Old Northside Neighborhood

The Old Northside is one of Indianapolis's historic districts.

Old Northside Neighborhood

Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, United States

Created By: Historic Urban Neighborhoods of Indianapolis

Tour Information

WELCOME TO THE OLD NORTHSIDE!

This tour is a part of the Historic Urban Neighborhoods of Indianapolis Tour Series. It is endorsed by the Indianapolis Bicentennial Commission as an 'Official Indy Bicentennial Community Project.'

This tour takes approximately 90 minutes to walk.

Parking is most avaliable along Central Avenue near the Indiana Landmarks Center.

Neighborhood History

During the late nineteenth century, a residence in what was then the Northside of the City was a mark of success and affluence. While industry and its accompanying working-class neighborhoods sprang up to the south, west, and east of the original Mile Square boundaries of the City, the wealthy built their mansions in the wooded and rural setting north of the commercial and retail district. The northward movement began as early as the late 1840s, but not until after the Civil War did the Northside see substantial development. From that time to the early 20th century, the area was the most fashionable place to live. After 1900, other areas still farther north were settled and the original Northside (which became "The Old Northside" by virtue of the migration) was supplanted by the region north of Fall Creek as the most prestigious residential area.

In the years following World War I, the area began a period of slow decline. Decline accelerated after World War II and during the 1950's. By the mid-1970s, a significant amount of the original houses had been demolished.

In 1978 the area was placed on the federal National Register of Historic Places as an historic district. Shortly after the City of Indianapolis adopted The Old Northside Historic Preservation Plan, which serves as the basis for the legal designation of the Old Northside as an "historic area of Indianapolis-Marion County," and gives the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission authority to exercise "historic area review" over all design, demolition and exterior appearance changes that are undertaken in The Old Northside.

Since then most of the historic buildings have been renovated and historically sympathetic in-fill housing has been built, making The Old Northside one of the premier historic districts in the midwest.

WANT TO LEARN MORE OR TAKE OTHER TOURS?

Our Thanks

This program has been made possible through a Historic Preservation Education Grant from Indiana Landmarks, Indiana Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Funding provided in part by Indiana Landmarks.

