Apartments and Flats of Downtown Indianapolis Thematic Resources facts for kids

The Apartments and Flats of Downtown Indianapolis Thematic Resources is a special collection of apartment buildings. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical places. These buildings are in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. The area is generally located between Interstate 65 and Fall Creek to the north, and other interstates to the east and south. Harding Street forms the western boundary.

History

A Growing City

Many of these 36 apartment buildings were built between 1890 and 1930. This was a time when Indianapolis was growing very fast. The oldest building, the Sid-Mar, was built in 1887. The newest one, the Wyndham, was finished in 1930.

Indianapolis needed more places to live back then. The city's industries were booming. Businesses like railroads, automobiles, and Eli Lilly and Company were expanding. Banks, stores, and schools also grew a lot.

Why People Moved to the City

After 1880, many people moved to Indianapolis. Most came from rural areas, not from other countries. They wanted better education, more money, and new social opportunities. Apartments and flats were a good choice for them. They were affordable places to live.

Young people often chose apartments before they got married or had children. During World War I, many single women worked in the city. Apartments were perfect for them. Young men also moved from country homes. They preferred apartments over boarding houses.

Architecture

Building Styles and Materials

In 1904, Indianapolis passed a new rule. It said that new buildings downtown could not be made of wood. Because of this, all these apartment buildings were built using brick. Some also used Indiana limestone for decoration. This stone was used for window frames and sills.

Most of these buildings are three stories tall. A few were taller, like early "high-rises." The buildings share similar design styles. Many use Classical Revival features. This means they have balanced fronts and columns called pilasters. You might also see special arch stones called keystones. Decorative edges called cornices with dentil or modillion designs are also common.

Other popular styles of the time, like Gothic Revival, are not seen here. The Blacherne building has some Richardsonian Romanesque touches. Some buildings have bay windows, showing a bit of Queen Anne style architecture in the United States influence. In the 1920s, Tudor Revival architecture became popular. The Dartmouth and Wyndham buildings show this style. The McKay, built in 1924, has cool Art Deco details.

Apartments vs. Flats

At first, an apartment was a small home. It usually had two or three rooms but no kitchen. Young men often rented these. A flat was bigger, with five to seven rooms. It included a kitchen and dining room. Young married couples and retired couples liked flats. By the 1920s, the difference faded. The word "apartment" became used for any rental home with multiple units.

Properties Included

There were 37 properties originally nominated. One building, the Delmar, was torn down before the list was final. The St. Clair building was removed from the list in 1991. The Chardwick and the Harriett were also removed in 2011 because they were destroyed.

Images for kids

• 

  The Alameda

• 

  The Alexandra

• 

  The Ambassador

• 

  The Baker

• 

  The Blacherne

• 

  The Burton

• 

  The Cathcart

• 

  The Chadwick (destroyed)

• 

  The Colonial

• 

  The Dartmouth

• 

  Delaware Court

• 

  Delaware Flats

• 

  The Devonshire

• 

  The Emelie

• 

  The Glencoe

• 

  The Grover

• 

  The Lodge

• 

  The Martens

• 

  The Massachusetts

• 

  The Mayleeno

• 

  The McKay

• 

  The Myrtle Fern

• 

  The Oxford

• 

  The Pennsylvania

• 

  The Plaza

• 

  The Rink

• 

  The Savoy

• 

  The Shelton

• 

  The Sid-Mar

• 

  The Spink

• 

  The Sylvania

• 

  The Vienna

• 

  The Wil-Fra-Mar

• 

  The Wilson

• 

  The Wyndham