Historic Structures of
Indianapolis, Indiana
Commercial Structures
Below are pictures of larger commercial buildings
in Indianapolis. The buildings on this page show a wide variety
of architectural styles.
Indianapolis, in the central part of the state, is the capital of
Indiana and seat of Marion Co. In 1821 the community, now the
largest city in Indiana, was named Indianapolis, and the U.S.
engineer Alexander Ralston who assisted the French architect
Pierre L'Enfant in planning Washington, D.C., was commissioned
to lay out the community.
Incorporated as a city 1847, Indianapolis
is a commercial manufacturing, transportation, and cultural center
situated in the productive Corn Belt agricultural region.
Points of interest include the home of President
Benjamin Harrison; the home of the Hoosier Poet James Whitcomb
Riley; the State Capitol (completed 1888); Union Station; the
Soldiers and Sailors Monument (1902), in Monument Circle, the
heart of the city; Woodruff Place and Lockerbie Square historic
districts; Indiana World War Memorial Plaza, including the American
Legion national headquarters building; and the Gothic-style Scottish
Rite Cathedral.
Numerous cultural institutions and museums
find their home in the city. In addition, Indianapolis supports
modern dance and ballet companies, a symphony orchestra, an opera
company, and several theater groups, including the Indiana Repertory
Theatre.
In the 1960s and '70s major programs of urban
redevelopment were undertaken by the city. Unfortunately, Indianapolis
does not have the most progressive attitude toward historic preservation
in the state, but a growing awareness of the city's architectural
assets has resulted in a thriving preservationist community.
|
