1963 Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum gas explosion

The 1963 Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum gas explosion was a catastrophic event that occurred on October 31, 1963, during the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis, Indiana. The explosion resulted from a gas leak in the coliseum, which was hosting a large gathering for the fair. The incident claimed the lives of 74 individuals and injured over 400 others, making it one of the deadliest disasters in Indiana's history. Emergency services responded swiftly, but the scale of the destruction highlighted critical deficiencies in safety protocols and emergency preparedness. The explosion led to significant changes in gas safety regulations and emergency response strategies across the state, prompting widespread public and governmental scrutiny of infrastructure safety measures at large public events.