Indiana Statehouse Public Art Collection facts for kids

The Indiana Statehouse Public Art Collection is a cool group of over 40 artworks. You can find them inside and around the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Some are also in the nearby Indiana Government Center North and Indiana Government Center South.

The Statehouse building was finished in 1888. It's a very important example of Neo-Classical Revival style architecture in Indiana. This means it looks like old Greek and Roman buildings. The inside is decorated in the beautiful Italian Renaissance style. The building is so special that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The artworks here show more than 130 years of art history. They are made from many different materials.

Artworks Outside the Statehouse

The sculptures on the east and south lawns of the Statehouse are easy to spot. One famous artwork is the Oliver P. Morton Monument. It was put in place in 1907. You can also see sculptures of Christopher Columbus and a young Abraham Lincoln. There's also a statue of Thomas A. Hendricks. You might notice a pedestal that used to hold the Robert Dale Owen Memorial. Sadly, that artwork was stolen in 1970.

Artworks Inside the Statehouse

Two of the eight sculptures showing the Values of Civilization

Inside the Statehouse, you'll find eight large sculptures by Alexander Doyle. These sculptures show important ideas like Agriculture, Art, Commerce, History, Justice, Law, Liberty, and Oratory. They are called the Values of Civilization. They were made for the Statehouse in the late 1880s. They are still some of the most important sculptures inside the building.

You can also see many portrait busts and bronze plaques. These show past Indiana governors and other famous citizens. On the east wall of the Indiana House of Representatives, there's a huge mural. It's 21 feet tall and 41.5 feet wide! This mural shows the Spirit of Indiana. There's also a statue that represents the state of Indiana. It was made for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, which was a big world's fair.

Image gallery

• 

  Christopher Columbus by Enrico Vittori

• 

  Coal Miner by John Szaton

• 

  Thomas A. Hendricks by Richard Henry Park, 1890

• 

  Sculpture of Justice

• 

  Oliver P. Morton by Rudolph Schwarz

• 

  George Washington by Donald DeLue, 1959

Learning About the Art

The Indiana State Museum keeps a computer list of many artworks at the Statehouse. In 2010, students from IUPUI took on a special project. They researched, photographed, and checked the condition of these artworks. This project was inspired by a big effort called Save Outdoor Sculpture!. That campaign helped catalog over 30,000 outdoor sculptures across the United States. The students' work was even recognized by the Indiana Senate and House of Representatives. They passed a special resolution to thank the students and their teacher, Richard McCoy.