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THE STORY OF POST 500
From a Vision of Veterans to a Speedway Tradition
The story of Speedway American Legion Post 500 began more than 85 years ago with a group of World War I veterans and an idea.
What started as Post 198 would eventually grow into Post 500; a place generations of veterans, families, friends, and neighbors have called home.
Along the way, there have been new buildings, growing membership, race weekends, Color Guard national championships, and even an old Ford buried beneath the property.
This is our story.
Chapter 1 - Where It All Began
1940 - 1946
In 1940, a group of World War I veterans employed at the Allison Division of General Motors began working to establish an American Legion Post in Speedway. Their efforts led to the formation of Post 198, with its first officers installed on August 1, 1941.
In 1943, the Post became part of the American Legion's 11th District, where it remains today.
The first Post Home opened in 1944 near Lynhurst Drive and Crawfordsville Road, giving Speedway veterans a place of their own to gather, serve their community, and build friendships.
Then, in 1946, another Post tradition began; race parking.
With the Indianapolis Motor Speedway nearby, members discovered that race parking could help support the Post and its mission. That tradition continues today, nearly eight decades later.
What those early members started would eventually become much larger than they probably ever imagined.
Chapter 2 - Looking Toward Georgetown Road
1960 - 1966
By the late 1950s, Post 198 was growing and members began looking toward the future.
On January 23, 1960, the Post purchased property along Georgetown Road from the Eppen family for $10,500.
Three years later, on June 26, 1963, additional property was purchased for $14,500. This property included a three-story frame house and garage.
The Post now owned the land that would eventually become its new home.
In January 1966, members made the decision that would change the future of the organization:
Post 198 would build a new Post Home at 1926 N. Georgetown Road.
The original proposal called for a 40' × 80' building. The Post ultimately constructed a 40' × 60' building, considered plenty of room at the time for its 168 members.
Little did they know how much the Post would eventually grow.
Chapter 3 - Building a New Home
1966 – 1967
Turning that vision into reality required more than money.
It required members willing to work.
Under the leadership of Commander John Pylat, members helped coordinate permits, construction, equipment, furnishings, and countless other details needed to create their new home.
Contractor Elmer Brooks estimated construction at approximately $24,000, and the Post secured financing to help make the project possible.
But before anything new could be built, something old had to come down.
The three-story Eppen house was demolished in December 1966.
And that's where one of our favorite Post 500 stories begins.
Did You Know?
The last tenant left behind an old Ford sedan with no engine or transmission.
Apparently, hauling it away seemed like too much trouble.
So the car was pushed into the old home's basement, the basement was filled with dirt and the Ford was buried.
According to the Post's history, that car is still there today, beneath the front driveway leading to the Post Home.
Thousands of people have probably driven right over it without ever knowing it was there.
Does anyone remember seeing the old Ford before it disappeared? Better yet, does anyone have a picture of it?
Chapter 4 - From Post 198 to Post 500
1967
With a new home directly across Georgetown Road from the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, members had another idea.
Why remain Post 198 when there was a much more appropriate number?
Maybe 500?
Members requested permission to change the Post number. The Department of Indiana agreed to hold the number until Posts 498 and 499 had been assigned.
Once those numbers were used, Speedway's Post 198 officially became:
Speedway American Legion Post 500
A number inspired by our location soon became part of our identity.
More than half a century later, it's difficult to imagine us being anything else.
Chapter 5 - Growing With the Community
1971 – 1983
It didn't take long for that 40' × 60' building to become smaller than members once thought.
In 1971, the Post approved a 1,620-square-foot addition, which was completed in May 1972.
Growth continued.
In 1977, another 1.5 acres was purchased, bringing the Post's property to approximately 4.5 acres.
Another addition followed in 1983, helping create the Post Home generations of members would come to know.
The little Post that once had 168 members had grown and the building grew right along with it.
Chapter 6 - A Tradition of Excellence
Post 500's history isn't only about land and buildings.
It's about people.
It's about veterans serving veterans, families supporting one another, volunteers helping their community, and members proudly representing the American Legion.
One remarkable example came from the Post 500 Color Guard.
In 1993, the Post 500 Color Guard won the American Legion National Color Guard Championship.
Then they did it again.
And again.
National championships followed in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2001.
Seven National Championships.
It's an extraordinary chapter in the history of Speedway Post 500 and a legacy worthy of remembering.
The Story Continues
More than eight decades have passed since a group of World War I veterans first came together to establish an American Legion Post in Speedway.
Buildings have changed.
Generations have changed.
Traditions have changed.
But the purpose behind Post 500 remains remarkably familiar; veterans serving veterans, supporting our community, and creating a place where people belong.
And our history isn't finished.
Every race weekend, community project, donation, new member, volunteer, and gathering adds another page.
Because The Story of Post 500 isn't only about the people who came before us.
We're still writing it.
Treasures From Our History
Sometimes History Fits in the Palm of Your Hand
Dates, buildings and meeting minutes tell us part of the story of Speedway American Legion Post 500.
But sometimes it's the little things that bring the past to life.
An old photograph.
A race parking pass.
A raffle ticket tucked away in a drawer.
A wooden drink token that spent years riding around in someone's pocket.
We've recently begun uncovering some of these pieces of Post 500's past, and each one seems to come with a story.
Some we know.
Some we're still trying to figure out.
And we're pretty sure there are many more treasures hiding in closets, garages, scrapbooks and boxes throughout the homes of current and former Post 500 families.
Here are just a few of the treasures we've discovered so far.
Still With Us? Good.
We had to make sure you were willing to learn a little Post 500 history before we showed you the really cool stuff.
You've passed the test.
Now come see some of the treasures, traditions and odd little pieces of Post 500 history we've uncovered along the way.
👉 I Read the History — Show Me the Good Stuff!