Columbia Club
Encyclopedia
The Columbia Club is a private hotel and clubhouse located on Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana
. The current structure was built in 1925 as the third home to a private club of the same name.
as the Harrison Marching Society to support the presidential campaign of Benjamin Harrison
. After the election, the Society acquired a clubhouse on Monument Circle and changed its name to the Columbia Club to continue operation as a private club. Quickly growing its membership, the Club evolved into the premier private club in Indianapolis and largest Republican club in the Midwest. According to the Club, the founders of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
(home of the Indianapolis 500
) met there to discuss its construction and secret meetings were held there negotiating the move of the Baltimore Colts
to Indianapolis.
A strong association with the Republican Party continues to this day, though the club now accepts members of all political affiliations. The Club has hosted every Republican president
since Benjamin Harrison while in office or as a candidate and serves as temporary living quarters for many Indiana state legislators during the legislative session
. The Club boasts many famous Indianapolis residents as members, including Hoagie Carmichael and T.C. Steele. Current membership totals over 2200 people.
. The Club razed their five-story home built in 1898 for the current ten-story structure to accommodate their growing membership and popularity. A smaller club had existed on the site from 1889 to 1898. As one of the most prominent and architecturally significant buildings in downtown Indianapolis, the Columbia Club was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1983.
style, including a multi-story oriel window
, as well as Tudor
influences seen in the window arches. The building also features relief
panels carved in Indiana Limestone
by Alexander Sangernebo, who made limestone carvings for other historic buildings on Monument Circle.
Inside the Columbia Club are numerous pieces of Hoosier
art and historic artifact, including items from the Benjamin Harrison presidential campaign and part of the Lincoln
family china collection. After a 2004 acquisition of paintings from longtime rival, the Athletic Club, the Columbia Club now boasts fourteen works by members of the Hoosier Group
of painters, including T.C. Steele. According to Club lore, Steele would at times pay for his membership dues with paintings.
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. The current structure was built in 1925 as the third home to a private club of the same name.
Club history
The Columbia Club was originally formed in 1888 by a group of prominent local RepublicansRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
as the Harrison Marching Society to support the presidential campaign of Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
. After the election, the Society acquired a clubhouse on Monument Circle and changed its name to the Columbia Club to continue operation as a private club. Quickly growing its membership, the Club evolved into the premier private club in Indianapolis and largest Republican club in the Midwest. According to the Club, the founders of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
(home of the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
) met there to discuss its construction and secret meetings were held there negotiating the move of the Baltimore Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
to Indianapolis.
A strong association with the Republican Party continues to this day, though the club now accepts members of all political affiliations. The Club has hosted every Republican president
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
since Benjamin Harrison while in office or as a candidate and serves as temporary living quarters for many Indiana state legislators during the legislative session
Indiana General Assembly
The Indiana General Assembly is the state legislature, or legislative branch, of the state of Indiana. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the Indiana House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Indiana Senate...
. The Club boasts many famous Indianapolis residents as members, including Hoagie Carmichael and T.C. Steele. Current membership totals over 2200 people.
Building history
The current home of the Columbia Club was built on Monument Circle in 1925 by famed local architecture firm Rubush & HunterRubush & Hunter
Rubush & Hunter was a noted Indianapolis architectural firm. It designed many buildings that are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It was a partnership of Preston C. Rubush and Edgar O...
. The Club razed their five-story home built in 1898 for the current ten-story structure to accommodate their growing membership and popularity. A smaller club had existed on the site from 1889 to 1898. As one of the most prominent and architecturally significant buildings in downtown Indianapolis, the Columbia Club was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1983.
Architectural features
The Columbia Club showcases many hallmarks of the Gothic RevivalGothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style, including a multi-story oriel window
Oriel window
Oriel windows are a form of bay window commonly found in Gothic architecture, which project from the main wall of the building but do not reach to the ground. Corbels or brackets are often used to support this kind of window. They are seen in combination with the Tudor arch. This type of window was...
, as well as Tudor
Tudor architecture
The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
influences seen in the window arches. The building also features relief
Relief
Relief is a sculptural technique. The term relief is from the Latin verb levo, to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is thus to give the impression that the sculpted material has been raised above the background plane...
panels carved in Indiana Limestone
Indiana Limestone
Indiana Limestone, also known as Bedford Limestone is a common regional term for Salem limestone, a geological formation primarily quarried in south central Indiana between Bloomington and Bedford....
by Alexander Sangernebo, who made limestone carvings for other historic buildings on Monument Circle.
Inside the Columbia Club are numerous pieces of Hoosier
Hoosier
Hoosier is the official demonym for a resident of the U.S. state of Indiana. Although residents of most U.S. states typically adopt a derivative of the state name, e.g., "Indianan" or "Indianian", natives of Indiana rarely use these. Indiana adopted the nickname "Hoosier State" more than 150...
art and historic artifact, including items from the Benjamin Harrison presidential campaign and part of the Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
family china collection. After a 2004 acquisition of paintings from longtime rival, the Athletic Club, the Columbia Club now boasts fourteen works by members of the Hoosier Group
Hoosier Group
The Hoosier Group was a group of Indiana Impressionist painters working in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They are primarily known for their renditions of the Indiana landscape. Artists considered members of this group include T. C. Steele, Richard Gruelle, William Forsyth, J. Ottis...
of painters, including T.C. Steele. According to Club lore, Steele would at times pay for his membership dues with paintings.