There Are More Than 200 Historic Buildings In This Indiana City
By Tori Jane|Published May 19, 2021
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Tori Jane
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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.
Indianapolis is the capital city of the Hoosier State. It’s the most populated city we’ve got, and it’s to be expected that there is some interesting history throughout. Interestingly, Indy is far from the oldest city in Indiana; that title goes to Vincennes, which was founded in 1732. Indianapolis wasn’t founded until 1820, but that doesn’t mean it lacks historic buildings and old-school architecture. In fact, it’s home to more than 200 registered historic buildings, including nine National Historic Landmarks. When it comes to historic buildings in Indiana, Indy itself is a great place for history buffs to start.
The grand total of historic buildings scattered about the capital city is 253, many of which are buildings and blocks with specific addresses, which certainly makes visiting easier. Pictured above is the Benjamin Harris home, where the 23rd President of the United States lived with his family. It was built in the 1870s and can be found at 1204 North Delaware Street.
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Folks who appreciate architecture will really enjoy a romp around the city; the styles vary depending on the building and district you're in, but looking around, you'll likely run into plenty of Gothic-Revival churches, art deco movie theaters, and more.
Pictured above is Athenaeum, otherwise known as "Das Deutsche Haus." This building was finished in 1894 and was a lively hub for German immigrants to gather. It's now listed as a National Historic Landmark, alongside many Indianapolis buildings and points of pride. You can find Das Deutsche Haus at 401 East Michigan Street.
The oldest churches in the city, including Christ Church Cathedral and Saint Mary Catholic Church, a Gothic-Revival beauty (pictured), were constructed in the early to mid-1800s, making them just a bit older than Indy itself.
Even the Union Station, the first-ever station of its kind in the world, was built in the 1840s.
Woodruff Place is currently a highly sought-after zip code, and it's filled with awe-inspiringly beautiful Victorian homes in the late 1800s. Woodruff Place can be found between the 1700-2000 East Michigan and East 10th Streets.
Indianapolis is an interesting city with plenty of historic buildings, parks, and even cemeteries to explore.
What do you think? What’s your favorite old building in Indy? Tell us about them in the comments! Interested in more Hoosier State history? Check out these 10 National Historic Landmarks in Indiana that you’ve got to see at least once.
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