Head west in Downtown and discover an area unlike any in the city — an area where history, music, restored neighborhoods and spirituality unite to showcase Indianapolis’ rich African-American heritage. Welcome to Indiana Avenue, the anchor of the District that stretches between the historic Central Canal and White River, encompassing many neighborhoods and the IUPUI campus.

As early as the 1800s, this area was a vibrant social, commercial, residential, spiritual, educational and economic community. It was a bustling mecca in the Midwest, fueled by skilled craftspeople, entertainers, professionals and entrepreneurs.

America’s first self-made millionaire, Madam C.J. Walker, numerous jazz legends (Wes Montgomery and Lena Horne) and other significant historic figures all have strong ties to the Avenue. Many accomplished individuals graduated from the District’s sole high school, Crispus Attucks, and became very successful business, civic and social leaders.

Indiana Avenue landmarks signify a piece of the area’s heritage and lasting legacy. They also tell the African-American story in Indianapolis.

Organized in 1836, Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church is the oldest African-American congregation in Indianapolis. Its original building was constructed in 1869 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The first NAACP chapter in the city was formed there. The church also played an integral role in the Underground Railroad movement and Civil War recruitment for the North.

The 500 Block of Indiana Avenue, also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is the only partially existing intact block of what was once the most important commercial hub of African-American Indianapolis.  By 1916, there were 33 restaurants, 33 saloons, 26 grocery stores and 17 barber shops and beauty salons located along the Avenue.

This area of Indiana Avenue served as a training ground for many aspiring musicians, including Jimmy Coe and the Montgomery Brothers. In the area’s heyday, venues hosted numerous jazz greats, including J.J. Johnson, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, Count Basie and others. Indiana Avenue made Indianapolis THE place to be for jazz.

Crispus Attucks High School opened in 1927 as Indianapolis’ only segregated high school for African-American students.  The faculty and students were leaders in science, debate, sports and music.  A museum that focuses on the African-American experience is located in the newly renamed Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet High School.

Ransom Place Neighborhood is a small community in the heart of the Indiana Avenue Cultural District. In 1992, Ransom Place became the first African-American neighborhood in Indiana to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Madam C.J. Walker began the development of the historic Walker Building and Theatre prior to her death in 1919. The project was completed by her daughter A’Lelia Walker and opened to the public in December 1927. The four-story facility housed office space for African-American professionals and served as a common ground for the communities socialites.

The Walker Theatre and Casino Ballroom saw many jazz geniuses in its time.  In the late 1980s, the building was restored and the Walker Theatre is alive again with musical events and performances.

Lockefield Gardens, built in 1936, was a Public Works Administration project to provide low-cost housing for African Americans in Indianapolis. The project provided more jobs and redeveloped an area that desperately needed improvement.

The development included numerous play areas, greenspaces, shops, a mall and elementary school. The area was closed in 1976 and several of the buildings were torn down a few years later. It now stands as a restored apartment complex adjacent to the IUPUI campus.

Today, the District offers a sample of the area’s thriving past and a connection to the city’s present and future. It represents a diagonal gateway to Downtown, IUPUI, the city’s life sciences initiative and a collection of major medical campuses.

It’s also near the Central Canal, offering easy access to other cultural venues in Downtown.

Spirituality and music remain as important to the district as they were in the past. To keep these tradition alive, the community hosts various festivals and live performances throughout the year. It also showcases jazz-themed outdoor art, portraying important musicians and their music. Freetown Village also helps bring this community’s history alive through theater, storytelling, music and special events. Programs are presented in the district and throughout Indiana.

Indiana Avenue will continue to build on its rich African-American heritage and diverse traditions to create a vibrant future for residents and visitors alike. The district’s plans for the future are being realized with the creation of the Redevelopment Blueprint, a plan that proposes physical improvements, key strategies and action items providing a road map for the district’s economic and cultural revitalization.

District redevelopment will enhance the quality of life for all residents and visitors in many ways, reinvigorating the area and making it thrive once more with the energy from which it was once known.