Indiana War Memorial Historic District

Monument Cir, 200-800 blks, N. Meridian St, 200-800 blks, N. Pennsylvania St, and first blocks of E. Ohio, New York. E. Vermont, E. Michigan, E. North E St., Clair St., and E. 9th St, Indianapolis, Indiana. County/parish: Marion.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places September 25, 1989. NRIS 89001404.

5 contributing buildings. 4 contributing sites. 1 contributing structure. 14 contributing objects.

Also known as:

  • Birch Bayh Federal Building
  • Indianapolis Public Library (now called Central Library)
  • Indiana World War Memorial Plaza
  • National Headquarters, American Legion

From Wikipedia:

Indiana World War Memorial Plaza

The Indiana World War Memorial Plaza is an urban feature and war memorial located in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, originally built to honor the veterans of World War I. It was conceived in 1919 as a location for the national headquarters of the American Legion and a memorial to the state's and nation's veterans.

The original five-block plaza is bounded by Meridian Street (west), St. Clair Street (north), Pennsylvania Street (east), and New York Street (south). American Legion Mall comprises the two northernmost blocks and is home to the Legion's administrative buildings and a cenotaph. Veterans Memorial Plaza, with its obelisk, forms the third block. The plaza's focal point, the Indiana World War Memorial, is located on the fourth block. Modeled after the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, it houses a military museum and auditorium. The fifth and southernmost block is University Park, home to statues and a fountain.

On October 11, 1994, the Indiana World War Memorial Plaza was designated a National Historic Landmark District. In 2016, the district was enlarged to include in its scope the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument and was renamed the Indiana World War Memorial Historic District. Combined, it is the largest war memorial project in the United States, encompassing 24 acres (9.7 ha).

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