Architecture of the Indiana State Fairgrounds
The first Indiana State Fair was held back in 1852 in downtown Indianapolis’ Military Park. It moved to its current fairgrounds site forty years later in 1892.…
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Administration Buildinglocation_fillThe colonnade across the front of this house-like building spells out its “official administration” function. …
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Agriculture and Horticulture Buildinglocation_fillPrizes for the best examples of farm or garden produce were a long tradition at the Indiana State Fair when th… -
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Hook's Drug Storelocation_fillHook's Drug Stores were Indiana fixtures throughout most of the 20th century. Founder John A. Hook opened his … -
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West Pavilion (Cattle Barn)location_fillThe Cattle Barn was designed to harmonize with the Swine Barn, also by the same architects. The corner towers … -
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Indiana Farmers Coliseumlocation_fillArchitect Merritt Harrison considered this building his finest creation. PWA (Public Works Administration) fun… -
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Communications Buildinglocation_fillThe fairgrounds has several buildings in the modernistic Art Deco style. Art Deco was popular just before and … -
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Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Buildinglocation_fillDesigned by Burns and Burns, the DNR Buildings interior features glue-lam beams to hold up the roof, a popular… -
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Exposition Halllocation_fillKopf and Deery, architects, seem to have started a long partnership with the Fair Board in 1919 with the desig… -
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4-H Dormitories & Exhibit Halllocation_fillAccompanying their animals to the fair was always a problem for young farmers-to-be. These buildings provided … -
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Home and Family Arts Buildinglocation_fillPrizes were awarded to home handiwork since the first State Fair. The importance of the tradition led to an ar… -
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Champions Pavilion (Horse Barn)location_fillMerrill Jones was the architect of the 1925 portion of the Horse Barn. In 1975, the building was reworked and … -
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Grand Halllocation_fillArchitects Kopf and Deery used brick exteriors in creating this early Art Deco style building. Notice the abst… -
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Fair Midwaylocation_fillThe Midway is located where it has always been on the west end of the fairgrounds. Imagine, as you arrived by … -
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Model Farmhouse (Superintendent's House)location_fillThe Model Farmhouse was built by the WPA as an example of an ideal modern farmhouse, and it was later used as … -
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Northwest Pavilion (Poultry Building)location_fillKopf and Deery were the architects of this building as well, which is similar to the swine and horse barns. Th… -
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Southwest Pavilion (Senior Citizen's Building)location_fillThis building was originally constructed by the WPA in 1936 as an exhibition hall. From this area behind the H… -
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Service Buildinglocation_fillDesigned by Burns and Burns, these architects were first known for their traditional designs, but by the ‘50s,… -
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Blue Ribbon Pavilion (Sheep Barn)location_fillNote the sheep’s head medallions! Like those on the Swine Barn, they are made of terra cotta. -
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Swine Barnlocation_fillIndiana agriculture was reaching the end of its Golden Age when the Fair Board decided to build a new Hog Pala… -
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Fairgrounds Tracklocation_fillThe Fairgrounds have always had a horse track on this site. Sulky racing has long been part of the Fair tradit… -
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WPA Barnslocation_fillThe State Fair Board has recently restored a number of these wooden buildings. They were all originally built … -
22
WPA Tunnellocation_fillBuilt by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the tunnel provides a way for automobiles to access the infi…
22 mapped stops