The Bates House Hotel Site

The Bates House Hotel once stood on the northeast corner of Washington and Pennsylvania Streets. In the mid-1800s, it was one of the most respected hotels in Indianapolis. Finished in the early 1850s and later expanded, the hotel became a well-known landmark—not just for being large and fancy, but also for its important role in the city’s political and social life. At a time when travel was slow and travelers needed good places to stay, the Bates House gave guests comfort, style, and a location just a block from the Indiana Statehouse.

The hotel’s most famous guest was Abraham Lincoln. He stayed there on February 11, 1861, as he traveled from Springfield to Washington, D.C., for his first presidential inauguration. From the second-floor balcony, Lincoln spoke to a large crowd on Washington Street. His short speech sounded humble and unsure, showing how serious he felt as the Civil War was about to begin. This moment became one of the first big national political events in Indianapolis and made the Bates House a place people remembered. But Lincoln’s visit was just one part of the hotel’s history. The Bates House was also a key spot for political meetings, banquets, and private talks. Lawmakers, lobbyists, business owners, and party leaders met in its dining rooms and lounges, making deals and building alliances over food and cigars. These gatherings were mostly made up of men and women were usually only allowed to work in service jobs. Newspapers often reported on events at the hotel, showing that it was a powerful place for behind-the-scenes politics. The hotel also showed how Indianapolis was becoming a more developed state capital. Its five-story building and modern features showed the city’s pride and its growing role in state and national affairs. Although the original hotel was torn down in the early 1900s, the site is still important. The Bates House reminds us how hotels in the 1800s were more than places to sleep—they were centers of power, where private and public life came together, and where a future president once stepped forward during a time of crisis.