Indiana Landmarks Debuts Two New Downtown Indy Tours for 2025 Season

Indiana Landmarks is expanding its popular lineup of downtown Indianapolis tours with the launch of two exciting new experiences: the Mass Ave Walking Tour and the Landmarks Along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail Biking Tour. These additions offer fresh perspectives on some of the city’s most dynamic and historically rich areas.

Running from April through September, Indiana Landmarks’ tours provide immersive ways to explore the architectural and cultural history of Indy neighborhoods including the Old Northside, Herron-Morton Place, Chatham Arch, and Woodruff Place. Other options include themed experiences like “Indy’s Notable & Notorious,” “Decoding Downtown,” “White River State Park,” and the “Monument Circle Historic District” tour. A full schedule is available at indianalandmarks.org/indianapolis-walking-tours.

Explore the Soul of Mass Ave

The new Mass Ave Walking Tour shines a light on one of Indy’s most eclectic and vibrant districts. Mass Ave, now a hub for arts, dining, and nightlife, has a layered past that includes industry, entertainment, and activism.

On this 90-minute tour, guests will walk from the Viewfinders Sculpture (where New York Street, Delaware Street, and Mass Ave intersect) to the Bottleworks District at Mass Ave and Bellefontaine Street. Along the way, tourgoers will discover fascinating stories and hidden history, including:

• The former hosiery mills that once produced over 12 million pairs of women’s stockings each year

• The district’s surprising role in Indianapolis' mid-century tamale craze

• Three unique flatiron buildings, architectural gems in the heart of the city

• Sites tied to Prohibition-era ingenuity

• Spaces important to the city’s LGBTQIA+ history

• Two of Indianapolis’ oldest still-standing theaters

• A striking 1930s Art Deco Coca-Cola bottling plant

• Civil War-era storefronts and historically Black barbershop locations

• Celebrated public art, including murals of Mari Evans, Etheridge Knight, and Kurt Vonnegut

Tour Dates & Details

When:

• Saturday, June 28 – 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

• Saturday, July 12 – 1:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, July 23 – 6:30 p.m.

• Saturday, August 9 – 1:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, August 13 – 6:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, September 10 – 6:30 p.m.

• Saturday, September 13 – 1:30 p.m.

Where:

Tour begins at the Viewfinders Sculpture, located on the pedestrian island at 301 N. Delaware St., Indianapolis.

Cost:

• $20 – General Public (Ages 12 & up)

• $17 – Indiana Landmarks Members

• $15 – Children (Ages 6-11)

• Free – Children (Ages 5 & under)

Tickets & Info:

Reserve your spot at indianalandmarks.org/mass-ave-walking-tour or call 317-639-4534.

Whether you’re a local looking to deepen your knowledge of Indy’s neighborhoods or a visitor eager to experience the city’s character up close, Indiana Landmarks’ new tours offer a captivating way to explore the past and present of the Circle City.

Photo courtesy of Indiana Landmarks