National Register of Historic Places

Pendleton Historic District

Pendleton, Madison County, Indiana
Listed
June 26, 1991
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
91000788

About this property

The Pendleton Historic District is a national historic district located at Pendleton, Indiana. Sites of interest include a relatively intact 19th-century business district, Fall Creek Park, the Grey Goose Inn (built in 1820), and a large variety of homes in Federal, Greek Revival, and American Craftsman styles. The structures within the district are described in detail in the 1984 Madison County Interim Report, which was part of the Indiana Historical Sites and Structures Inventory (IHSSI). The historic district includes the original 1821 plat by Thomas M. Pendleton and several of the subsequent plat additions. The historic district includes the historic portion of Falls Park. Pendleton, the first settlement in Madison County, was originally formed by homesteaders attracted to the scenic beauty—and hydrologic potential (for water mills)--of the falls. In 1825, an important milestone was marked in Native American rights when the European-American perpetrators of the Fall Creek Massacre were hanged near the falls. In 1843, Frederick Douglass spoke in Pendleton as one of the American Anti-Slavery Society's Hundred Conventions. The gathered crowd was dispersed by an armed mob that chased Douglass, overtaking and beating him near the falls. He was saved by local Quakers, with whom he remained friends with throughout his life. A historic marker in Pendleton commemorates Douglass's speech here. Falls Park is also historically significant as a noted recreational destination between 1921 and the 1950s. During this time, the area below the falls was made into a natural pool. In 1923 it was announced as one of the best, if not the best, swimming location in the state. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

Location

Pendleton, Madison County, Indiana
40.00176, -85.74326

Categories

INDUSTRYCOMMERCEENTERTAINMENT/RECREATIONEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENTARCHITECTURE
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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Everything a full report reveals about Pendleton Historic District

This page lists Pendleton 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.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Madison County Bridge No. 149
Industrial
0.6 mi
Fall Creek Meeting House
Industrial
2 mi
Central Avenue School
Industrial
6.3 mi
Browne-Rafert House
Industrial
7.3 mi
West Central Historic District
Listed
7.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Pendleton Historic District listed on the National Register?

Pendleton Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 26, 1991.

What type of historic resource is Pendleton Historic District?

Pendleton Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Pendleton Historic District?

The period of significance for Pendleton Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Pendleton Historic District?

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