Athenaeum (Das Deutsche Haus)
Building in Indianapolis, Indiana. Built 1893 by Vonnegut & Bohn. Added to the National Register in 1973, and a National Historic Landmark.
What it is
The Athenæum, originally named Das Deutsche Haus, is the most ornate and best-preserved building affiliated with the German American community of Indianapolis. Once used as a German American Turnverein and clubhouse, it currently houses many groups, organizations, and businesses. The Athenæum is located across Massachusetts Avenue from the Old National Centre. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 21, 1973. On October 31, 2016, it was named the 41st National Historic Landmark in Indiana.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Building |
| Address | 401 E. Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN |
| County | Marion County |
| Listed | Feb 21, 1973 |
| Listed for | Architecture, Social history |
| Level of significance | State |
| Also known as | Das Deutsche Haus |
| Reference number | 73000032 |
| Built | 1893 · more from the 1890s |
| Architect | Vonnegut & Bohn |
| Type of place | gymnasium, meeting house, World Alliance of YMCAs |
| Style | Renaissance Revival architecture, Romanesque Revival architecture |
| Contributing resources | 1 building |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | 401 E. Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN |
| Coordinates | 39.7734° N, 86.1503° W · Directions ↗ |
| Also in Indianapolis | 266 listed places in Indianapolis → · walking tours → |
| Nearest national park unit | William Howard Taft National Historic Site · 99 miles · on Park Atlas |
Explore
Drawings & photographs
Measured drawings and photographs from the Library of Congress. Public domain. All 1 record ↗
Map
Nearby in Marion County
Local history books for Indianapolis
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Indiana travel guides
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Athenaeum (Das Deutsche Haus) listed on the National Register?
Feb 21, 1973. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
When was Athenaeum (Das Deutsche Haus) built?
1893, designed by Vonnegut & Bohn, in the Renaissance Revival architecture and Romanesque Revival architecture style.
Source: Wikidata
Can I visit Athenaeum (Das Deutsche Haus)?
Yes. Athenaeum (Das Deutsche Haus) is recorded as open to the public.
Source: Wikidata
Where is Athenaeum (Das Deutsche Haus)?
401 E. Michigan St., Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. The nearest national park unit is William Howard Taft National Historic Site, 99 miles away.
Are there historic photographs or drawings of Athenaeum (Das Deutsche Haus)?
Yes. The Historic American Buildings Survey at the Library of Congress has drawings or photographs of it.
Source: Library of Congress
Where is the nomination form for Athenaeum (Das Deutsche Haus)?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Is there cell service at Athenaeum (Das Deutsche Haus)?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 73000032. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA. Drawings and photographs are Historic American Buildings Survey records at the Library of Congress, public domain.