Chuck Taylor All Star

In many ways, Indiana represents the heart of basketball in the United States. Its history has no shortage of iconic moments or people who are famous for changing or contributing to the game, such as Oscar Robertson, John Wooden and Larry Bird.

One Hoosier devoted his life to the game whose name nearly every basketball fan in the United States knows, with his fame extending beyond the bounds of basketball. Though few know much about him, the man is Charles Hollis Taylor, better known as “Chuck” Taylor — the man behind the name on that famous shoe — the Converse All Star.

To celebrate Chuck Taylor and his contributions, the Indiana Historical Society is proud to showcase its latest exhibit, “Chuck Taylor All Star.”

Free parking with paid admission.

The exhibit explores the story of the man and the shoe through a variety of immersive experiences and remarkable artifacts and images, some of which have never been exhibited before.

The exhibit also includes a state-of-the-art virtual reality experience that will allow visitors to travel back in time to a 1950s Chuck Taylor basketball clinic in a Hoosier gymnasium. Visitors will also get to meet and talk with Chuck, learn how to shoot and pass, and handle historic artifacts in a way you would never be able to in real life.

The exhibit is now open through January 27, 2025.

Click here for more Chuck Taylor and Indiana basketball resources.