Indianapolis 500 Seat Cushion, 1950-1970

01

Artifact Overview

Souvenirs can provide a lifelong remembrance of places and events. Each May, Indianapolis 500 race fans have eagerly purchased souvenirs to use and take home. Checkered flag cushions, like this one from the mid twentieth century, provided a comfortable seat for fans when they were not on their feet cheering on their favorite driver.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Cushion

Date Made

1950-1970

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

90.365.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Steven K. Hamp

Material

Vinyl

Color

Black (Color)
White (Color)
Red

Dimensions

Height: 16.75 in
Width: 14.25 in
Thickness: 1.5 in

Inscriptions

Top: INDIANAPOLIS 500 / STANDARD
02

Related Content

  • Brick From Indianapolis Motor Speedway
    Set

    Indianapolis 500 Materials at The Henry Ford

    • 25 Artifacts
    When Carl Fisher and his partners opened Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1909, the crushed stone and tar track surface quickly proved too dangerous. Fisher had the entire track resurfaced with 3.2 million paving bricks. The track was fully paved with asphalt by 1961, but a three-foot brick strip -- at the start/finish line -- remains, as does the speedway's nickname: the Brickyard.