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Tour Map

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What You'll See on the Tour

Year Built: 1898 Architecture Style: Key Features: Palladian and Porthole Windows Shingle and Clapboard Siding Hipped Front Gable Roof This home is considered infill. The home successfully matches the older homes in the neighborhood.    ...
Year Built: 1903 Architecture Style: Queen Anne Key Features: Bay Windows Star Leading on Upper Windows Claboard Siding When constructed in 1903, this home was configured as a duplex.  ...
Year Built: 1891 Architecture Style: Romanesque Revival Key Features: Large Stained Galss Window Heavy Stone Construction Dome and Bell Tower The current home of Indiana Landmarks is the restored Central Avenue Methodist Church. There were... Read more
Year Built: 1897 Architecture Style: Gable Front Key Features: Palladian Window Fish Scale and Clapboard Siding Small Crowns over Windows    
Year Built: 2000 Architecture Style: Italianate Inspired Key Features: Decorative Brackets on Roof Line Low Pitched Roof Striped Brick Design This home is an Italianate inspired infill property. Near the entrance, the owners have placed an ... Read more
Year Built: 1901 Architecture Style: Colonial Revival Key Features: Large Wrap Porch Decorative Spindling and Colorful Trim Pointed Arch Ribbon Windows and Bay Windows This home is now a bed and breakfast, The Stone Soup Inn. You can visit... Read more
Year Built: 1920 Architecture Style: Gothic Revival Key Features: Double Towers with Parapet Heavy Stone and Brick Construction Gothic Door Archway with Elaborate Door Surround     ...
Year Built: 1888  Architecture Style: Queen Anne Key Features: Fish Scale Siding Hipped Gable Roof Large Wrap Porch  
Year Built: 1908 Architecture Style: Eclectic Tudor Revival Key Features: Decorative and Colorful Timbering Tiled Roof Bay Windows This property was once home to the Psychic Science Spiritualist Church. The carriage house behind this massi... Read more
Year Built: 1897 Architecture Style: Queen Anne Key Features: Large Turret Tower Clapboard Siding Large Wrap Porch On the North part of Lot 1 of Holman's Addition to the City of Indianapolis (platted in 1872) and next to the 1870's home w... Read more
Year Built: Circa Late 1800s Architecture Style: Gable Front Key Features: Clapboard Siding Narrow Footprint Full Facade Length Porch This home is off the small alley that is 14th street. These alley ways would have originally been used for... Read more
Year Built: 1889 Architecture Style: Key Features: Stars for Tie Rods Two Dormers Brick Construction This small home was converted from a carriage house.    ...
Year Built: 1888 Architecture Style: Queen Anne Key Features: Large Tower with Pedimented Dormers Decorative Flourishes on Window Crowns and Vergeboard Central Skylights This building was once home to a Montessori Academy. The home has ver... Read more
Year Built: 1874 Architecture Style: Italianate Key Features: Keystones over Fully Arched Windows Decorative Entablature on Roofline Low Pitched Roof This home has been heavily remodeled from the original structure, yet retains much of i... Read more
Year Built: 1874  Architecture Style: Italianate Key Features: Fanlights Over Several Doors Decorative Brackets and Entablature on Roof Line Fully Arched Windows On Second Story This is another Italianate home which has been heavily remo... Read more
Year Built: 1873 Architecture Style: Italianate Cottage Key Features: Decorative Brackets and Spindling Wrap Porch Decorative Vergeboard on Porch Gable  
The Great Oak Commons is a Victorian Walking Park that is open to the public. The park hosts many community events such as outdoor plays and social gatherings.  If you need a small break, this is a great place to stop and enjoy!   ...
Year Built: 1893 Architecture Style: Queen Anne Key Features: Decorative Timbering Fish Scale, Wave, and Shingle Siding Large Porch with Many Decorative Flourishes Jewel Tone Color Scheme   ...
Year Built: 1882 Architecture Style: Italianate-Stick Key Features: Inward Sloping Piers on Large Wrap Porch Low Pitch Roof Decorative Design with Windows and Siding   ...
Year Built: 1889 Architecture Style: Shingle Key Features: Stickwork and Clapboard Siding Squared Railing on Porch Brackets on Porch Supports  
Year Built: 1880s Architecture Style: Victorian Key Features: Large Wrap Porch with Simple Columns Simple Crown over Windows Wide Porch Staircase In the 1970s, three Victorian houses on Park Avenue were stripped down, covered with stucco, c... Read more
Year Built: 1900 Architecture Style: Victorian Key Features: Large Tower Decorative Brackets on Roof Line Shingle Siding Facade Width Porch In the 1970s, three Victorian houses on Park Avenue were stripped down, covered with stucco, cobbled... Read more
Year Built: 1895 Architecture Style: Victorian Key Features: Diamond Pattern Leading in Windows Large Porch Dentils In the 1970s, three Victorian houses on Park Avenue were stripped down, covered with stucco, cobbled together with makeshift... Read more
Year Built: 1900 Architecture Style: Queen Anne Key Features: Hipped Roof and Dormer Exposed Roof Beams Large Porch with Unique Supports  
Year Built: 1848 Architecture Style: Colonial Revival Key Features: Symmetrical Design Double Columns on Double Porch Elaborate Dormers Ovid Butler was a lawyer, abolitionist, journalist, and founder of North Western Christian University, w... Read more
Year Built: Architecture Style: Tudor Revival Key Features: Stucco and Timbering Exposed Roof Beams Red Trim  
Year Built: Architecture Style: Italianate Key Features: Decorative Brackets and Low Pitch Roof Attic Level Story Arched Windows with Keystones  
Year Built: 1872 Architecture Style: Italianate Key Features: Attic Level Windows Decorative Double Brackets Stained Glass Window Over Door These side-by-side houses (620 & 630) were originally built for Butler’s sons. The house on ... Read more
Year Built: 1872 Architecture Style: Italianate Key Features: Attic Level Windows Decorative Spindling on Porch Small Paned Windows These side-by-side houses (620 & 630) were originally built for Butler’s sons. The house on the rig... Read more
Year Built: 1876 Architecture Style: Gothic Revival Key Features: Decorative Detailing on Porch Iron Cresting on Roof Exposed Roof Beams Multi-Colored Keystones over Windows Dr. Patrick H. Jameson, a prominent physician who served as a mil... Read more
Year Built: 1876 Architecture Style: Queen Anne - Stick Key Features: Stick Work  Decorative Wooden Frieze on Large Wrap Porch Decorative Wooden Vergeboard Before restoration, this 1876 house was carved into 11 apartments with a Pepsi mach... Read more
Year Built: 1878 Architecture Style: Queen Anne Key Features: Diamond Saped Leading in Windows Bay Windows Garland Detailing Balustrade on Top of Porch General Samuel Merrill built this house in 1878. His father was the state treasurer who... Read more
Year Built: 1873 Architecture Style: Italianate Key Features: Decorative Brackets on Roof and Windows Clapboard Siding Crowns and Simple Frieze Above Windows     ...
Year Built: 1900 Architecture Style: Queen Anne Key Features: Terra Cotta Detailing Carved Stonework Above Windows Decorative Woodwork on Porch  
Year Built: 1900 Architecture Style: Queen Anne Key Features: Fish Scale Siding Exposed Roof Beams Small Panes on Windows
Year Built: 1900 Architecture Style: Queen Anne Key Features: False Dentiling on Siding Diamond Decoration  Clapboard Siding
Year Built: 1865 Architecture Style: Queen Anne Key Features: Wrap Porch Tower With Rounded Roof Decorative Spindling on Porch This was the home of Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon until the time of his death in 2003. Governor O'Bannon was ... Read more
Year Built: 2000 Architecture Style: Key Features: Decorative Feature on Front Dormers Brick Construction Decorative Balustrade on Porch This home is another recently constructed home.  ...
Year Built: 1873 Architecture Style: Italianate  Key Features: Large Wrap Porch Decorative Brackets and Attic Windows Rounded Tower This mansion was recently restored after serving nearly 60 years as the home of the Saenger Chor, a German ... Read more
Year Built: 1900 Architecture Style: Queen Anne Key Features: Decorative Garland Details Large Wrap Porch Jewel Tone Color Scheme  
Year Built: 1953 Architecture Style: Colonial Revival Key Features: Decorative Spindling On Porches Full Arch and Elaborate Door Surround Symmetrical Aesthetic     ...
Year Built: 1873 Architecture Style: Italianate Key Features: Decorative Brackets Low Pitched Roof Crowns Over Windows This house fell into decay after it was chopped up into seven apartments in the 1960s. It served for many years as a Bed ... Read more
Year Built: 1993 Architecture Style: International Style Key Features: Decorative Stonework Squared Aesthetic in Windows Low Pitched Roof  
Year Built: 1862 Architecture Style: Second Empire Key Features: Dual Pitched Hipped Roof Central Tower Dormers on Roof Arched Windows and Door Surround The Morris-Butler House in Indianapolis takes its name from two families who lived the... Read more

 

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