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Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site

4.7 (68 reviews)
Closed • 10:00 am - 3:30 pm

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1905 typewriter
Richard Walton C.

I saw a recent report on the morning news that a 6.5 million renovation had been completed so I decided to take a tour of this historic site. I didn't know this place existed before seeing that report so I was excited to learn Indiana was home to the 23rd president of the USA. But I also learned the renovation is not quite complete. We could not see one room in the rear of the second floor and the third floor ballroom is closed for renovations. In addition, the elevator is being modified to accommodate wheelchair service. Our ticket price for 2024 was $15 (seniors price) but we found a coupon for $2, so total price was $28. Their regular ticket price is $16 and the tour takes about 75 minutes. Only the first room on the left of the foyer, the parlor, was roped off on the first floor and one room on the second floor which was setup as a nursery for display but was originally a dressing room for the First Lady. Otherwise you can enter each room and see things up close. My favorite room was the library. 80% of what you see is original, including the parlor rug. That's 148 years old. The house has over 10,000 square feet. One of my favorite items were the indoor window shutters. They can be adjusted many ways to allow different light levels in the rooms. Another favorite were the stairway custom wood handrails. Extremely unique! I would like to go back just to see the third floor ballroom that was still being renovated. Parking was free for us on the street directly in front of the house on a Friday afternoon. There are no parking meters on the block.

Presidential china
Bailey N.

I am a self proclaimed presidential history "nerd". I've read a biography on almost every president - in order - (currently reading F.D.R. ). I've visited dozens of locations associated with presidents including Monticello, Highland, the Hermitage...trust me, the list is long. Of all the locations I visited, this just shot up the list of most impressive. The collection of items in this home...from personal items...to other authentic items President Harrison actually owned...is astonishing! I mean, this stuff dates back to the 1890s. It always amazes me when I go to a place where people thought ahead to preserve our history in this way. I always walk away grateful. The price is right. As a matter of fact, for the history lesson you get, and the things you see...the price is a bargain. Everyone I met was fantastic, knowledgeable and nice. Or docent, Jim Gidley, was awesome. His knowledge about the Harrisons is encyclopedic; they couldn't have a better, more personable person as the face of the home. My favorite room - by far - was Benjamin Harrison's office.

Walking path from new promenade
Eddie C.

Did you know we have a site of historical significance right in our backyard? Besides the artifacts and being able to experience life back in time, The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site (BHPS) hosts a number of community events throughout the year. The ever-popular Wicked World of Croquet and Juneteenth Foodways Festival are their biggest events. The food fest in particular features minority-owned businesses and vendors from different categories. BHPS has gone through some updates within the last year. There is now an entrance plaza and commons area for guests. There are replicas of the country's founding documents for viewing. From there, a new walkway leads to the historic home. The site grounds feel very welcoming for folks looking to take a casual stroll.

Sigrid W.

If you are into American history or Presidents of the US, this place is quite noteworthy. Pristeenly preserved this house and grounds are not only a visual delight, but you will learn much about American history whether you like it or not. No getting around it. I highly recommend a guided tour, which is very reasonable priced. Not only will this give you access to almost every room in the holuse, but you will also get the bonus of many background stories of the items in the house as well as the former occupants. Don't feel like a tour? Walk the grounds and enjoy the gardens. There is also a Welcome Center behind the house with a gift shop and mini museum. Or join in on one of their special events. Offers vary from month to month. Popular events are the eggrolls, the Juneteenth celebration or Candlelight Theater, just to name a few.

Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site. Indianapolis, Indiana
Ken H.

