National Register of Historic Places

Propylaeum, The (John W. Schmidt House)

Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
Listed
June 18, 1973
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
73000039

About this property

The Propylaeum, also known as the John W. Schmidt House or as the Schmidt-Schaf House, is a historic home and carriage house located at 1410 North Delaware Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. The name "Propylaeum" is the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek word προπύλαιον (propýlaion), which referred to monumental gateways to the sacred parts of a city. The property became the headquarters for the Indianapolis Woman's Club in 1923, as well as the host for several other social and cultural organizations. It was initially built in 1890–1891 as a private residence for John William Schmidt, president of the Indianapolis Brewing Company, and his family. Joseph C. Schaf, president of the American Brewing Company of Indianapolis, and his family were subsequent owners of the home. The Indianapolis Propylaeum association, formed in 1888 as a joint stock company of women, continues to manage the site as a gathering place and rental facility for cultural activities and private events. The three-story, Neo-Jacobean-style building is constructed of red brick with limestone trim. It sits on a full basement and has hipped roof of slate with several gables. The main features of its exterior include a wraparound verandah, square tower, and porte-cochère. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as "The Propylaeum (John W. Schmidt House)" in 1973. The Indiana Historical Bureau erected a state historical marker at the site in 1999.

Location

1410 N. Delaware St.
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
39.78642, -86.15435

Categories

ARTARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
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

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Questions about this property

When was Propylaeum, The (John W. Schmidt House) listed on the National Register?

Propylaeum, The (John W. Schmidt House) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 18, 1973.

What type of historic resource is Propylaeum, The (John W. Schmidt House)?

Propylaeum, The (John W. Schmidt House) is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Propylaeum, The (John W. Schmidt House)?

The period of significance for Propylaeum, The (John W. Schmidt House) is recorded as the industrial era.

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