Greensburg in Decatur County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Carl Fisher

Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 19, 2022

1. Carl Fisher Marker, side one

Inscription. Fisher, an entrepreneur who helped make automobiles a viable form of transportation, was born in Greensburg, 1874. He co-founded Prest-O-Lite Co., 1904, which developed acetylene gas vehicle headlights distributed nationwide. Co-founder and president of Indianapolis Speedway, site of famous annual 500 mile race and testing ground for new automobile technology.

Proponent of the Good Roads Movement to expand and improve the nation’s road networks. Fisher advocated construction of U.S. transcontinental roads including east-west Lincoln Highway (1912) and north-south Dixie Highway (1914). Such roads enabled long-distance travel by automobile. He also developed Miami Beach into major resort destination. Died July 15, 1939.

Erected 2014 by Indiana Historic Bureau, GoGreensbrg, and the City of Greensburg. (Marker Number 16.2014.1.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical date for this entry is July 15, 1939.

Location. 39° 20.252′ N, 85° 29.016′ W. Marker is in Greensburg, Indiana, in Decatur County. Marker is on East Washington Street near North Broadway Street, on the right when traveling east. It is at the north side of the courthouse, at the new courthouse entrance. Touch for map

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. Marker is at or near this postal address: 150 Courthouse Square, Greensburg IN 47240, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Donnell -V.- State, 1852 (a few steps from this marker); Bracken Building (within shouting distance of this marker); White Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Wilder Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Colonel Thomas Hendricks / Elizabeth Trimble Hendricks (within shouting distance of this marker); Zoellner Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Decatur County All Wars Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Decatur County Court House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greensburg.

Also see . . . Wikipedia entry for Carl G. Fisher. Excerpt:

... following a safety debacle at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway, of which he was a principal, he helped develop paved racetracks and public roadways. Improvements he implemented at the speedway led to its nickname, "The Brickyard."

In 1912, Fisher conceived and helped develop the Lincoln Highway, the first road for the automobile across the entire United States of America.

(Submitted on October 5, 2022.)

Carl Fisher Marker, side two image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 19, 2022

2. Carl Fisher Marker, side two

Carl Fisher Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 19, 2022

3. Carl Fisher Marker

This view is west. The courthouse is on the left.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 19, 2022

4. Carl Fisher Marker

This view is east with the courthouse on the right.

Carl Graham Fisher (1874-1939) in 1909 image. Click for full size.

By Bain News Service NYC, in the Library of Congress George Grantham Bain collection, May 28, 1909

5. Carl Graham Fisher (1874-1939) in 1909

Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2022, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 112 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 5, 2022, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.