This house is a must see for any Presidential history aficionado. Definitely one of the most well maintained and ornate president's homes I've seen. There are many original pieces to the Harrison family. There is one piece of furniture that dates back to the 1700s. Original portraits still hang there on their walls. They did an outstanding job on the restoration of the wallpaper, floor, and furniture. The rug in the parlor is the rug that was there when the family occupied the house. Particularly impressive is President Harrison's office which includes portraits of his great-grandfather (a signer of the Declaration of Independence), his grandfather (the 9th President of the United States), and his father. It has the presidential centennial (1889) walking cane which has carved in it the images of Presidents 1-23 and... an original document signed to Benjamin Harrison in 1865 by President Abraham Lincoln a few months before he died. The third floor contains the library of his archives and papers. The actual library is by appointment only. However- the 3rd floor contains much of the tragedy of Benjamin Harrison's life and you get to see all of it. There is also an elevator available for anyone who has trouble with stairs. The museum (in the barn) isn't much, but the house more than makes up for it. The tour took about 70 minutes and was well worth the time of anyone studying the presidents. The tour guide I had was funny and extremely knowledgeable. I highly recommend this site!

John B.

I've been to several presidential sites, but I can't be the only person who found this one, saw the name on it, and said: "Who?". It turns out that Benjamin Harrison was a one-term President in the Reconstruction era, and being before modern media may have limited his reach, but clearly the locals are proud of him. The tour is on a small scale, and while reservations are offered, I didn't have any trouble in what is likely an off-peak time getting in. They offer the tour on the hour, and yet it took a solid hour and a half (meaning two groups will be in the house at the same time). The site includes an outdoor plot of land with a garden. The tour was very detailed. For my liking, it focused a bit too much on the decor and not enough on the story of the president himself, but there was definitely a lot of interesting information about the president's life, which was surprisingly dramatic, moreso than his political career. A pre-phonograph music device was on display, and it was played for us, producing a surprisingly hearty rendition of Greensleeves. A variety of factoids regarding the era were offered. Our questions were entertained and often answered, though a few obscure ones stumped our tour guide. While no one in their right mind would put this tour on a level with Mount Vernon or Monticello, I think it's worth taking the time to ponder this president and his place in history.

House
Andrea U.

Admission was $12 reduced for students & seniors. Nine of us were led through the house. This is considered the most preserved presidential home had 16 rooms & fireplaces, 10,000 original artifacts. Martha pointed out many interesting facts about the house, family & presidency. I was amazed at the original rugs, hardware , plantation shutters .. A lot of history & trivia.

Ade B.

The Benjamin Harrison Presidential site is the most well preserved Presidential home I have visited. It's a beautiful home and so much of what is inside is original to the home. I think the library was like 80% original, with original canes owned by the President, along with the original books. Some of the carpet in the home is original. There are original documents. There are original paintings by the President's wife, along with the original cups and plates she painted. There is also a working Reginaphone, which is a music player that pre-dates the record player. I got a kick out of hearing music on it. The tour was very informative. You will learn everything you may have wanted to know about the home and President Harrison's life there. Unfortunately the ballroom was being renovated during my visit so I couldn't check it out. The tour does end abruptly at the back door, but there is a gift shop in a barn behind the house. If you are a fan of historic homes, the Benjamin Harrison house is a must-see.

Beautiful and stately home right off the Interstate.
Michael K.

Stopping at the Harrison house was a that morning driving decision as my wife and I headed to Indianapolis from Columbus. Going online we found plenty of tickets available on this Saturday for the hourly tours at the top of the hour. It was a bit of a hassle getting the tickets on my phone having to download an app and create an online account. The irony of it was I didn't have to show them once there and just gave our names. Parking was easy with plenty of open spots on the streets and even spaced on their small parking lot. Our small group of three met the tour guide at the front door for the start of about a 90 minute tour of the rather large house. We saw rooms on both floors full of original pieces and numerous photos. We learned much about Harrison's life and presidency. Behind the home is a small gift shop and convenient restrooms alongside their small parking lot.

Rich B.

So impressed with the Benjamin Harrison house and site. The grounds are beautiful, and the interior of the house is amazingly preserved with something like 80-90% original furnishings. Truly a national treasure. The tour was excellent: great history and insights into President Harrison, as well as the history of the local area and who else lived in the neighborhood during his time. Parking was a little tight--not too many spots in the small parking lot--but they had very nice bathrooms and a small museum in a building behind the house. So glad we didn't miss this.

Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
Bruce K.

Open for tours post-pandemic, the Benjamin Harrison (1833-1901) home is open for visitors. Banjamin Harrison entered the Union Army as a Second Lieutenant of the 70th Indiana Regiment. He insisted on turning raw recruits into disciplined soldiers, eventually . He later was United States Senator from Indiana and the twenty-third President of the United States. The home is part of the Old Northside Neighborhood. Harrison purchased it as an empty lot in 1868 and the house was built within a year. Indiana limestone and bricks completed the home. The carriage house was also constructed at the same time, and the structure that stands today as the visitor center was reconstructed in 2001. The tours of the home do require reservations these days which I missed by a bit and wasn't feeling like waiting an hour for the next. In the meanwhile, the tour of the visitor's center is interesting. President Harrison worked towards expanding civil rights. A timely thing, especially with the current events of 2020. Unfortunately President Harrison did not win re-election and was a one-term President, losing to Grover Cleveland. [Review 13517 overall, 836 of 2020.]

Vic C.

Benjamin Harris was our 23rd president, from 1889-1893. Former president Cleveland served before him and then after him (the only president to have served two terms not consecutively, as least for now). Benjamin Harris's grandfather, Willian Henry Harris was our 9th president but only served for 32 days (the shortest term in history so far) after getting pneumonia. According to our docent, he gave a very long speech (the longest in history actually) that lasted about 1 hour and 45 minutes that was outside on a very cold and rainy day. Benjamin Harris was born in North Bend, Ohio and grew up on a farm. He attended and graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He met his wife Caroline Lavina Scott and married her the year after he graduated. They had 2 children. After he studied law in Cincinnati, he decided to move to Indianapolis to set up his own law practice. He served in the Civil War as the Union Army as a lieutenant. At the end of the war, he ended up attaining the rank of general (He was also the last Civil War general to serve as president). After the war, he resumed his law practice and decided to go into politics. However, he was unsuccessful for the Republican nomination in 1872 but won the election 4 years later but lost to a close race. He ended up getting a seat at the US Senate from 1881-1887 and later on, eventually beat former President Cleveland to become president. Towards the end of his presidential term, he ran against former President Cleveland again. Because his wife was very ill, he did not campaign much. Unfortunately she died of tuberculosis and then 2 weeks later, Benjamin Harris lost to Cleveland. After leaving the White House, he returned home to resume his law practice. At the age of 62, he married his wife's niece, who was also her caretaker (Mary Lord Dimmick). They had one daughter. His adult children disapproved of his marriage to a relative that was also about 25 years younger than him. A few years later, he died of pneumonia at his home on March 13, 1901. ------------------------------------ Now that you know the general history of this president, let me tell you about my experience... Admission is $14 for adults, $13 for veterans and seniors and $9 for college students with ID and children. Hours of operation are limited so plan accordingly. My husband and I ended up coming to this place twice. Once for the tour of the home and the second time was for a special (free) July 4th event that is dog friendly (in which we brought our little girl dog to join us). The docent we had, unfortunately I did not get his name, was great. He was very informative and spoke at a great pace. What did surprise me about the tour was that you were able to take as many photos inside the home as you wish. The other thing that surprised me was that the majority of the furniture was original to the Harrison family and was well preserved. Benjamin Harrison was given many canes (although he did not need them to walk) during his presidency, in which you can view his collection. But there is one in a case on his oval office desk that is very special, in his 16 room mansion. It has carvings of other presidents, including himself. But he is at the very bottom and had said that he would never use it because he does not want to put himself in the ground. Another thing I found to be interesting was that when he left office, he and his wife took many items from the White House, which included china plates and silverware, a cabinet, furniture, etc. Our docent told us he was surprised that they were allowed to take so many things and surprisingly it is all well preserved (as you can also view in the home). One last thing I want to mention about the tour was that we were told he was the first president to have his voice recorded and you will actually get to hear his voice played during the tour. Overall, we had a great time learning about Benjamin Harris and would highly recommend a visit if you are interested in learning about US President history.

