Today is the Indianapolis 500, and Purdue Twirling will be performing on the race track. Here are some wonderful historic images (negatives) of this long-standing tradition, which we discovered on an Indianapolis 500 Archive.

Members of the Purdue University Marching Band make their way down the track with golden balloons attached to their instruments as a large drum held atop a truck bed follows behind.

Members of the Purdue University Marching Band, led by the majorettes, perform as they make their way down the track.

The Purdue band performing on the front stretch into turn 1 during the 1969 Indianapolis 500 pre-race ceremony. Adelaide “Addy” Darling, Purdue Golden Girl, leads the band.

Purdue majorettes and band members perform on the track before the race.

Purdue Twirling Golden Girl, Juanita Carpenter, Indy 500, 1955/56. Please click here to read a post about and see pictures of Purdue’s first three Golden Girls.

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