Location: Indianapolis
Top Things to do in Indianapolis
Things to do in Indianapolis, Indiana (IN): The Best Architectural Buildings
High-speed, history and good old Hoosier hospitality are a few reasons to put Indianapolis on your list of great getaways. Sports is another. From the legendary Indianapolis 500 to the Pacers and the Colts, the city offers ample opportunities to view professional and amateur sporting events, take part in athletic events and visit sports museums. At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Hall Of Fame Museum you can tour the famous track (try to reserve tickets if there is a race in town) or visit the museum dedicated to automobiles and auto racing. Other sporty museums include the NCAA Hall of Champions. To get in on some of the action, head to SportZone which features six acres of indoor athletic facilities the whole family will enjoy. Those less interested in sports, or with kids in tow, can still find tons to do in and around the city. History, art and other cultural attractions abound. Visit the Children's Museum or checkout the zoo. Stroll along cobblestone streets past 19th-century buildings in the Lockerbie Square District or visit any number of historic landmarks. Known as the "Crossroads of America," more interstate highways bisect Indianapolis than any other city in the country, making it an exciting and easily accessible destination.
Restaurants in Indianapolis
1. Scottish Rite Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 175 reviews
Gothic cathedral.
Reviewed By StanMelton - Nashville, United States
Located right across for the national headquarters of the American Legion. Beautiful architecture. We took a guided tour which was most informative. This is a very historical building.and most important in the life of the Masons. If you don't know much about the Masons, this is a good place to learn.
2. Indiana State Capitol
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 258 reviews
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
The Indiana State Capitol Building in Indianapolis is a magnificent structure that was built from 1878 to 1888 on the site of the previous State Capitol Building that was condemned because of structural defects and razed to make room for the current statehouse. Obviously, the current building, designed by Indianapolis architect Edwin May, was built on a solid foundation and didn't repeat any of the mistakes made in the construction of the previous statehouse. Located at 200 West Washington Street, the interior is modeled in the Italian Renaissance style with doors made of Indiana oak and Indiana limestone used throughout the structure. The cornerstone is a ten-ton block of limestone quarried in Spencer, Indiana. The four-story building is designed in the shape of a cross. A large central rotunda with a glass domed ceiling connects the four wings. With the pinnacle of the building reaching 256 feet high, it was the second tallest building in Indiana at the time of its completion. The first floor houses the governor's office and the offices of the administration. Offices for the Indiana House of Representatives are on the second floor's east side while offices for the Indiana State Senate are on the west side while the Indiana Supreme Court resides on the north end. The 70,000-volume Supreme Court Law Library is on the third floor, which also holds the House, Senate and Supreme Court chambers. On the fourth floor is the Indiana Court of Appeals courtroom. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and is open for public tours during the work week. Who's statue is in front of the State House? Oliver Morton, Indiana's governor during the Civil War.
3. Indianapolis Public Library - Central Library
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 61 reviews
Central Library claims a distinct architectural history with its historic 1917 limestone Cret Building constructed in classic Greek Doric style. In 2007, the building was merged with a glass and steel-framed tower where traditional materials share a place with electronic resources. Central Library preserves the best of the past and while showcasing 21st century services that benefit all ages.
4. Benton House Historic Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
The Benton House is one of the most historic houses in Indianapolis. Located at 312 South Downey Avenue, in the historic Irvington neighborhood, the two-story, Second Empire-style brick dwelling with a mansard roof was built in 1873 and was the home of Allen R. Benton, a two-time president of Butler University. The 10-room house sits on a stone foundation and features an entrance tower, ornate windows, fine woodwork and oak floors. It is the only house on Indianapolis' East Side that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1973) that is open to the public. However, despite the house's impressive history and trappings, what attracts most visitors to the property are the unique gardens with their display of pre-1900 heirloom plants, thousands of daffodils, including some hybridized between 1977 and 1897 that are in bloom in early April of each year. Other spring bloomers include ground-hugging species tulips: T. biflora (1776), T. humilis (1860), T. marjoletti (1894) and T. turkestanica (1875). Walking the grounds offers visitors an opportunity to see what amounts to a botanical display garden or fernery or greenhouse that also features as crocus, snowdrops, peony, poppies, blue bells, wild ginger, cultivars, Tiger Lilys and other flowers, some first brought to this country during the colonial period. If you enjoyed the gardens at Garfield Park, the Lilly House, White River State Park or the Indianapolis Museum of Art, you owe it to yourself to visit the Benton House.
5. The Murat Theatre at the Old National Centre
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 258 reviews
A building of Moorish design.
Reviewed By indysag - Indianapolis, United States
Have seen many a concert there and highly recommend to go. Not a bad seat in the house. The acoustics are great and its a nice small intimate theater
6. National Headquarters of The American Legion
7. The Indianapolis Propylaeum
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 14 reviews
Historic Mansion immediately north of downtown Indianapolis. Built in 1890 as a family home for the Schmidt family thanks to the success of their brewing company. It was purchased in 1923 by the Indianapolis Propylaeum, an organization of women suffragists who had been fighting for the right to vote since their formation in 1888. The Indianapolis Propylaeum was founded by May Wright Sewall as a way to bring women together and act as a gateway to culture, starting with the right to vote. The Indianapolis Propylaeum still exists today as a 501(c)3 non-profit and is both an active organization promoting women's leadership, arts and cultures, and historic preservation, as well as an event venue for programs, private events, weddings, and overnight stays. The Propylaeum is open weekdays from 9:00am to 4:30pm for free self-guided tours. The Cafe at the Prop is open Weekdays from 11am to 2pm.
8. Indianapolis Union Railroad Station
9. The Cyrus Place
Welcome! The Cyrus Place is a wedding, events, and performing arts venue located in the Historic Core of Downtown Indianapolis. Originally, the church itself was built in 1882 by German-born architect D.A. Bohlen. The Cyrus Place has been beautifully transformed into a stunning full-service event facility