Welcome Center
Stacy P.

Covid Times - Make sure to check their website as the pandemic is ongoing The Benjamin Harrison House was once home to the 23rd president of the United States. The home has been well kept over the years and a high percentage of the items are original to the house. Highlights: + Parking can be a pain. There is street parking in front; however, it can get extremely tight. There is a small lot behind the house off of 11th street, but even that can be a pain to get in and out of. + The bathrooms are in the parking lot in a separate building. + The welcome center, behind the house, is where you will find the gift shop, currently a small exhibit and a old school voting machine, and where you will check in for your tour. + Photos are allowed within the house + There is a elevator, so those with mobility issues are able to access the house + The house has three floors that you will walk through over the course of the tour. The main floor containing the office, kitchen, dining room, and parlor. The second floor contains the bedrooms. The third floor was a ballroom, yes a ballroom. + The upstairs ballroom is currently used as an exhibit space. For 2020, it is focused on women's voting rights. + The house's design is ahead of its time. For example, it had electricity. During the tour, additional information is discussed and is focused on the period of time that the Harrisons lived there. +Tickets online are handled by Eventbrite. You can place your AAA discount in when purchasing; however, keep in mind Eventbrite charges a fee on top of the actual house ticket price. Covid Times--Subject to change as the pandemic is on going. - The house is in Marion County, so the restrictions may be stricter than other Indiana counties - Masks are mandatory. Don't be an a$$ about it, just wear it for an hour -Tours are restricted to 6 individuals and the times and number of tours a day are limited. - Pre-book your ticket(s) in advance - There are spots on the floor marked with stickers on where to stand to maintain distance

Front of the Harrison home

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Review Highlights - Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site

“You will learn everything you may have wanted to know about the home and President Harrison's life there.”

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Lady Spray Fountain

Lady Spray Fountain

4.5(2 reviews)
2.3 mi•Fountain Square

You may think that the fountain has some historical value or is an antique. Nope, not even close…read more This fountain was built in 2009 and installed in 2010. The only thing historical about this fountain is the location that it is in. It is the fourth fountain to be installed here, with the first being installed in 1889. The fountain is made of cast iron and is cast from the same mold as a historic one in New York. On the top of the fountain you will see Goddess Hebe, who is nick named Lady Spray (hence the fountains name). Hebe is the goddess of is the goddess of youth or the prime of life. As I mentioned the fountain is pretty weathered and it was not operating while I was there. I am not sure if it is functional or if it was just shut down for the season. Parking to get a closer look is somewhat simple. There is metered street parking within a very reasonable walking distance. There is no real easy way to cross the street to get to the fountain no matter what side you approach it from. It is on an island. I am sure you know it already, but I would be remiss if I did not say it, please be careful. There is no fountain square without a fountain. Even though this fountain is relatively new, they did a great job maintaining its antique look and nostalgia feel. Definitely worth a peek if you are in the area.

Okay, I get that this current version of the fountain was installed as recently as 2009 and is a…read morecopy of a statue in New York that features "Lady Spray" or more commonly known as the goddess Hebe. But what makes this latest version so great is that an entire neighborhood is named because a fountain was put at this intersection in 1889. The original also featured Lady Spray. I love that the neighborhood wanted to capture some of the original statue/fountain by returning to the first theme even though the original was destroyed. This is the fourth version of the fountain to exist on this spot and it still features the goddess on top a series of supports that have different types of ornamentation (including geese). The water sprays and is collected in several dish shaped layers. Although not everyone in the neighborhood wanted to go with this version, a compromise of sorts was reached when the sculpture that topped the second version was saved and put on display to the southwest of the fountain. Review #1888

