If you’re traveling to Indianapolis from the West Michigan area, there are two basic routes. Search for directions to an Indy-area destination, and chances are the Google Gods will spit out a predictable itinerary.
Unless I miss my guess, it will take you down I-69, through Fort Wayne and on to Indy by way of Anderson. It’s because this route is an unbroken chain of Interstates and therefore faster.
However, I prefer to take the Toll Road to South Bend and then drop straight south on U.S. 31. Now mind you, this is a free-access route even though it’s a divided highway. That means slower going and the likelihood of traffic moving freely on and off the road. Remember, it’s free access, and that means no ramps.
If you follow U.S. 31 long enough, it becomes Meridian Street. You can follow Meridian right into the heart of downtown Indy. That’s the way I went to Indianapolis the very first time I visited, and it explains how I discovered some of the best the city has to offer along this storied street.
For the traveler coming into Indy from the north, Meridian is the gateway to a number of treats. Just south of the 465 Bypass is the 86th Street intersection. A left turn here will take you to lots of upscale stores and the sprawling shopping complex at Keystone Avenue.
A little east of Meridian along College Avenue between 66th and 61st street is quaint, eclectic and pedestrian-friendly Broad Ripple Village. Turn right at 56th Street and head down to Illinois Street for a treat at Indy’s only gourmet cupcake shop, The Flying Cupcake Bakery.
A bit further down, at 30th, is the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, widely regarded as one of the best in the land. But before you get that far, you’ll travel through the best of all the good things on or near Meridian Street, the North Meridian Street Historic District.
According to the Meridian Street Foundation, “The North Meridian Street Historic District is one of Indianapolis’ residential treasures. The preservation of this fragile neighborhood has required much care on the part of owners past and present. All Indianapolis residents should be grateful for the vision of the leaders who many years ago insisted on the preservation of this special part of our city.”
During the years between the two World Wars, what is now the North Meridian Street Historic District became the neighborhood of choice for Indy’s best, brightest and wealthiest. As the elite flocked to the city’s most fashionable street, they retained the city’s best architects to create stately homes for them.
The result is what the National Park Service has called “. . . a living encyclopedia of American architecture.” Represented in the District are Craftsman, Tudor Revival, Jacobean, Colonial Revival, Neo-Classical and Prairie styles.
The residence at 4270 North Meridian, built in 1911, was first home to the Hare family. Hoosier novelist Booth Tarkington moved in during the early 1920s and didn’t leave until his death in 1946. A Pulitzer-winning author, Tarkington described the homes in his neighborhood as “picture book houses.”
In the early 1970s, commercial sprawl threatened to destroy Meridian Street and its treasure of private residences. But leaders among the residents living on and near Meridian rose to the challenge. The protected area was established as The North Meridian Street Historic District and recognized by the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
From 1945 through 1973 Indiana governors called the residence at 4343 North Meridian home. Deeming it no longer suitable for Indiana’s First Family in 1973, the state sold the 1924 structure to Robert Dawson, who renovated the home and later sold it to Dr. John Klein in the late 1970s.
Meanwhile, the governor moved into the mansion at 4750 North Meridian. The state acquired the 1928 English Tudor for about $240,000 in 1973.
The house is notable because of concrete reinforcement used throughout the structure. The 10,500-square foot mansion welcomes nearly 10,000 guests every year. Visitors to the 6.5-acre estate marvel at the home’s nearly two dozen rooms and 11 bathrooms.
The first floor, including two large reception areas, a library, pantry, formal living room, dining rooms, sun porch, kitchen, butler’s pantry, staff offices and an event space, is open to the public.
The second floor is reserved for the private use of the governor and his family and is not open to visitors. Also on the grounds is a three-bedroom guest house.
The mansion makes one-hour tours available to the public every Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The residence’s butler, a 30-year veteran of the property, serves as a guide for the tours, which are handicapped accessible. Advance reservations for tours are required.
So don’t just automatically opt out and steer your way onto the boring 465 Bypass the next time you come to Indy. Even if you just drive through the District, you’ll be rewarded by views of palatial residences, solemnly guarding both sides of this magnificent one-of-a-kind street.
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Article Comments
Tom says:
Bill,
Thanks for the nice article on Meridian Street. As an Indy native, I’ve always loved the N. Meridian St. area. Although I know you had a different focus, Meridan Street originally came into existence because it runs on one of the four prime geographical meridians in the U.S., and was layed out as such by U.S.G.S. engineers. The U.S. time zones used to follow these meridians, which is why Indiana has always had a hard time deciding which time zone to be in. It is a narrow state, split by a time zone, that has suburban areas of major metro areas (Chicago, Cincinnatti, Louisville) in different time zones. Of course, the people in these areas want to be in the time zone of their larger city. Thus, the dilemma.
Another route to Indy that takes about the same amount of time as U.S. 31, but it much prettier, is Ind. 13. It ends in Fortville, a northeast Indy suburb. It’s 2-lane but very enjoyble.
March 15th, 2010 at 12:32 pm ::
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