National Register of Historic Places

Boyce Block

Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana
Listed
March 1, 1984
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
84001015

About this property

Boyce Block is a historic commercial building located at Muncie, Indiana. It was built in 1880, and is a two-story, brick building. Located in downtown Muncie, Boyce Block was built and named for James A. Boyce, a local businessman and Scottish immigrant. Boyce was a major figure in the Indiana gas boom, which saw rapid industrialization in Muncie. Notably, he convinced the Ball brothers to begin doing business in Muncie (later, through the Ball family's philanthropy, Muncie would gain Ball State University and Minnetrista thanks to this decision). Boyce Block was the first building in Muncie to use electricity and among the first to use gas. In 1890, a fire destroyed the building's interior, but it was swiftly rebuilt. In 1904, the west bays of the building came to house the Star Theater, a vaudeville theater. The Star Theater closed in the 1920s and reopened as the Hoosier Theater (a venue for live shows and films) in 1936, only to close again in 1955. In 1961, the Muncie Civic Theater opened in the spot once occupied by the Star and Hoosier Theaters, and remains open to this day. Various other businesses have occupied other parts of the building over the years. The building also features an elaborate parapet. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Location

216-224 E. Main St.
Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana
40.19376, -85.38418

Categories

COMMERCEARCHITECTUREPERFORMING ARTS
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

City Hall
Industrial
0.1 mi
Johnson, J. C., House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Shirk, W. W., Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
Moore-Youse-Maxon House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Muncie Public Library
Industrial
0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Boyce Block listed on the National Register?

Boyce Block was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 1, 1984.

What type of historic resource is Boyce Block?

Boyce Block is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Boyce Block?

The period of significance for Boyce Block is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Boyce Block?

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