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Lady Spray Fountain
Lady Spray Fountain
Lady Spray Fountain

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Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument - Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, Bridgeport

Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument

5.0(2 reviews)
687.6 mi

Bridgeport honors the local men who served in the Civil War with this elaborate monument in Seaside…read morePark https://www.yelp.com/biz/seaside-park-bridgeport?hrid=VuI9YRr0wFJzrDzQoIr4BA. The monument features a large, granite base with several decorative elements that narrows into a shaft topped by a bronze allegorical figure representing the United States. The monument's side feature bronze statues depicting an infantry soldier and a sailor. The plaque on the southeast face reads, "Dedicated to the memory of the heroic men of Bridgeport who fell in the late war for the preservation of the Union. July 1876." The plaque also features the conclusion of the Gettysburg Address. Plaques on the other faces list approximately 180 local residents killed in the war, along with their unit, as well as their date and place of death. [Review 15155 overall, 657 of 2021, number 12 in Connecticut.]

With my family and I were doing on North East trip we stopped in Bridgeport Connecticut and we saw…read morethis wonderful monument for soldiers and sailors. I've noticed that a lot of cities that I've visited have the same soldiers and sailors monument on this trip. It looks a little different but it's always titled soldiers and sailors so curious might look that up. But anyway there's a nice looking Memorial monument and it just really represents the respect and love for soldiers and sailors and people that have fought for our country and have passed away it's just a nice tribute

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Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument - Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, Bridgeport

Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, Bridgeport

Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument - Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, Bridgeport

Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, Bridgeport

Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument

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Indiana Law Enforcement & Firefighters Memorial - Circle of names

Indiana Law Enforcement & Firefighters Memorial

4.3(3 reviews)
1.2 mi•Mile Square, Canal Walk

The Indiana Law Enforcement & Firefighter Memorial is somewhat hidden in a courtyard within one of…read morethe State's office buildings west of the Indiana Statehouse. I happened upon the monument quite by accident walking to the library. The memorial pays tribute to police and firefighters that lost their lives in the line duty. The monument itself is composed of two semicircles of granite pillars with the names of the fallen heroes etched in the stone. There are two larger limestone structures with plaques for firefights and police. Tree covered benches encircle the pillars and offer a peaceful place to reflect about the people that have served. Flags fly over the monument. The memorial was dedicated in June 0f 2001. Today, the 20 year old limestone is in need of a good cleaning and I had the urge to climb up and remove the mold. Street parking is hit or miss, but there is some outside the Statehouse that is inexpensive and available early in the day.

Indiana law enforcement and fire fighter memorial is a massive rock figure sculpture along with…read moresome pieces with names of fallen first responders. My family and I were in town for the weekend my daughter cheer Competition held inside the Convention center. Over the two days while waiting between performances and awards ceremonies me and sometimes my family walked the surrounding areas and explored as the public art scene here is plentiful and creative. We found this massive piece while Checking out all the awesome sculptures on the state lawn in downtown Indianapolis. Kinda off to the side near a building entrance this is a very nice memorial and very well done . Overall it is always great seeing honors and tributes to first responders who have risked and lost there lives protecting there communities.

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Indiana Law Enforcement & Firefighters Memorial
Indiana Law Enforcement & Firefighters Memorial
Indiana Law Enforcement & Firefighters Memorial

