National Historic Landmark

Indiana War Memorial Historic District

Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
Listed
September 24, 1989
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
89001404

About this property

The Indiana World War Memorial Plaza is an urban feature and war memorial located in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, originally built to honor the veterans of World War I. It was conceived in 1919 as a location for the national headquarters of the American Legion and a memorial to the state's and nation's veterans. The original five-block plaza is bounded by Meridian Street (west), St. Clair Street (north), Pennsylvania Street (east), and New York Street (south). American Legion Mall comprises the two northernmost blocks and is home to the Legion's administrative buildings and a cenotaph. Veterans Memorial Plaza, with its obelisk, forms the third block. The plaza's focal point, the Indiana World War Memorial, is located on the fourth block. Modeled after the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, it houses a military museum and auditorium. The fifth and southernmost block is University Park, home to statues and a fountain. On October 11, 1994, the Indiana World War Memorial Plaza was designated a National Historic Landmark District. In 2016, the district was enlarged to include in its scope the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument and was renamed the Indiana World War Memorial Historic District. Combined, it is the largest war memorial project in the United States, encompassing 24 acres (9.7 ha).

Location

Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
39.77572, -86.15672

Categories

ARCHITECTUREARTCOMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Indiana War Memorial Historic District

This page lists Indiana War Memorial Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Indiana War Memorial Historic District report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

McKay
Industrial
0.1 mi
Grover
Industrial
0.1 mi
Scottish Rite Cathedral
Industrial
0.1 mi
Glencoe
Industrial
0.1 mi
Reserve Loan Life Insurance Company
Industrial
0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Indiana War Memorial Historic District listed on the National Register?

Indiana War Memorial Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 24, 1989.

What type of historic resource is Indiana War Memorial Historic District?

Indiana War Memorial Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Indiana War Memorial Historic District a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Indiana War Memorial Historic District has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Indiana War Memorial Historic District?

The period of significance for Indiana War Memorial Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Indiana War Memorial Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Indiana War Memorial Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Marion County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Marion County.

Explore MarionCounty ›

More historic places in Indiana

Browse all historic places in Indiana.

View Indianahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Indiana history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Indianahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Indiana War Memorial Historic District will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report