Home to the famous Indy 500, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is featured on Memorial Day and covers a two and one half mile oval track. In 1820, the City's location was geographically centered in the state and was do to Indiana's State Legislatures who thought a new location for the capital would be better for it's development. Also the city's structure is patterned after the nation's capital and is centered around a circular plaza called Monument Circle. The Civil War Monument in the center is the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument. Other great sites to visit are the World War Memorial Plaza, Union Station, Fort Benjamin Harrison, the Hoosier Capitol, the Govenor's Mansion, and the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Great museums in the city to see are the Indianpolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, the Indiana State Museum, the John Herron Museum, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, and the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art. Historical homes to look at are the James Whitcomb Riley Home and the Morris Butler House. Many academic instutions that Indianapolis offers are Indiana University-Purdue University, Butler University, University of Indianapolis, and Marian College. With a population of over a million, Indianapolis strives to become one of the nation's largest cities.