Celebrating the Beatles Special Place in Indiana Music History
On June 25th, the Indiana Music History Project hosted a vibrant celebration of Global Beatles Day at the newly decorated Indiana Music History Lounge, located inside the Flanner Buchanan building in Broad Ripple on the main level. The event was well attended and it was a resounding success and a true tribute to the Beatles and Indiana’s rich musical legacy.
Founded in 2009 by Indianapolis native Faith Cohen, Global Beatles Day has grown into an international celebration—and this year, it came home in a big way.
Indiana Hast Lots of Beatles Fans!
The event brought together fans, collectors, and volunteers who helped transform the space into a Beatles lover’s dream. Attendees were treated not only to rare Beatles memorabilia but also to a tour of the Indiana Music History Museum on the lower level, which showcases an impressive array of artifacts from Indiana’s musical past.
Indiana shares a special connection with the Beatles: during their iconic 1964 U.S. tour, they performed two shows in one day at the Indiana State Fair—one in the Grandstand and another in the Coliseum. Archival photos even show them playing golf at the old Speedway hotel. Many of these moments and more were featured in the exhibits curated by collector Tom Fontaine.
Highlights from Tom Fontaine’s Beatles Exhibit Included:
- A signed display of the Beatles and Bob Dylan at Mayfair 1966, commemorating their first American visit
- Personal items once owned by John Lennon
- The original Nutopia Declaration letter signed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono
- Album artwork and a signed guitar from Paul McCartney
- A guitar and other signed items from George Harrison
- Ringo Starr’s stage-used drumsticks and a signed drumhead
- Vintage concert tickets, Beatles toys, and a 1965 Beatles record player
- Artifacts from their Indiana State Fair performances
Guests Got their First Experience in the New Indiana Music History Lounge!
The newly updated lounge features sleek mid-century modern décor, thanks to the creative efforts of Rhonda Cohen and Wendy Reed. The stylish space is now equipped to host more events and showcase even more of Indiana’s musical legacy.
Faith Cohen, along with Rick Wilkerson and a dedicated committee of volunteers, led the planning of this unforgettable day of music and celebration. Live Beatles tunes were performed by Tim Brickley, Wendy Reed, and Scott Rudicel, adding to the event’s festive atmosphere.
Special thanks go to Bruce Buchanan for generously donating the space and funding the lounge makeover. And many thanks also to local historian Larry Goshen for documenting the event through his photography. The celebration also included an official ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening of the new lounge.
IMHP Executive Director, Rick Wilkerson, summed it up perfectly:
“Flanner Buchanan provided the room so we could expand our exhibits and host events, and Bruce Buchanan funded the décor. This expanded space increases our visibility and allows us to display more artifacts. It also offers a beautifully designed mid-century modern lounge ideal for events—bringing in new visitors and helping them discover why Indiana music history matters. Education is key to our mission, and this space makes learning both fun and meaningful. We’re already planning future events at the Indiana Music History Lounge.”
Lastly, thank you to Tim Quinn who created a special video for this IMHP Global Beatles Day event. Watch the video below and see what it’s like as he walks the streets of and gives us a tour of Liverpool where the Beatles once roamed.
Stay tuned—there’s much more to come from the Indiana Music History Project and watch for more events in our new Indiana Music History Lounge!
