Speaker: Suzanne Stanis
Experience the heart of the Circle City during an illustrated talk of Indianapolis’s most recognizable historic district while exploring the fascinating past of a landmark that has come to define the city. View landmarks from various eras, including the symbolism behind the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, Christ Church Cathedral, Circle Theatre, and more. Along the way, hear stories and little-known history, revealing how the district’s art, architecture, and dynamic combination of public and private spaces give Indy its distinctive character.
Suzanne Stanis serves as the Vice President of Heritage Education at Indiana Landmarks. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Hanover College and a Master of Library Science from Indiana University. Suzanne oversees Indiana Landmarks’ Indianapolis tours, the heritage tourism divisions of West Baden Springs/French Lick Springs hotels, and Samara, a notable Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in West Lafayette.
With over three decades at Indiana Landmarks, Suzanne has contributed to historic preservation by researching and successfully nominating more than fifteen buildings and neighborhoods to the National Register of Historic Places. Additionally, Suzanne manages the organization’s reference library.
Sponsored by Jeff Rasley
Program: Monumental Moments: Exploring Indianapolis’s Iconic Circle
Speakers: Suzanne Stanis, MLS, Vice President of Heritage Education, Indiana Landmarks
Introduced By: Jeff Rasley
Attendance: NESC: 88; Zoom: 30 – Audio Problems
Guest(s): Bob Becker, Bill Clemens, Jennifer Aldridge
Scribe: Bill Dick
Editor: Ed Nitka
View a Zoom recording of this talk at: https://www.scientechclubvideos.org/zoom/06092025.mp4
Suzanne Stanis, VP of Education for Indiana Landmarks, spoke about Monument Circle in Indianapolis. IN. Landmarks is the largest preservation organization in the U.S, with nine regional offices.
In pre-statehood, from 1800-1815, Indiana was part of the Northwest Territory. William Henry Harrison was the Governor. Indianapolis was chosen to be the State Capitol after Corydon because Indianapolis was situated on a river and was centrally located.
Alexander Ralston, originally from Scotland, was chosen to be the architect for Indianapolis. He had worked under Pierre L’Enfant, who designed Washington, D.C. There was a center circle, a mile square on streets that went east, north, west and south. Four north & south streets radiate from the circle.
A photo from 1827 shows the Governor’s Circle. But no Governor ever lived there. The Governor’s House was located at Pearl & Alabama; it was later moved to Lockerbie Square. Early structures on the Circle were churches and houses. In the 1840’s Henry Ward Beecher was a minister of Second Presbyterian Church. His sister was Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
In 1889 the English Opera House was built on the SW side of the Circle. William English was a very wealthy man who served under President Pierce. The building was modeled after the NY Opera House. That building came down in 1949 and was replaced by Penney’s Department store. It lasted until 1980 when it was changed to offices. The English family took money from the sale of the Opera House and built a structure for charitable organizations. Now, businesses are in that spot with the building having been reskinned several times. Editor’s Note: Back of the Penney’s building postcard states “This same location is also the site of the first official proclamation of the observance of Mother’s Day.” https://indianaalbum.pastperfectonline.com/photo/DD454CAD-A132-4B7D-B662-374547402887
The Columbia Club began in 1888 to support Benjamin Harrison’s bid for President. It sat next to the Christ Church which began in 1838. The Columbia Club was modified twice and is still located on the Circle. AFNB was built in 1915 and lasted until 1959. It was the first glass & steel building on the Circle. The Circle Tower building at East Market St. is an Art Deco masterpiece built in 1929. Many Greek sculptures are on the building (King Tut’s Tomb was discovered in 1923.)
The Circle Theatre was built in 1916. It was the first large movie palace to show feature films in the Midwest. The Indianapolis Symphony moved there in 1984. The Test building was the first to have a garage and it had a miniature golf course on the top.
Indiana Gov. Oliver Perry Morton had the idea for the Monument. The design dates to 1888. It took twelve years to build and cost $600,000. It was meant to celebrate the common soldier and to be a Peace Monument. It was first intended to be a Civil War Monument but later added other wars, such as the Mexican War and the Spanish-American War. In 1902, the dedication was done by Gen. Lew Wallace and James Whitcomb Riley read a poem. On the top, sits Miss Liberty, thirty feet tall and shorter than the Statue of Liberty in NY harbor. There are four large candelabras and four fountains. The monument has many sculptures and statues, such as William Henry Harrison, George Rogers Clark, Oliver P. Morton and James Whitcomb. Indiana has the second most War Memorials in the country after Washington, D C.
Suzanne Stanis invited us to take the Monument Circle tour given by Indiana Landmarks.
Suzanne Stanis
