Listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places as a historic district, Monument Circle is an iconic urban space that has evolved significantly since its inception three centuries ago. More specifically, the origins of this fascinating historic site can be traced back to the founding of Indianapolis in 1821. The Indiana state legislature sought a central location for a new capital city and assigned two surveyors—Alexander Ralston and Elias Fordham—the task of designing its pending layout. Influenced by Pierre L'Enfant's plan for Washington, D.C., the surveyors created a mile-square city set upon a symmetrically drawn grid of north-south and east-west streets. The grandest of those roads was Washington Street, a 120-foot-wide thoroughfare that cut straight through the center of the settlement. Washington Street quickly became the commercial hub of all Indianapolis in turn, with lots fronting the street commanding the highest prices during the city's early years. Its role as the nexus for all local economic activity subsequently inspired state politicians to eventually incorporate the site into several important infrastructure projects, such as the arrival of the National Road in 1827 and the Jefferson, Madison, and Indianapolis Railroad two decades later. Buoyed by such prosperity, city leaders decided to commemorate the emergence of Indianapolis’s success with the creation of a gorgeous monument toward the end of the 19th century. Selecting a sizeable plot on a block north of Washington Street near the Indiana State Capitol, construction on the beautiful Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument thus began in earnest during the late 1880s.

Accomplished German architect Bruno Schmitz led its design, crafting a towering obelisk embellished with breathtaking sculptures and fountains. Prominent artists Rudolf Schwarz and Alexander Sangernebo created an amazing series of bronze statues and reliefs depicting scenes of battle, peace, and the everyday lives of those residents who had served. However, the most striking element was the colossal statue of Victory, which crowned the edifice. The figure, holding a sword and a torch, specifically symbolized the triumph and enduring spirit of the nation in the wake of the American Civil War. Although the monument paid specific tribute to the state’s military veterans, it nonetheless assumed an even greater meaning of representing Indianapolis itself. In fact, city ordinances soon debuted that sought to protect the site, revising building codes to prevent views of the monument. Despite the presence of those strict laws, Monument Circle—as the area became known—gradually attracted the attention of ambitious real estate developers who yearned to build their own impressive structures around the location. A dozen marvelous commercial structures appeared next to Monument Circle over the following three decades that displayed a stunning wealth of architecture styles ranging from Neoclassical to Art Deco. Three of the finest buildings to open at this time were three major department stores, L.S. Ayers & Co., William H. Block Co., and H.P. Wasson C.O.—which helped transform the area into a significant destination for high-end retail shopping.

Banks and other important regional financial institutions moved into many of the neighboring buildings, ultimately giving Monument Circle an impressive commercial character that endured for generations thereafter. But the district also earned an enviable reputation for the theaters and concert halls it began to host, such as the spectacular Circle Theatre, Indiana Theatre, and Empire Theatre. Private clubs and charitable organizations even managed to secure homes near Monument Circle, including the prestigious Columbia Club, which inhabited a fantastic clubhouse designed by the talented architectural firm Rubush & Hunter. (Rubush & Hunter would be responsible for designing most of the historic buildings around Monument Circle, including the erstwhile Illinois Building). Monument Circle has since retained its status as the cultural heart of Indianapolis, having grown to epitomize the city’s very image. Its enduring legacy has transformed the site into a prominent tourist destination in recent years, with its distinctive Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument serving as its most popular attraction. (There is even a military museum situated inside the base of the monument!) Cultural heritage travelers today will not only enjoy visiting the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument though, but also the countless other landmarks located nearby, like the Christ Church Cathedral, the Indiana State Capitol, the Indiana State Museum, and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Nowhere else in the city captures the true essence of Indianapolis than the historic Monument Circle.