EXPLORE
Indiana War Memorial
The Indiana War Memorial— unequivocally the crown jewel of the War Memorial Plaza National Historic District—was built to honor Hoosier veterans of World War I.
Today, through the Indiana War Museum, it also conveys the contributions and sacrifices of Hoosier service men and women from the Revolutionary War through recent peacekeeping operations and conflicts.
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday,
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission to the museum is free, although donations are appreciated.
Enter through main entrance at 55 East Michigan Street. Get directions
Special features and exhibits in the three-floor building include:
THE EXTERIOR OF THE INDIANA WAR MEMORIAL is also richly adorned with historical significance. It was designed to closely resemble the appearance of the original Mausoleum, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Each side of the building has six columns, with six sculpted figures representing courage, memory, peace, victory, liberty and patriotism. The Pro Patria statue on the south steps of the memorial aptly communicates all that the memorial stands for with its Latin meaning, “For country.”
Fast Facts

The Garrison Flag, the largest flag at an outpost or military base, hangs in the Shrine Room.

The Indiana War Memorial is 210 feet tall.

The names of Hoosiers who participated in WWI are listed throughout the building.

The Shrine Room was dedicated on Armistice Day in 1933.

General John J. Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe in WWI, laid the cornerstone of the Indiana War Memorial on July 4, 1927.

The same poet who wrote the quotations on the Lincoln Memorial wrote quotations featured in the Shrine Room.

There are over 400 battle flags in the IWM collection, including more than 300 Civil War flags. They are rotated for display on a regular basis.