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Getting in Touch with Hoosier History

If you consider yourself a history buff, you may be surprised to discover that there’s plenty of history you can experience firsthand in Indianapolis. There are quite a few unique and immersive experiences that await you in the Circle City. It’s best to start from a location close to main thoroughfares, like Williamsburg North. Our apartments on the northside of Indianapolis are close to two main access points for travel, Allisonville Road and Binford Boulevard. Then it’s time to explore the history that surrounds you!

#1: Indiana War Memorial and Museum
You can honor the history of Indiana’s veterans in this expansive area in downtown Indianapolis. At the museum, you can enjoy “military equipment and artifacts, three parks, four fountains, and 25 acres of monuments, statues, and sculptures.” That gives you plenty to view, whether indoors or outdoors, at any time of year.

#2: Crown Hill Cemetery
Don’t let the word “cemetery” deter you from visiting this location! Crown Hill is considered a cultural landmark that includes stunning architecture as well as the final resting place of multiple famous Hoosiers. There are also planned events during the warmer months and expansive grounds to walk through or drive through.

#3: Hook’s Drugstore Museum
This would be considered a “hidden gem” in Indianapolis. Situated on the Indiana State Fairgrounds, you can walk through what was once a temporary installation of a historic drugstore. It is modeled after what you would have experienced in the 19th century, including old-school candy, heavy wooden built-ins packed full of jars, and gorgeous light fixtures featuring the Hook’s logo.

#4: Madam Walker Legacy Center
Madam CJ Walker was a titan of her time as a hugely successful African American businesswoman who produced hair care and beauty products. The building that houses the center is actually her former headquarters and manufacturing plant. Now, her legacy lives on at the center through nonprofit events and educational programs that promote her values.

#5: Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
Step into the house of former President Benjamin Harrison and a vast collection of artifacts, most of which genuinely belonged to the Harrison family. After touring the home, you can also enjoy a changing exhibit in the third floor ballroom and another in the Carriage House, which is also the Welcome Center.

#6: Lockerbie Square Historic Neighborhood and James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home
If you admire historic architecture, then you will love a stroll through Lockerbie Square. There are homes there dating back to the 1800s. One of the most famous residents of Lockerbie square was James Whitcomb Riley, a celebrated Hoosier poet and the source of both the poem that inspired the Raggedy Ann doll and the Riley Children’s Foundation. You can tour his former residence, which is a remarkable preservation of a Victorian home.

#7: Fountain Square
This is another top destination for anyone who enjoys architectural gems. Fountain Square is home to the beautiful Fountain Square Theatre Building and is one of Indianapolis’ cultural districts. It’s also accessible via the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, so you can easily walk around the area and enjoy restaurants, entertainment, and retail spaces.

#8: Bottleworks District
Discover one of the most recent and vibrant districts in Indianapolis. The Bottleworks District gets its name from its former purpose. It was once the home of a large Coca-Cola plant. Designers honored that history by carefully restoring the stunning art deco facades of the old Coca-Cola buildings. You can find a boutique hotel, retail spaces, theater, fitness center, an eclectic food experience at the Garage Food Hall, and more.

Stay close to all the history and more that Indianapolis has to offer when you live at Williamsburg North. Our northside Indianapolis apartments are in a prime location which means you are just a short drive to all of the destinations on this list. Call to learn more: 317-648-5854