Indianapolis Guide » Indianapolis Attractions & Activities » Indianapolis Historic Sites
Indianapolis Attractions & ActivitiesHistoric Sites
Ready to look into the past and learn about the heritage of this fascinating city? We list historic homes, plantations, battlegrounds, and churches that are rich in history and provide for an educational travel diversion.
Category: Historic Sites - Indianapolis Attractions & Activities
Address: 1230 N Delaware St, Indianapolis, IN 46202-2598
America's 23rd president, Benjamin Harrison, came from a long line of important political figures, and this attractive, three-story home affords a glimpse into his life and that of his family. Many of the Victorian-era furnishings adorning the residence actually belonged to Harrison, along with numerous artifacts and personal effects. Today, the...
Category: Historic Sites - Indianapolis Attractions & Activities
Address: 700 W 38th St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
A stroll through this massive cemetery (the fifth largest in the nation) is like taking a walk through history. Grab a map from the gatehouse and let it guide you to the tombs of some of history's most important figures. Indy poet James Whitcomb Riley is buried at the highest natural point in Indianapolis. Also among the 170,000 gravesites are the...
Indiana Historic National Road
Category: Historic Sites - Indianapolis Attractions & Activities
Address: Washington St, US Rte 40, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson, the route now known as the Historic National Road was completed in 1834 and proved to be a vital part of Americans' westward movement in the mid-19th century. Having endured massive changes in transportation and culture, the road is now lined with many points of interest. Huddleston Farmhouse Museum,...
Category: Historic Sites - Indianapolis Attractions & Activities
Address: 200 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
A recent $10 million renovation restored the somber walls of this building to their former splendor. Before the renovation efforts, the walls were a dull green, a color that had been painted by local inmates. The Indiana General Assembly meets here at the beginning of every year. Sightseers may call ahead for a guided tour of the spectacular...
Category: Historic Sites - Indianapolis Attractions & Activities
Address: 528 Lockerbie St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Located in the quaint neighborhood of Lockerbie Square, this popular home was the estate of Indianapolis's own esteemed poet, James Whitcomb Riley. The house was built in the late 19th century and is furnished with antiques indicative of the era. Sightseers and historians are delighted to see the place Riley called home for 23 years. His room...
Category: Historic Sites - Indianapolis Attractions & Activities
Address: 1204 N Park Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202
This gem of Victorian architecture lends a touch of dignity and elegance to the Old Northside neighborhood, once a fashionable alternative to downtown Indianapolis. A guided tour of the three-floored structure reveals an elegant parlor, servants' quarters, and an intricate, antique Wooton desk, as well as 19th-century paintings and objets d'art....
Murat Shrine Temple and Murat Centre
Category: Historic Sites - Indianapolis Attractions & Activities
Address: 502 N New Jersey St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
A visit to this imposing structure, with its exotic turret and detailed tilework, brings you to the largest shrine temple in the world. A one-time Shriners' headquarters, the structure now hosts a variety of performances and important events, including conferences, receptions, Broadway shows, and pre-show gatherings. Visitors should keep their...
Category: Historic Sites - Indianapolis Attractions & Activities
Address: 650 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Constructed in 1929, this Tudor-Gothic cathedral has often been lauded as one of the world's most beautiful buildings. Highlights include a carillon with 54 bells, an enormous pipe organ, a walnut parquet-floored ballroom, and a marble-and-woodwork Tiler's Room (the entrance). Gorgeous, handcrafted art glass windows use natural light to illuminate...
Category: Historic Sites - Indianapolis Attractions & Activities
Address: 39 Jackson Plc, Indianapolis, IN 46204
The original Union Station, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been adapted as a character-laden hotel. As such, it's not necessarily open to touring, but the starting point of the Indianapolis Railroad is worth browsing nevertheless. Trains still run through the Romanesque Revival property, offering a glimpse of yesteryear,...
Category: Historic Sites - Indianapolis Attractions & Activities
Address: 431 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Standing atop a hill for all to see is this inspirational memorial with an inscription that reads, "Vindicate the principles of peace and justice in the world." A variety of war paraphernalia retraces the history of Indiana, and a Shrine Room contains an altar with an American flag standing in honor of those who lost their lives fighting for their...
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