James Dean is the legendary hero with a legendary story; live fast and die young. For over half a century, he has captured the world with his casual style, unflinching look and rebel attitude. James Dean has defined the essence of cool and without-a-cause for generations. His star continues to shine brighter and brighter.
Never has there ever been, never will there ever be. The one, the only, James Dean.
About Fairmount
It's no wonder Fairmount, Indiana, adopted as its motto "Fairmount--Home of Distinguished People." From this tiny Midwestern town have come numerous notables, including cartoonist and creator of "Garfield," Jim Davis; CBS National News commentator, Phil Jones; Director of the National Hurricane Center, Robert C. Sheets; famed military historian/author, Dr. James A. Huston; and Mary Jane Ward, author of the award-winning novel, Snake Pit. The Fairmount Historical Museum was founded on September 21, 1975, as a nonprofit organization to give special recognition to these and other Fairmount natives who have made a distinct mark in the world. Fairmount's most celebrated native, the legendary actor James Dean, is also honored at the museum by a special exhibit, dedicated to his memory, and with the museum-sponsored annual festival, Fairmount Museum Days / Remembering James Dean. Each year, thousands visit the annual festival and the authentic James Dean Exhibit. The museum is open March through November and features memorabilia and personal items given to the museum's care by Dean's closest friends and family.
Distinguished People
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Fairmount's most recognized notable,
James Dean, rose to fame after starring in three films
for Warner Brothers: East of Eden,
Rebel Without A Cause, and
Giant. After his death in
1955 at the age of 24, this 1949 graduate of Fairmount
High became
one of the most enduring stars of our time. Buried
in Park Cemetery, he grew up on a farm north of town. |
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Growing up on
a Fairmount farm with 25 cats might not lead most
people to a career, but
it did for Jim Davis. Nationally syndicated cartoonist
and creator of "Garfield," Davis is a 1963
graduate of Fairmount High and a 1967 graduate of Ball
State University, Muncie, Indiana. |
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Indochina and Indiana are worlds
apart, unless you're Emmy Award winning journalist
Phil Jones. Jones joined CBS News in 1969, and was
a member of the CBS News team that won an Emmy for
a series of exclusive reports on the Indochina Air
War. He is a 1955 graduate of Fairmount High, and a
1959 graduate of Indiana University. |
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Director of the National
Hurricane Center, Dr. Robert C. Sheets is a 1955 graduate
of Fairmount High School. After growing up on a small
farm near Fairmount, Dr. Sheets went on to receive
his bachelor's degree from Ball State University and
earned his M.S. and doctorate in meteorology at the
University of Oklahoma. |
Fairmount Map
