When you find yourself in downtown Indianapolis, you cannot miss the massive limestone needle piercing the sky right in the absolute center of the city. That is the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, and it is easily one of the most jaw dropping landmarks in the entire Midwest. It sits inside a perfectly circular, brick paved street called Monument Circle, which serves as the ultimate civic gathering space for the whole city.
The scale of this thing is incredibly impressive. It stands exactly 284 feet and six inches tall. To put that into perspective, it is only about fifteen feet shorter than the Statue of Liberty. When it was officially dedicated back on May 15, 1902, it was the second tallest monument in the entire United States, sitting just behind the Washington Monument. It took workers thirteen years of meticulous construction to build it, using famous gray oolitic limestone hauled in from quarries right here in Indiana.
What makes this place so special is its purpose. It was the very first monument in the United States dedicated to the common soldier rather than a specific high ranking general. It commemorates the incredible valor of Indiana veterans who served in a long list of conflicts prior to World War I, including the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Frontier Wars, and the Spanish American War.
As you walk around the base, the artwork will completely blow you away. A German architect named Bruno Schmitz won an international design contest to create it, beating out seventy other proposals. He brought in brilliant sculptors to carve massive, highly dramatic stone groupings right into the sides. Take a slow walk around to look at the incredibly detailed allegorical groups representing War and Peace, alongside moving scenes titled The Dying Soldier and The Homefront.
If you look all the way up to the very pinnacle of the obelisk, you will see a towering, thirty-eight foot tall bronze statue facing straight south. Her official name is Victory, though locals affectionately call her Miss Indiana. She holds a sword for protection and a torch symbolizing civilization, and she faces south as a symbolic gesture of looking for the men who were returning home from the Civil War.
Underneath the monument, you can step inside to explore the Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum. It is a fantastic, free space filled with historical exhibits and deeply personal stories that show you exactly what life was like for Indiana residents during the Civil War. It gives you a whole new appreciation for the history before you head back outside.
Normally, the big highlight for travelers is heading into the tower to check out the glass observatory deck at 231 feet, which treats you to an epic 360 degree bird’s eye view of the entire city skyline, including Lucas Oil Stadium and the state capitol building. You can typically take a vintage elevator most of the way up or challenge your legs to a workout by climbing all 330 steps. Just keep a quick travel tip in mind: the state is currently running a massive ten million dollar project to replace the exterior limestone steps, so the upper observation tower is temporarily closed to the public, though the museum at the base remains wide open.
Even with the tower closed, hanging out on the circle is a must. During the warm months, you will see local office workers eating lunch on the steps right next to the massive, roaring fountains. If you happen to visit during the winter holidays, the city strings massive strands of lights from the top of the tower down to the ground, transforming the entire structure into what they bill as the largest Christmas tree in the world. Grab a local coffee, find a spot on the wide stone steps, and enjoy the views.