Discover The Intriguing History Of This Breathtaking 20th-Century Indiana Mansion
By Tori Jane|Published August 22, 2021
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
What is it about old buildings – particularly homes – that is so intriguing? Could it be the idea of what the walls would speak of if they could talk? What stories would they tell? Could it be the fascination of times long past, which an old home allows us to almost step into? Whatever it is, it’s a strong feeling here at Only In Your State, and if you’re also a fan of old, historic homes, you’re going to love the Allison Mansion in Indiana. It’s a truly interesting slice of Hoosier State history, nestled right in the heart of Indianapolis.
It goes by two names: "Allison Mansion" and "Riverdale."
The mansion is nothing short of breathtaking, with ornate and elaborate wood and marble carvings alongside incredible craftsmanship everywhere you look.
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It's an Arts and Crafts-style home, which was a popular design trend from the late 1800s into the early 1900s.
Its construction was commissioned by auto racing pioneer James Allison sometime between 1911 and 1914, and it couldn't be more perfect. Every nook and cranny has been paid special attention to, and as a result, the mansion is brilliant from top to bottom.
Allison was, and is to this day, a particularly well-known Hoosier: he was one of the co-founders of the Indy 500, as well as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway itself! Talk about a legend.
The mansion is two floors of no-holds-barred elegance, even going as far as to include an aviary within the home for Allison's first wife, complete with artisan stained-glass windows and marble walls and floors.
The mansion also features a gorgeous chandelier imported from Germany, and a music room containing an incredible two-story-tall pipe organ...among other things.
The Allison Mansion in Indiana is an important part of the state’s history, and it offers a glimpse of the elaborate lives some folks of the past have lived. It’s an interesting little window, and we’re glad it’s been preserved exactly as-is, or should we say as-was?
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