Indianapolis, IN

Indiana Avenue Historic District
DESCRIPTION: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places; during the early 1900s, the area included nightclubs, restaurants, beauty shops, jewelry stores

ADDRESS: 500 block of Indiana Avenue  MAP

Willis Mortuary
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1890, it is the oldest Black funeral home in Indianapolis and is notable for its extensive financial contributions to the local Civil Rights Movement

ADDRESS: 632 North Martin Luther King, Jr. Street  MAP

PHONE: 317-634-5100

Madame C.J. Walker Building
DESCRIPTION: National Historic Landmark built in 1927 by the daughter of America’s first Black millionaire, Madame C.J. Walker; a wonderful museum displaying photos and memorabilia from Madame Walker; Madame Walker made her fortune selling hair care products primarily intended for African Americans

ADDRESS: 617 Indiana Avenue  MAP

PHONE: 317-236-2099

Ransom Place Historic District
DESCRIPTION: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places; named after Freeman Ransom, manager and attorney for Madame C.J. Walker; exclusive section for prominent African Americans during the 1800s and early 1900s

ADDRESS: 830 North Martin Luther King, Jr. Street  MAP

Crispus Attucks High School
DESCRIPTION: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and named after the first man to die in the Boston Massacre; built in 1927 as a segregated high school for African Americans; the high school was a leader in sports, music, debate and science; like most other distinguished Black schools, it integrated in 1970, but closed in 1986 due to declining enrollment; fortunately a multi-million dollar renovation converted it to a junior high school in 1986; today the school houses an African American History Museum located in the back area that once served as the auxiliary gymnasium

ADDRESS: 1140 North Martin Luther King, Jr. Street  MAP

PHONE: 317-226-2430

WEBSITE: http://www.crispusattucksmuseum.ips.k12.in.us

Lockefield Gardens
DESCRIPTION: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this federal housing project was built in 1936 to serve African Americans

ADDRESS: 700 Indiana Avenue  MAP

Fayette Historic District
DESCRIPTION: One of Indianapolis' oldest Black neighborhoods; beautiful restored homes

ADDRESS: 900 block of Fayette Street  MAP

Fountain City, IN

Levi Coffin State Historic Site
DESCRIPTION: Eight room brick house where the Coffins helped over 2,000 runaway slaves during their journey to freedom; Levi Coffin was called the "President of the Underground Railroad"; guided tours are available

ADDRESS: 113 North U.S. Highway 27  MAP

PHONE: 765-847-2432

Fishers, IN

Conner Prairie Living Hisotry Museum
DESCRIPTION: featuring life in Indiana during 1836; featuring 1836 Prairietown Village, William Conner Estate, Pioneer Adventure Area, Museum Center, theater, gift shop and restaurant; African American characters include a former Liberian colonist, free Black woman, and caretakers of a Quaker abolitionist cabin; Follow the North Star program features an Underground Railroad theme where visitors play escaped slaves searching for the way to freedom -- the program could however, be enhanced with more contributions of the Free African American community who also assisted the escaped slaves

DAYS & HOURS: April-November Tue-Sat 9:30a-5p, Sun 11a-5p

ADDRESS: 13400 Allisonville Road  MAP

PHONE: 800-966-1836

WEBSITE: http://www.connerprairie.org