UCDA Design Summit in Indy, Pt. 4

Besides the regular UCDA Design Summit sessions, a tour of the historic Indianapolis downtown was offered by Indiana Landmarks. Starting off inside the Circle Centre Mall/Indianapolis Arts Garden, our group was able to avoid the rain that was falling that morning.



Across the way is the Indiana Repertory Theatre. I really love the facade of this Spanish Baroque building, which was built as a movie palace and ballroom in 1927.



A detail of the clock:



And the ornate carvings of King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I:



A view of a very wet and cloudy Washington Street:



Our destination was the Romanesque Revival style Majestic Building, Indiana’s first entirely steel framed skyscraper building. The Indiana Gas Company constructed the building (designed by Oscar Bohlen of D.A. Bohlen & Son) in 1895–96 to serve as a new business headquarters.



As you already know, at Daveland, it is all about the details:



It is really great to see these artistic features have survived the years:





I was able to avoid the feeling of vertigo while taking these two stairwell shots:



The only thing missing are Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak:



We were given a tour of one of the tenants, The Borshoff Agency:



Bill Lovejoy of Borshoff took us around their office.



Loved the Seeburg Jukebox:





Another shot of the office interior:



Here's an historic photo of the outside of the building:



Compared with a modern-day view:



Today's post finishes with four detailed shots of some of the hidden gems I found in downtown Indianapolis:









See more Daveland Indianapolis Fountain Square photos on my main website.

Back Home Again In Indiana: Indianapolis

In between trips out to BFE to partake in our family reunion, I did my best to explore Indianapolis and put my camera to work. One of my favorite things about this progressive Midwest city is its downtown.



Any city that has an identifiable hub/center gets immediate thumbs up from me. Dubbed Monument Circle, vehicles and pedestrians coexist in the roundabout that contains The Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument at its center point. Completed in 1901, it stands an impressive 284' over the buildings that surround it.



I love the sculpting on it; the contorted faces and stoic expressions just seem to leap out of the stone.







Amazingly enough, the sun was out until almost 10pm, allowing to me shoot for much longer than I normally can here on the coast. Here, the moon can be seen facing the monument:



Indianapolis really is a hidden gem, often overshadowed by the neighboring city of Chicago. It boasts more than enough high caliber theaters, great restaurants, classic architecture, nightclubs, and fascinating museums to enjoy.



If you enjoy a good steak, then St. Elmo's is a must.





The former Union Station enjoyed a brief flurry of activity in the late 1980's when it was converted to a mall, but as of late, it is mainly used for office space and event rentals.





The Vogue Nightclub in the neighboring community of Broad Ripple:





The Indiana Historical Society Museum is located on the scenic canals that flow through the downtown area:



The Depew Memorial Fountain, with its playful statuary surrounding it, has always been a favorite. Created in 1919, it is located in an area called University Park.







Besides the typical things that would attract visitors, Indiana also has its low-key side, which is what makes it so appealing to me. The people are sincere and friendly, and there are plenty of rural areas nearby that make it easy to forget the typical stresses that so many of us get caught up in during our day-to-day dealings. Best of all, where else could you have your fortune told for only $10?



See more vintage and current Indianapolis photos on my Indianapolis web page.