Herron-Morton Place Historic District

Herron–Morton Place is a historic district in Indianapolis, Indiana, dedicated to restoration and renewal. The boundaries of the neighborhood are East 16th Street on the south, East 22nd Street on the north, the alley west of North Pennsylvania on the west, and the alley east of Central Avenue on the east.History19th centuryIn 1859, the state purchased the land, which was still largely undeveloped, as a home for the Indiana State Fair.At the start of the American Civil War, the area was used first as an induction center for the Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and later as the prisoner of war camp for Condederates, Camp Morton. After the Civil War, Indiana reclaimed the land as fairgrounds, and the site until 1890.The area was then platted for residential development, and home construction began in the 1890s.20th centuryAt the beginning of the 20th century, the district directly north of 16th Street was one of Indianapolis’ most elegant residential neighborhoods. Morton Place, named for Indiana governor Oliver Morton, was home to many celebrated politicians, physicians, business leaders, and artists.Indiana Impressionist artists T.C. Steele and William Forsyth founded their famed Hoosier Group art school in Morton Place in 1888. In 1895 John Herron's bequest founded the John Herron Art Institute, and funded new construction of a new main building and an art museum in Morton Place. The Herron Museum later became the Indianapolis Museum of Art.