Indianapolis City Hall, 202 North Alabama, Indianapolis, Marion County, IN

Significance: At the time of its construction, City Hall symbolized the "coming of age" of Indianapolis as a major Midwestern metropolis. Before its construction, city government had been homeless, leasing offices in a multitude of private buildings. At last, after 60 years of existence, municipal government occupied a suitably monumental edifice worthy of civic pride. ... The City Hall is a fine example of the Neoclassical Revival style of architecture, which was the most popular style for civic buildings in the United States from about 1900 to the First World War. Design motifs were selected from both the Greek and Roman orders of architecture to create a unique composition. The lavishness of the materials of the building - an exterior predominately of Bedford limestone and an interior enriched by marble flooring and wall paneling, mahogany woodwork, and a stained glass, domes skylight - is representative of the Neoclassical's emphasis upon quality materials, which has seldom been equaled in periods of architecture that have followed. The use of the renowned Indiana limestone for the city hall of the state's capital city was a most appropriate choice of materials to express civic pride.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-45
Survey number: HABS IN-156
Building/structure dates: 1910 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1966 Subsequent Work