City guide
38 buildings worth a detour, each with what to look for. Open them on the map, or walk them with the iPhone app, which collects each one you photograph.
The buildings that define the city's architecture.
The Athenæum was completed in 1893 by the Indianapolis firm Vonnegut & Bohn, blending Renaissance Revival and Romanesque Revival architecture. It stands as a German-American cultural landmark in downtown Indianapolis and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, its distinctive facade still visible from the street.
The Barnes and Thornburg Building was completed in 1912 and designed by D. H. Burnham & Company in the Chicago School style. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with its commercial facade still visible from the sidewalk in downtown Indianapolis.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
Benjamin Franklin Public School Number 36 is a Romanesque Revival school building individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
Christ Church Cathedral stands on Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis, designed by architect William Tinsley in the Gothic Revival style. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
Crispus Attucks High School was built in 1927 in the Collegiate Gothic style. It carries a significant civil-rights and segregation-era history and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
The Esplanade Apartments is a Prairie School apartment building, an uncommon choice of style for a multi-family residence. It is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
The Glossbrenner Mansion is a Tudor Revival house individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its name and listing point to a substantial, street-facing residence built in that revival idiom, though no further construction details survive in the record.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
The Hilbert Circle Theatre is a Neoclassical theatre building designed by Rubush & Hunter, standing on Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as the home of the Indianapolis Symphony.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
The Hotel Washington is a downtown Indianapolis building that combines Chicago School and Beaux-Arts architecture. It is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
The Indiana Statehouse is the state capitol of Indiana, designed by Edwin May in the Neoclassical style. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and stands as a prominent civic building with a strong street presence in downtown Indianapolis.
Photo: Original: Daniel SchwenDerivative work: Massimo Catarinella , CC BY-SA 3.0
The Indiana Theatre opened in 1927 in downtown Indianapolis, designed by Rubush & Hunter in the Spanish Baroque style, an unusual specimen for the city. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Diego Delso , CC BY-SA 3.0
John Greenleaf Whittier School, No. 33 was built in 1890 as a public school, combining Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival design. It is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognition of its standing as a well-preserved late-nineteenth-century school building.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
Madam Walker Legacy Center was completed in 1927 and designed by Rubush & Hunter. Named for Madam C.J. Walker, it is a landmark of African American entrepreneurship and culture in downtown Indianapolis. It is a rare specimen of Art Deco built with African-themed ornament, and it is designated both a National Historic Landmark and a National Register of Historic Places listed place.
The Marott's Shoes Building stands in downtown Indianapolis and combines Chicago School and Tudor Revival architecture, an unusual pairing of styles for a single commercial building. It is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
The Minton-Capehart Federal Building in downtown Indianapolis was designed by Woollen, Molzan and Partners, a significant regional modernist firm, in the Brutalist style.
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith , Public domain
The Morris-Butler House was designed by Bohlen, Meyer, Gibson and Associates in the Second Empire style. It is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is preserved today as a historic house museum.
Photo: MSWoolman , CC BY-SA 4.0
The Morrison Block is a commercial building in downtown Indianapolis built in the Renaissance Revival style. It is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
Rink's Womens Apparel Store is a downtown Indianapolis storefront built in the Chicago School style, a form developed for department store and commercial facades. Its name points to a prominent street-facing retail presence, and it is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author , Public domain
Roberts Park Methodist Episcopal Church, located in downtown Indianapolis, was designed by Diedrich A. Bohlen, a prominent Indianapolis architect, in the Romanesque Revival style. It is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Diego Delso , CC BY-SA 3.0
The Schnull-Rauch House was designed by Bernard Vonnegut, Sr., of the notable Vonnegut & Bohn firm, in the Romanesque Revival style. It is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Selig's Dry Goods Company Building is a downtown Indianapolis commercial building designed in the Beaux-Arts style. It is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church was built in 1871 in downtown Indianapolis in the Gothic Revival style and carries a long parish history. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
St. Mary's Catholic Church was completed in 1912 in downtown Indianapolis, designed by architect Hermann J. Gaul in the Gothic Revival style. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Diego Delso , CC BY-SA 3.0
The Buckingham was designed by the Indianapolis firm Rubush & Hunter in the Tudor Revival style. It is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
Worth a stop when you're nearby.
The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site is a Renaissance Revival building that was the home of U.S. President Benjamin Harrison. It is designated a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Daniel Schwen , CC BY-SA 4.0
Bethel A.M.E. Church is a Romanesque Revival church built in 1869 in downtown Indianapolis. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and holds significance to the city's African American history.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
The Columbia Club is a Gothic Revival building designed by Rubush & Hunter, with a prominent facade on Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Xnatedawgx , CC BY-SA 3.0
The Fidelity Trust Building is a downtown Indianapolis landmark designed by the local firm Rubush & Hunter in the Neoclassical style. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
Heslar Naval Armory is a Streamline Moderne building whose nautical-inspired form reflects its function as a naval armory.
Landmark
Indiana Tower is a notable presence on the Indianapolis skyline, designed by the nationally significant architect César Pelli.
The Indianapolis Masonic Temple is a downtown Neoclassical building designed by Rubush & Hunter. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Jim.henderson , CC BY-SA 4.0
Landmark
The James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home in downtown Indianapolis was the residence of poet James Whitcomb Riley and now operates as a museum. It is designated a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
Lockefield Gardens is an International Style public-housing project in Indianapolis, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is tied to the city's African American history.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
South Side Turnverein Hall is a Renaissance Revival building completed in 1900 and designed by Vonnegut & Bohn. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and reflects the history of Indianapolis's German-American community, who built turnverein halls as gathering places for gymnastics and social life.
Photo: Paulgush , CC BY-SA 4.0
Fine buildings that fewer people seek out.
Landmark
Central Library in downtown Indianapolis was designed by Paul Philippe Cret and completed in 1913 as a landmark public library commission. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Diego Delso , CC BY-SA 3.0
The John Fitch Hill House is an Italianate house built in 1852, individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Nyttend , Public domain
