Taggart Memorial - 1856 Burdsal Parkway

Built in 1931, this memorial honors Thomas Taggart, mayor of Indianapolis from 1895 to 1901, who purchased and helped develop the land for Indianapolis parks in 1897. He was also chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1900 to 1908, president of the French Lick Hotel Co., and a United States senator in 1916. While mayor, he created Indy Parks and purchased 953 acres of park land, including Riverside Park. In 1927, Riverside Park was renamed Taggart Memorial Park, this was changed back to Riverside Park in 1930. More than 300 people attended the dedication of the memorial in 1931, two years after Taggart’s death. Speakers included the mayor and the governor.

The limestone structure is two stories high and features five open bays defined by arched, columnar supports. The open-sided memorial affords views of the river to the west and of the parkway to the east. Historic photos show a lagoon crossed by a rustic bridge and bordered on the front side by rocks and masses of shrubs and perennials.

Considered a notable neoclassical structure in Center Township and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in Mar. 2003. Local interest and support spawned a movement to restore the memorial. Designed by C. McCullough (American, architect) and Lawrence V. Sheridan (American, 1887-1972, landscape architect).

The Taggart Memorial was redeveloped into a community stage and amphitheater in 2020 through a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment. The stage will be home to the Indianapolis Shakesphere Society, know locally as Indy Shakes.