For many years, I found my hometown of Indiana, Pennsylvania, to be a difficult location to explain. The process was especially circular on a cell phone with a bad connection while trying to order something or to book a hotel room.

“Where in Indiana?” the person on the end of the line will inevitably ask.

“Pennsylvania,” I would respond.

“Where in Pennsylvania?” the faraway voice would crackle.

“Indiana,” I would reply.

These conversations would loop ad infinitum.

One day, I tried something new.

“Have you ever heard of Jimmy Stewart?” I asked, preempting the vicious cycle before it could start anew.

“You mean the guy from the Christmas movie… ‘Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings’? That guy?”

“Yes!” I replied, certain I felt those very seraphim descending upon me. “Indiana, PA is his hometown.”

Jimmy Stewart is one Hollywood’s most iconic actors  and one of Indiana, Pennsylvania’s most famous international exports, in addition to Christmas trees (Indiana, Penn., is the Christmas Tree Capital of the World).

Stewart spent his boyhood in Indiana, where his parents operated a local hardware store. He attended Princeton University, where he pursued architecture. Following graduation, he received an offer to perform with a theatre group in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The rest is history.

Stewart’s movie credits  include classic films such as “It’s A Wonderful Life,” “Mr. Smith Goes To Washington,” “Rear Window” and “Harvey.” Stewart’s characters are well-known for their morals, ethics, and straight-talking, deliberate manner of speaking.

Stewart aficionados have been known to travel long distances to visit the museum, which is located on the top floor of the Indiana Free Library and features Stewart-related memorabilia, movie posters and photos. There are weekend film screenings in an adjoining 1930s style theatre donated by Universal City Studios.

Make sure to pay a visit to the gargantuan statue of Jimmy outside the Indiana Courthouse. On celebratory occasions, revelers have been known to place a martini glass in his hand!