My last visit to Indy found me having early morning coffee at this monument…read more The monument is beautifully done. Statuesque in a way that causes you to feel it's energy and vibration. It's a testament to life, death, freedom, and sacrifice. I sat quietly sipping my coffee and admiring the intricacy of it all. The monument sits on a circular roundabout in the center of downtown. The roundabout is expansive with surrounding buildings in the area. There is seating around the monument if you find the need to stay and take it in fully. The Soldiers and Sailors Monument is a reminder that freedom and liberty are hard fought and there are dire consequences to ensure their existence.

I've seen photos of it as it's a recognizable landmark for Indy. Of course I've visited the…read moresurrounding area many times before, but until I happened to turn my car to avoid a busy street downtown, did I finally see it in person. It was then that I realized I was in the circle, and wow the monument was impressive. It's tall, and has that historic monument feel to it. It's only fifteen feet shorter than the Statue of Liberty and you can sense that as you stand beside it. We had to find a parking space to really soak it in. If you're dining downtown, it's easy to walk over to. Definitely not to be missed.

The lit-up Fountain Square sign is one of our city's icons and makes me feel like I'm in an…read moreold-timey movie. I love it. Fountain Square is such a hub of special local businesses and is truly a gem of a neighborhood. From duckpin bowling to Wildwood Market, Kuma's Corner, The Hi-Fi and so much more, it's an area I always recommend that any visitors stroll around. You're bound to find your new favorite restaurant, activity, bar or shop!

I love to people watch. Airports, City Market, Monument Circle, Parks, Subway Stations.. anywhere I…read morecan sit and people watch, I will. Fountain Square is no exception, and offers great people-watching opportunities. Just across the road from the Fountain Square Theater building sits the Fountain Square Center. It's a quiet area that usually hosts a weekend event or maybe a piano for people to randomly play on a summer night. It's a place people walk or ride their bikes to and enjoy hanging out. Skateboarders roll by, people play guitar, and everyone seems happy!

We had one of our engagement photo shoots at the Indiana State House, and it was the perfect spot…read more The building is beautiful and provided such a stunning backdrop for our photos. The architecture, grand staircases, and elegant interior made our pictures feel so timeless and special. One of the best parts is that you can visit the State House during the week, Monday through Friday from 8am-5pm to take pictures inside free of charge! Just keep in mind that weekends are off-limits for interior photos, so plan accordingly. Highly recommend this spot for wedding/engagement shoots!

The Capitol building is beautiful. I didn't have time to do a tour of the inside so I just walked…read morethe grounds. They took out the sign which tells you which one is the moon tree, but I did see it. I am just not sure which one it was. I would really like to come back and do the official tour.

Interesting tour and a knowledgeable guide. I enjoyed learning about the history of Indy and how…read morethe buildings were used. These aren't actually catacombs but it's still a good way to spend time doing something new. Groups are small and the tour is pretty short. Inexpensive and easy to book. Plus, it starts and ends in the market with good food and drink options. Not much was open when we went.

This 30 minute tour was an awesome glimpse into some of Indianapolis's past! Becky was incredibly…read moreknowledgeable and provided an in-depth look into the history of the catacombs and the building that once stood above it! Bring a mask! It's dusty down there, and the city will require it.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Seated Lincoln is located just south of the Indiana War Memorial in downtown Indianapolis, an area…read morewith quite a few statues. Placed in 1935 by Henry Hering, Seated Lincoln has metered parking nearby and pretty much all around Indiana War Memorial and University Park. This is a bronze statue had been commissioned from the estate of Henry Clay Long, a Civil War veteran. It sits atop a granite base with "Abraham Lincoln" inscribed. The statue was officially dedicated on 12/27/1934 and cost a grand total of $16,000. I drive by this statue almost daily and I have to say it's one of my favorites of the war memorial statues downtown. It's well made and has aged incredibly well for a statue that is nearly 100 years old. I'm not sure why I've never reviewed these types of statues and landmarks that I see so often, but as I was driving by Abe last evening it took me down a bit of a rabbit hole in looking up the statue's history.

The seated Lincoln in University Park is a great little downtown stop. It's not the same pose as…read morethe famous Lincoln Memorial in Washington. This one shows Lincoln sitting more casually, almost mid-thought, with his coat open and one hand resting on papers. The sculptor was Henry Hering, and it was unveiled in 1930 as part of Indianapolis's long tradition of Lincoln memorials. It's here because Lincoln spoke in Indianapolis several times, and the city leaned into that history when designing the park. The whole setting is worth a walk as the statue sits among fountain, shade trees and other early 20th-century monuments that make the park feel like a small outdoor museum. [Review 1026 of 2026 - 232 in Indiana - 26205 overall]

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.