The station began broadcasting January 6, 1948, and originally held the call sign WTHI.^[1][2] The station ran 1,000 watts 24 hours a day.^[2] In 1970, the station's daytime power was increased to 5,000 watts.^[2] WTHI AM 1480, along with WTHI-FM, and WTHI-TV were long owned by Tony Hulman, and remained in his family's hands until 1998, when all three stations were sold to Emmis Communications.^[6][7]

WTHI aired a Top 40 format from the mid-1960s until January 1974, when the station adopted a country music format.^[8] By 1983, the station had adopted a MOR format.^[9] By 1988, the station had begun airing an oldies format.^[10] By 1991, the station had returned to airing a country music format, simulcasting 99.9 WTHI-FM.^[11]

The station adopted a news-talk format in 1992.^[12] As a news-talk station, WTHI was Terre Haute's home for prominent national personalities such as Rush Limbaugh and Paul Harvey, as well as The Bob & Tom Show.^[13][14] The station also carried The Mike Pence Show, a statewide talk show which Pence hosted prior to his election to congress.^[15]

In 2000, the station was donated to Word Power, Inc., and its call sign was changed to WPFR, with the station adopting a Christian format.^[16][3][17] The station was taken off the air in March 2020.^[18]

Effective October 29, 2021, it was sold to American Hope Communications, along with WKZI, WLHW, WPFR-FM, and three translators, for $179,000.^[19][20]