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The Indiana Beard Hall of Fame

This story is part of Indianapolis Monthly’s 2016 Indiana Bicentennial coverage, which includes a piece on how to enjoy this year’s festivities. For more on this celebration of the state’s first two centuries, click here.

Indiana’s shape is prime for a full set of whiskers, as Fishers shop Vardagen reminded us with its “The Bearded State” tee. And Hoosier history is replete with luxurious specimens. On your mark, get set, groom!

Abraham Lincoln (b. 1809)AbrahamBeardCard

Kentucky-born, Indiana-bred, presidential emancipator. Classic chin curtain.


Edward Sorin (b. 1814)EdwardSorinBeardCard

French priest who founded Notre Dame. Total Dumbledore.


Richard Gatling (b. 1818)GatlingBeardCard

Invented the Gatling machine gun while living in Indy. Kindly Santa Claus.


Schuyler Colfax (b. 1823)ColfaxBeardCard

One of five vice presidents from Indiana (to Ulysses S. Grant). Closest to Vardagen’s rendition.


Ambrose Burnside (b. 1824)BurnsideBeardCard

Native of Liberty, Indiana; Union general. Pioneered sideburns, which are named after him.


Lew Wallace (b. 1827)WallaceBeardCard

Union general, New Mexico governor, Ben-Hur author. Puts the G.O.A.T. in goatee.


Benjamin Harrison (b. 1833)HarrisonBeardCard

Indy politician, Union colonel, 23rd U.S. president. Trimmed and neat.


Edward Eggleston (b. 1837)EgglestonBeardCard

Vevay novelist and Methodist minister. Snowy and ship-shape.


George Knox (b. 1841)KnoxBeardCard

Barbershop entrepreneur and owner of the Indianapolis Freeman newspaper. Nice chin puff.


T.C. Steele (b. 1847)SteeleBeardCard

“Hoosier Group” impressionist. Textbook ducktail.


James Alexander Thom (b. 1933)ThomBeardCard

Popular historical novelist from Gosport. A latter-day Papa Hemingway.


David Letterman (b. 1947)LettermanBeardCard

Beloved late-night TV host, IndyCar owner. Post-retirement scruff game: strong.


Clay Robinson (b. 1975)RobinsonBeardCard

Co-founder of Sun King Brewing, helped Indiana’s beer rep flourish. A heady facial foam.


Reggie Wayne (b. 1978)WayneBeardCard

The Colts’ former Pro Bowl receiver. Ranged from boxed goatee to “training-camp beard.”


Andrew Luck (b. 1989)LuckBeardCard

Colts franchise QB. Or Civil War reenactor?

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