Indiana War Memorial Plaza Historic District

Old Indianapolis bears little resemblance to the new one, but Indy's unique trail of war memorials has a powerful way of linking the two. The Soldiers and Sailors Monument is unmistakably emblematic of the Circle City. The Indiana War Memorial, an inexplicably well-kept secret, is the nation's largest memorial established for veterans of the Great War. And the American Legion's National Headquarters in Indianapolis remains a testament to the grit that put the city on the map. Author Rudy Schouten tracks the origins of Indy's monuments and memorials, not just to tell the story of limestone and granite rising out of the ground, but to help make note of the sacrifices that paved a city's trail of gratitude.

This thesis analyzes the creation, original meaning, and reinterpretation of the Indiana World War Memorial Plaza in downtown Indianapolis as they relate to national commemorative trends. Built in the wake of the First World War, the Plaza was intended to serve a greater purpose than simply honor Indiana's veterans. Evidence suggests that the state's citizenry had commemorative expectations in the post-war years that stemmed from Indianapolis's past memorial endeavors. Monument building had come to define Indiana's identity, and a majority of its residents were in favor of constructing some type of memorial that would garner national attention. Issues regarding architectural character, the use of urban space, financial burden and responsibility, and the appropriate roles of local governments in commemorative projects each contributed to the contentious nature of the War Memorial Plaza's story. These factors, along with the overshadowing of the site's significance by the Great Depression and Second World War, each illustrate the greater controversies that surround World War I remembrance. In this context the Plaza's history serves as a local study for the ways in which national commemorative trends were influential in post-First World War Indianapolis.

History of the Indiana World War Memorial, "Report of the Indiana World War Memorial Study Commission", "Summary of Developments in Regard to Proposed Purchase of Two Churches Located on Indiana War Memorial Plaza", "Pro Patria" statue.