Indiana War Memorials

Informational Tour of the IWMC Properties

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Indiana War Memorials

Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, United States

Created By: Indiana War Memorials

Tour Information

This self-guided tour will provide you with information on many of the key features of the Indiana War Memorial Commission properties. The IWMC operates these facilities and memorials in pursuit of its primary mission: to commemorate the valor and sacrifice of the United States Armed Forces and to honor Hoosier veterans and Indiana's role in the nation's conflicts.


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What You'll See on the Tour

American Legion Mall stretches for two blocks, from North Street to St. Clair Street. It was designed to give perfect line of sight from the Indianapolis/Marion County Public Library, through the mall, to the north face of the Indiana War M... Read more
At the north end of Legion Mall, between the American Legion National and State Headquarters, is Cenotaph Square, comprising the Cenotaph and the Sunken Garden. It was constructed in 1931 as a tribute to Indiana’s war dead. The focal poin... Read more
The original home to the  American Legion National Headquarters was constructed on the northwest corner of the mall. Completed in 1925, it was the first building constructed on the Plaza, and initially served as the national headquarters ... Read more
 In 1950, to accomodate an increase in needed space, the American Legion moved across the mall to the new American Legion National Headquarters on the northeast corner. Located at 700 North Pennsylvania Street, the National Headquarters bu... Read more
This dual memorial was dedicated by Governor Evan Bayh at the Indianapolis 500 Festival Memorial Service on May 24, 1996. The two structures are each segments of a twelve and a half foot diameter, twenty-five foot tall cylinder. The Vietnam... Read more
This dual memorial was dedicated by Governor Evan Bayh at the Indianapolis 500 Festival Memorial Service on May 24, 1996. The two structures are each segments of a twelve and a half foot diameter, twenty-five foot tall cylinder. The Vietnam... Read more
Just south of the American Legion National Headquarters is the World War II Memorial. It consists of a half-circle of granite and limestone, 18 1/3 feet in diameter. It is considerably larger than the nearby Korean and Vietnam War Memorials... Read more
Centrally located in the plaza are the Obelisk and Fountain. The Obelisk is a 100-foot shaft of black Berwick granite, ornamented at its base with four bronze bas-relief tablets, each four by eight feet. The Obelisk represents “the hopes ... Read more
The Indiana War Memorial is the centerpiece of the five-block Indiana War Memorial Plaza Historic District. Originally designed to honor the veterans of World War I, the War Memorial is today dedicated to all men and women of Indiana who ha... Read more
On the south steps of the Indiana War Memorial, facing University Park, stands the large bronze sculpture Pro Patria, a Latin phrase meaning “For Country”. The sculpture, created by Henry Hering, features a young man reaching heavenwar... Read more
By the end of April, 1929, the limestone statues crowning the Memorial’s magnificent Ionic columns, were ready to be placed.   These sculptures were the work of Henry Hering, noted New York artist, who also did the bronze “Pro Patria... Read more
University Park occupies the block just south of the Indiana War Memorial. The area was originally set aside by the Indiana Legislature in 1821 for a state university, which was never built. From 1833, the block housed the Marion County Sem... Read more
The centerpiece of University Park is Depew Fountain, a memorial to Indianapolis physician Dr. Richard Johnson Depew from his wife. The granite foundation is surrounded by a circular plaza with stone benches. The initial design by Karl Bitt... Read more
Toward the center of the park is the Schuyler Colfax statue. Colfax, an Indiana native, was Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant after the Civil War. Designed by Lorado Taft in 1887, it was the first statue to be placed in the park, origin... Read more
The Benjamin Harrison statue honors the Indianapolis resident who became the 23rd President of the United States (1889-1893). Prior to his presidency, Harrison commanded the 70th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment and was promoted to the r... Read more
At the southeast corner of the park is Henry Hering’s statue of Abraham Lincoln. In 1901, Henry Long’s estate left $10,000 with instructions that it be used to create a statue of Lincoln. Mr. Long also stipulated where the statue was to... Read more
The Indiana Soldiers & Sailors Monument, located on Monument Circle in the center of downtown Indianapolis, has come to symbolize both the state of Indiana and the city of Indianapolis. Originally designed to honor the memory of Indiana... Read more
The Medal of Honor Memorial was created by artists Eric Fulford and Ann Reed of NINEbark, Inc. The memorial consists of 27 curved glass walls surrounded by gardens and pays tribute to those who have received the Medal of Honor spanning over... Read more
Established in 2010 to honor those killed in the 9/11 attack, the memorial consists of two 11,000-pound beams from the Twin Towers. Behind the beams stand a pair of six-foot tall black granite walls inscribed with remembrances of the events... Read more
The USS Indianapolis (CA-35) National Memorial, located at Senate Avenue and Walnut Street on the north end of the Canal Walk in downtown Indianapolis, honors the sailors and Marines who served aboard the famous ship. During World War II, t... Read more

 

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