Indianapolis: Then and Now

A few vintage 1955 images of Indianapolis, starting with this straight shot facing north on Meridian Street. Monument Circle towers above the skyline, but looks to be closed.

The placard says, "For A Better Indianapolis." On the northwest side of the circle, you can see the Indianapolis Power and Light Building.



Today, Monument Circle is still there, although many of the buildings and tenants surrounding it have changed.



Farther up Meridian is the Scottish Rite Cathedral.



Back in 1955, the automotive industry was still King in the midwest; note the Ford Motor Company building and signage.



This 2003 image shows the Scottish Rite Cathedral, which survived much better than Ford in the downtown area!



I first saw the Cathedral when one of my friends got married there.



Can you imagine climbing up there in a wedding dress?



See more Daveland Indianapolis photos at my main website.

Vertigo in Indianapolis

As I have gotten older, I have noticed that I do not as well when it comes to closed spaces and heights. I forgot to take this into consideration when I decided to go to the top of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in the heart of Indianapolis last month.



The first time I approached the monument on the last day of my visit, it was still closed. I utilized this time to snap a few shots of the nearby statues and buildings that surrounded Monument Circle. The carved limestone statues by Rudolph Schwarz have always been favorites of mine.



The boring building shown here replaced the English Hotel/Opera House in 1951. During a 1957 visit to Indianapolis, Frank Lloyd Wright said, “Indianapolis, like every big city is doomed. The only good building I saw downtown is the one used by J.C. Penney’s downtown, which is a little radical. It probably was designed by some out-of-town man.”



He was wrong on both counts; it was designed by Nathaniel Owings of Indianapolis, and compared to the gorgeous building it replaced, it was a piece of poo. Here's what the Opera House looked like:



Both of the historic images above are from the Indiana History site. Here's what FLW's beloved building looks like today:



To spice up your morning, here's a vintage FauxD© shot of Monument Circle:



The 1916 Hilbert Circle Theatre was restored in 1982.



One of the features that came back to life was this beautiful mural on the exterior. This Grecian pastoral scene was "painted" using tinted cement by H.A. Wheeler.



But enough about the surroundings. Let's go to the top of the Monument!



As you enter, you'll see this grim and foreboding face. I should have paid attention!



My two choices were to take the narrow stairs or the tiny elevator. I paid my $2, entered the ancient elevator, and closed my eyes for what seemed like an eternity.



Exiting the elevator, I still had a number of stairs to climb. I thought I was going to hurl. Fortunately, the amazing views were worth it.



Here you can see the Christ Church Cathedral and The Columbia Club:



How about this cute little house atop the main building?



The Statehouse:



The top of the Ghostbusters Building. Well, actually, it's the Circle Tower, but it looks like the building from Ghostbusters to me.



The Indiana World War Memorial:



I was able to make it back down, but not without getting drenched in sweat. And then before I knew it, it was time to fly home. At the airport, this 1933 Essex Terraplane used by famed criminal John Dillinger was on display:



The hood ornament:



Hope you enjoyed my trip to Indianapolis as much as I did!

See more vintage & current Daveland Indianapolis 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.