Historic Bloomington Walking Tours

Cottage Grove Historic District is one of Bloomington's most architecturally diverse neighborhoods. A section of it was platted as early as 1853. At that time, 10th Street was a rural road called Unionville Pike. Several simple two room vernacular structures from that era are still standing along 10th Street. These double pen, saddle bag and central passage structures were among the earliest house forms in the county and are still seen more commonly in rural areas. The district also boasts the only brick Queen Anne structure remaining in Bloomington, and rockfaced limestone homes. Bloomington's preservation movement was galvanized by efforts to save some of these architecturally significant buildings.

Bloomington boasts one of the most intact historic squares in Indiana. In 1981 there was a lengthy community debate about building a modern courthouse and demolishing the old one. As a consequence of that discussion, the courthouse was finally restored. Shortly after, CFC, Inc., a local company, began the monumental job of rehabilitating the south side of the square. Since those two groundbreaking projects, downtown owners have steadily reinvested in the idea of a historic square.

Built in the Beau Arts style in 1907, the Monroe County Courthouse exemplifies the nationwide use of Monroe County Limestone in classical architecture. In 1912, there were 17 stone quarries, 22 mills and 15 cut stone plants operating in Monroe County. The oldest feature of the Courthouse is the fish-shaped weathervane, placed on the previous Monroe County Courthouse in the early 1800s. Saved from demolition in 1984, the Monroe County Courthouse has become a centerpiece of community pride and commitment to historic preservation.

Walk through pieces of Bloomington's African American history learning about Bloomington's involvement with the underground railroad, as well as Indiana University's African American heritage.

In the early 20th century, McDoel was a thriving industrial community with factories and limestone mills and was home of the Monon Railroad yard and RCA radio factory. The neighborhood was once a stopping point for the Gentry Bros. Circus. Legends about this district still circulate today. For instance, a current homeowner on Dixie Street discovered a slab with an iron hoop built into the foundation of her basement. A former owner claimed that it was an elephant tie down from the days when the circus wintered in McDoel. Some neighbors suspect that the enthusiasm for gardening in this area is a covert attempt to find the graves of exotic animals that may be buried in backyards.

North Indiana Indiana Avenue was home to many prominent local businessmen, like the Wylies, the Registers, and the Sewards, but was truly a neighborhood composed of diverse economic and social backgrounds. Hoagy Carmichael's family lived on North Dunn Street for a short time. His home was in close proximity to Bloomington's early black community which centered at 9th and Grant, the second location of the Showers Brothers Furniture Factory. In his memoirs, Hoagy readily acknowledged the influence of local black musicians on his music. Nickelodeons downtown and Fraternity dances just a few houses away provided a local testing ground for his world- famous talent.

Developed by W.N. and J.D Showers for their friends and family, the North Washington Street Historic District developed near the brothers' grand homes on Walnut Street, both of which are demolished. For his daughters Nellie and Jennie, William Showers built two homes with identical floor plans and similar elaborate Queen Anne decoration. The area is also notable for elaborate craftsman style homes and multiple designs by Bloomington architect J. L. Nichols.

Prospect Hill was platted in 1893 on a rounded knoll overlooking the town square. Most homes in the neighborhood date from 1840 to 1936. Prospect Hill created its identity as a neighborhood when it took a stand against the demolition of the 1820s Paris Dunning House, which had fallen into decay. The house was located in the path of the proposed straightening of Third Steet. Bloomington Restorations Inc. Bloomington Restorations, Inc. saved the building in 1984. The neighbors banded together to save the surrounding houses, placing their neighborhood on the National Register in 1991 and creating the first local residential historic district that same year.

Producing more than half of all the furniture made in the United States, the company declared itself "the world's largest producer of bedroom and dining room furniture."

The site of Bloomington, Indiana's City Hall was once home to the Showers Brothers Furniture Factory. At its peak in the 1920s, the Showers Brothers Company produced more than 700,000 pieces of furniture a year, enough to fill 16 train-car loads a day. Producing more than half of all the furniture made in the United States, the company declared itself "the world's largest producer of bedroom and dining room furniture." Learn more about the factory in the walking tour.

Developed in the heyday of Indiana's limestone industry, 1912-1935, Vinegar Hill Historic District is a community treasure and exuberant expression of local craft and folk art within a residential setting. The same carvers responsible for buildings and churches across the U.S., built their own limestone homes with whimsical figures and portraits as seen above. It is the only neighborhood in Indiana where yard objects are identified as folk art and contribute to the historic significance of an area.

University Courts boasts Bloomington's only true Prairie style house as well as an outstanding example of a Mission style bungalow.

In the early 20th century, the Showers Brothers Furniture Company attracted a large African American workforce who established a community on Bloomington's Near West Side. Today the neighborhood's Black churches, fraternal organizations, and carpenter-built homes attest the history of this community. Bloomington's West Side has been home to local leaders in civil rights, music, sports, religion, and education.