{"id":2,"featured":1,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:48:35","latitude":39.8202050000000014051693142391741275787353515625,"longitude":-86.200661999999994122845237143337726593017578125,"title":"Racing in the Velodrome","subtitle":"","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/7a467da0a8210c8059d5c929a74c3ac2.jpg","address":"","all_locations":[],"zoom":12,"creator":["Kaelynn Hayes"],"description":"The open air cycling track, or velodrome, before you is named for Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor. In 1899, Taylor, a renowned cyclist and world record holder from Indianapolis, became the second African American world champion athlete.   Celebrated abroad and hounded by racism at home, “Major” Taylor began his cycling career in Indianapolis.  The Major Taylor Velodrome, now home to the Marian University cycling team, was built in 1982 for the National Sports Festival and used for the 1987 Pan American Games.<br />\r\n<br />\r\n“Major” Taylor was born in Indianapolis in 1878. As a child, he became friends with the son of the Southard family which employed his father. For a few years, Taylor lived with the Southards, who bought him a bike. After returning to his own family at age 13, Taylor found a job at a bicycle repair shop. He often practiced bicycle tricks outside the shop, and when the owner realized this attracted customers, he gave Taylor a military uniform to wear during his performances. Thus the nickname “Major Taylor” was born.   <br />\r\n<br />\r\nTaylor won amateur races in Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois. His successes drew the attention of former cyclist Louis Munger, who became his manager. Munger was criticized for mentoring a black athlete and decided that his business ambitions, as well as Taylor’s career, would not flourish in Indianapolis. <br />\r\n<br />\r\nTaylor and Munger moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1895.  One year later, Taylor registered with the League of American Wheelmen as a professional rider. Over the next eight years, he became a world-famous athlete despite facing intense racism in the U.S. Some tracks banned him, and white racers threatened to injure him. In 1897, one opponent even attacked and choked him after a race.   <br />\r\n<br />\r\nYet by 1898, Taylor held 7 world records, including the 1-mile flying start (1 minute and 31 4/5 seconds). The following year, he claimed the 1-mile world championship title in Montreal. After a four-month European tour in 1901, he married Daisy V. Morris in Connecticut in 1902. He then went on three international tours, racing in New Zealand, Australia, and Europe. Daisy accompanied him during two of these tours, and their daughter Sydney was born in Sydney, Australia in May 1904.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nTaylor rested for two years at his home in Worcester before he launched a racing comeback in 1907, returning to Europe for a few tours. After early victories, Taylor’s age and weariness convinced him to retire from cycling in 1910. Over the next 20 years, Taylor lost money in poor business investments and became estranged from his wife and daughter. He moved to Chicago in 1930, living at a YMCA while trying to sell copies of his autobiography, The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World.   <br />\r\n<br />\r\nTaylor died in 1932 and was buried in an unmarked grave in Mount Glenwood Cemetery.  In 1948, the Bicycling Racing Stars of the 19th Century moved his remains to a more prominent area of the cemetery.  Schwinn Bicycle Company donated money for his tombstone.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nThe Indianapolis Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) presented a proposal for a velodrome in 1975.  Fundraising efforts by DPR director Art Strong (a former cycling reporter) and the desire to make Indianapolis the “amateur sports capital” convinced the city council to launch the project. The track’s location near Lake Sullivan was selected after a feasibility study revealed its easy access. During the dedication ceremony of the Major Taylor Velodrome, Taylor’s daughter Sydney received a key to Indianapolis. When not hosting competitions, the Velodrome offers programs and classes to the city’s recreational cyclists.","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"","lede":"","website":"","related_resources":["“City’s new bike track named for U.S. champion.” Indianapolis Star. May 28, 1982.","Patty A. Charles. “Velodrome Celebrating Year No. 5.” Indianapolis News, July 30, 1987.","Kurt Freudenthal, “Velodrome staff has wheels turning for ’83,” Indianapolis Star, October 17, 1982.","Tom Healy, “Track honors Taylor,” Velo-news: A Journal of Bicycle Racing 11, no. 13, August 27, 1982.","Bob Percival. “Remembering Father, The Bike Champ.” The Indianapolis Star Magazine, February 12, 1984.","Andrew Ritchie. Major Taylor: The Extraordinary Career of a Champion Bicycle Racer. San Francisco: Bicycle Books , Inc., 1988.","Lynne Tolman. “Major Taylor Statue Dedication.” Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History 20, no. 4 (Fall 2008),"],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/7a467da0a8210c8059d5c929a74c3ac2.jpg":{"id":455,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"1908 Grand Prix de Paris","description":"Grand Prix de Paris, match between Major Marshall Taylor and Edmond Jacquelin, first round of the cycling competition.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nImage credit: Bibliothèque nationale de France, département Estampes et photographie, EST EI-13 (14)  | http://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb40451992d | Grand Prix de Paris, 1908 | Press Photographer, 1908.","thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/7a467da0a8210c8059d5c929a74c3ac2.jpg"},"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/2a020e42a826cba621a6943a256d11b5.jpg":{"id":456,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Grand Finish at Grand Prix Cycliste de la République, 1908","description":"Major Marshall Taylor pulled ahead of Emile Friol to finish of the Grand Prix de Republique in 1908. The Grand Prix de Republique was held at the Parc de Princes Stadium in Paris.    <br />\r\n<br />\r\nImage credit: Bibliotheque Nationale de France. | Grand Prix Cycliste de la République, 1908 | Press photograph, September 21, 1908. ","thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/2a020e42a826cba621a6943a256d11b5.jpg"},"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/249ac5876874dad111df1ad09031164f.jpg":{"id":451,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Cyclist Racing at the Stade Velodrome Buffalo, May 1909.","description":"The start of track cycle race held at the Stade Velodrome Buffalo in Neuilly-sur Seine. The cyclists from left to right are Victor Dupre, Emile Friol, and Major Taylor. <br />\r\nImage credit: Bibliotheque Nationale de France. | Cyclist Racing, May 1909. | Press photography, May 31, 1909. ","thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/249ac5876874dad111df1ad09031164f.jpg"},"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/dcc721cb15785041495349444aeed4f7.jpg":{"id":452,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Taylor and Edmund Friol After Race","description":"Marshall Taylor and fellow world track racing champion, Emile Friol of France, walking to the locker room after May 31  1909 race held at the Stade Velodrome Buffalo. <br />\r\n<br />\r\nImage credit: Bibliotheque Nationale de France. | Cyclist Race at Neuill-sur- Seine, Stade velodrome Buffalo, May 31, 1909.  | Press Photography, May 31, 1909 ","thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/dcc721cb15785041495349444aeed4f7.jpg"},"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/9eabb70ecf2942d63da96a53999c8d92.jpg":{"id":515,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Cyclist Race at Stade Veledrome Buffalo, France May 29, 1908","description":"American boxer Sam McVey steadies Marshall Taylor at start of 1908 race against France’s Gabriel Poulain (world champion in 1905) and Denmark’s Thorvald Ellegaard (world champion in 1901,1902, and 1903, 1906, 1908, 1911).  Image credit: Bibliotheque Nationale de France | Cycling Race at Stade Velodrome Buffalo in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, May 29, 1908.  | Press photography, May 29, 1908","thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/9eabb70ecf2942d63da96a53999c8d92.jpg"},"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/9c12f2e81421bce696cf913ad4619f21.jpg":{"id":449,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Marshall &quot;Major&quot; Taylor Indiana Historical Marker","description":"This  historical marker is at the intersection of 38th and the Monon trail, across from the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The Capital City Track was located here. <br />\r\n<br />\r\nPhoto Courtesy of Indiana Historical Bureau. <br />\r\n<br />\r\n | http://www.in.gov/history/markers/MajorTaylor.htm | Historical Marker installed by Indiana Historical Bureau in 2009 | Indiana Historical Bureau ","thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/9c12f2e81421bce696cf913ad4619f21.jpg"},"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/376f10c9818f38874e7736ee463b9d5b.jpg":{"id":450,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Marshall &quot;Major&quot; Taylor, Indiana Historical Marker","description":"This historical marker is at the intersection of 38th and the Monon trail, across from the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The Capital City Track was located here. <br />\r\nPhoto Courtesy of Indiana Historical Bureau.  | This historical marker was installed by the Indiana Historical Bureau in 2009.  | Indiana Historical Bureau ","thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/376f10c9818f38874e7736ee463b9d5b.jpg"},"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/4294f6d36089dd96a05f373f312be0f7.jpg":{"id":514,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"29 May 1908","description":"American boxer Sam McVey steadies Marshall Taylor at start of 1908 race against France’s Gabriel Poulain (world champion in 1905) and Denmark’s Thorvald Ellegaard (world champion in 1901,1902, and 1903, 1906, 1908, 1911).  Image credit: Bibliotheque Nationale de France","thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/4294f6d36089dd96a05f373f312be0f7.jpg"}}}