.

Watch now

The IU Bicentennial is an opportunity to reflect on Indiana University’s first 200 years, and to envision all that it will become in its next century.

Michael A. McRobbie, President, Indiana University

Moments in IU history

The Women Who Changed IU Medicine

Learn more about the history of early women nurses and doctors.

Explore the history

The Lengthy Creation of Student Government at Indiana University

Explore the complex journey to create a student government organization.

Read the blog post