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Urban Wall

Urban Wall

4.0(2 reviews)
1.1 mi•Mile Square

This mural is an abstract piece that seems to have its best years way behind it. It is located…read moreacross from the City/County building and is painted on a parking garage that overlooks a commercial parking lot. It was painted by Roland Hobart, with assistance from Naegele Outdoor Advertising, in 1973 as part of the Indianapolis Urban Walls Project and was founded by American Fletcher National Bank. It was the first installment of the project. I would call it old, but we are close to the same age, so I will just call it a mural with seniority. The mural was also originally on two walls. The white wall perpendicular to where the mural is now was part of the mural in 1973, but severe deterioration forced it to be repainted and all they could come up with was white. The mural has been receiving increasing calls for restoration and people are starting the raise funds. The walls being located on private businesses with different landlords presents a little bit of an obstacle because they have to have them agree to have their walls painted. It is a simple piece that consists of geometric shapes, Consisting of mostly red, yellow, and orange circles, pie shaped wedges and triangles. I believe the mural has not been painted or maintenanced since it was originally painted. It is severely faded, peeling and chipped, but I guess considering that it is almost 50 years old it almost has some historical significance. It is old school. I think the mural has more value as a historical piece than the actual art work. Anyway, there is a lot of metered street parking available near the mural, so you can park, get out and take a closer look. There are also a few garages within a reasonable walking distance too. You could also get a decent look from the windshield of your car doing a strategic slow-rolling drive by. As with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other wonderful downtown attractions.

Having spent more than 40 years in the metro area, I am continuously amazed at how the downtown…read morearea has transformed from the well earned "Naptown" label into a destination. And for as much as sports, construction, and the canal have done for the area, I believe that public art has to be considered as another great success. Think about it: Colorless limestone building with no imaginative decoration filled the area (with just a few exceptions). But in 1973, the City took a chance and created an "Urban Wall" Project that set things rolling. Back in '73, the original mural selected for the project was a Shelbyville artist named Roland Hobart who oversaw the installation of a two-wall mural. The colors were vibrant! The impact was amazing! Indianapolis with a multi-story mural? And an abstract at that? Really? It got people around here to think about art beyond what was in the IMA. It got people to remember that there were older pieces of art around town that should be maintained. But sadly, when murals are painted on private property, it is difficult to control the maintenance of the piece. Heavy water damage on the south facing wall led to a decision to whitewash the entire half of the mural. It was assumed that the empty lot would eventually be built on and so, go ahead and paint over it. Sad. And what is left of the east facing wall is faded and has damage to it as well. It is just a shadow of itself today of what it once was. The good news is that there is movement towards restoring the mural to its vibrant origins. Now that the near east side of downtown is finally getting some development with the Cummins Building and others, maybe someone will generously contribute to the project to restore this landmark piece. For more information about the history of the wall, check out the Arts Council of Indianapolis website for an excellent write-up. (see website on the business page of this review.) Review #1323

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Urban Wall - Untitled Urban Wall by Roland Hobart (1973).  Only half the mural remains and it needs restoration

Untitled Urban Wall by Roland Hobart (1973). Only half the mural remains and it needs restoration

Urban Wall
Urban Wall

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Ayres Clock

Ayres Clock

4.0(1 review)
1.2 mi•Mile Square, Wholesale District

This clock is an Indiana historical landmark. It was installed by L.S. Ayres Department Store in…read more1936 on what was their building at the time. The clock is at the corner of Washington and Meridian streets, weighs 10,000-pound, and stand 8-foot-tall. The clock served as a visual landmark back in the day. Legend has it that there was a popular saying, "meet me under the Ayres Clock." The clock currently belongs to the city of Indianapolis and is maintained by Indiana Landmarks. As with anything of that age, repairs are desperately needed. This clock is no exception. It has been through multiple repairs, most recently in 2020, when its frame and structure were serviced. Since 1947, there has been a small sculpted cherub that randomly appears perched on the clock every Thanksgiving, and remains there until New Year's Day. I visited during that time and saw it tucked in between the clock and the building. It was kind of hard to see. I am glad though that the tradition continued in spite of the volunteer that had been placing the cherub for decades, passing away. His family just carried on the tradition for him. There is metered street parking available near the clock and there is also a few paid parking lots in the vicinity to park at and take a closer look. It definitely not a very long stop. I was there less than 3 minutes. You may want to consider making this trip as part of a larger itineraray of downtown things to do.

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Ayres Clock
Ayres Clock

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Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site - landmarks - Updated October 2026

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