Washington Street (Indianapolis)
Encyclopedia
Washington Street is the primary east-west street in Indianapolis
, Indiana
, United States
. The street follows the route of the National Road
for almost all of its length in the city of Indianapolis. For a time, its entire length was designated as U.S. Route 40
before that route was re-aligned with the southern segment of Interstate 465
; now only the segments of Washington Street between I-465 and the city limits on either side of the city are part of U.S. 40.
The street delineates north-south address numbering for the eastern two-thirds of the city; Rockville Road separates north and south from the western border of the city until it meets Washington Street in Wayne Township
.
Washington Street begins in the west at the intersection with Raceway Road. As it heads east-northeast it passes by the Indianapolis International Airport
, which lies to south. Immediately thereafter it has an interchange with I-465 on the west side of the city, where U.S. 40 diverges. After merging with Rockville Road, Washington Street heads more directly east toward downtown Indianapolis
. Approaching downtown it passes the Indiana Medical History Museum
on the former site of Central State Hospital for the Insane
; it then passes the headquarters of the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation
, which is in buildings that once housed the Duesenberg Automobile and Motors Company.
On the west side of downtown, Washington Street passes by the Indianapolis Zoo
and White River Gardens
, crosses the White River
, and traverses White River State Park
, with the Indiana State Museum
and Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art on the north side of the street and Victory Field
on the south. Within downtown the street carries only westbound traffic; eastbound traffic is routed a block south to Maryland Street where it passes by the Indiana Convention Center
. Among the buildings directly on Washington Street within the central business district are (from west to east): the Indiana Statehouse,; the Indiana Theatre, home of the Indiana Repertory Theatre
; the headquarters of the Simon Property Group
; the Circle Centre
shopping mall; the Barnes and Thornburg Building
(which until the 1960s was the tallest building in the city); and the City-County Building
. Washington also runs under the Indianapolis Artsgarden
, a suspended glass structure at the intersection with Illinois Street. Washington does not intersect Monument Circle
(the city's town square
); rather, the Circle is located one block north of the intersection of Washington with Meridian Street
.
On the eastern edge of downtown Washington Street has an interchange with the I-65
/I-70
"Inner Loop". As it continues east, it passes through or by the Cole-Noble
and Rural-Sherman
neighborhoods. In the Irvington Historic District, an early suburb
of Indianapolis, Washington crosses Pleasant Run Creek with its associated parkway and trail
. On the far east side of the city, U.S. 40 again joins Washington Street at the interchange with I-465. The street passes south of the Washington Square Mall as it approaches Cumberland, Indiana
, where it terminates at Carroll Road.
Indianapolis
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...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The street follows the route of the National Road
National Road
The National Road or Cumberland Road was the first major improved highway in the United States to be built by the federal government. Construction began heading west in 1811 at Cumberland, Maryland, on the Potomac River. It crossed the Allegheny Mountains and southwestern Pennsylvania, reaching...
for almost all of its length in the city of Indianapolis. For a time, its entire length was designated as U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40 is an east–west United States highway. As with most routes whose numbers end in a zero, U.S. 40 once traversed the entire United States. It is one of the original 1920s U.S. Highways, and its first termini were San Francisco, California, and Atlantic City, New Jersey...
before that route was re-aligned with the southern segment of Interstate 465
Interstate 465
Interstate 465 , also known as the USS Indianapolis Memorial Highway, is the beltway circling Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It is roughly rectangular in shape and has a perimeter of approximately 53 miles . It lies almost completely within the boundaries of Marion County, except for two...
; now only the segments of Washington Street between I-465 and the city limits on either side of the city are part of U.S. 40.
The street delineates north-south address numbering for the eastern two-thirds of the city; Rockville Road separates north and south from the western border of the city until it meets Washington Street in Wayne Township
Wayne Township, Marion County, Indiana
Wayne Township is one of nine townships in Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 133,461. In 2008, the township population was 134,542.-External links:* *...
.
Washington Street begins in the west at the intersection with Raceway Road. As it heads east-northeast it passes by the Indianapolis International Airport
Indianapolis International Airport
Indianapolis International Airport is a public airport located seven miles southwest of the central business district of Indianapolis, a city in Marion County, Indiana, United States. It is owned and operated by the Indianapolis Airport Authority...
, which lies to south. Immediately thereafter it has an interchange with I-465 on the west side of the city, where U.S. 40 diverges. After merging with Rockville Road, Washington Street heads more directly east toward downtown Indianapolis
Downtown Indianapolis
The term Downtown Indianapolis refers to the central business district of Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. The boundaries of downtown Indianapolis have varied over time as the city has grown. The city's original platted area, the Mile Square, is sometimes used to denote the downtown area...
. Approaching downtown it passes the Indiana Medical History Museum
Indiana Medical History Museum
The Indiana Medical History Museum is an Indiana monument to the beginning of psychiatric medical research. It is located on the grounds of what was formerly Central Indiana Hospital for the Insane...
on the former site of Central State Hospital for the Insane
Central State Hospital (Indiana)
Central State Hospital, formally referred to as the Central Indiana Hospital for the Insane was a psychiatric treatment hospital in Indiana....
; it then passes the headquarters of the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation
Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation
The Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation, commonly known as IndyGo, operates the public transit system for the city of Indianapolis, Indiana.- History :...
, which is in buildings that once housed the Duesenberg Automobile and Motors Company.
On the west side of downtown, Washington Street passes by the Indianapolis Zoo
Indianapolis Zoo
The Indianapolis Zoo in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, first opened to the public in 1964. Its current home in White River State Park was opened in 1988 with a size of . The zoo hosts more than a million visitors each year and plays a role in worldwide conservation and research, including...
and White River Gardens
White River Gardens
The White River Gardens are botanical gardens located adjacent to the Indianapolis Zoo at 1200 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. The gardens are a part of the White River State Park....
, crosses the White River
White River (Indiana)
The White River is a two-forked river that flows through central and southern Indiana and is the main tributary to the Wabash River. Via the west fork, considered to be the main stem of the river by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the White River is long.-West Fork:The West Fork, long, is...
, and traverses White River State Park
White River State Park
White River State ParkDesignationState ParkLocationIndianapolis, Indiana USANearest CityIndianapolis, IndianaArea Date of Establishment1979Governing Body...
, with the Indiana State Museum
Indiana State Museum
The Indiana State Museum is a museum located within White River State Park in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. The museum houses exhibits on the history of Indiana from prehistoric times up to the present day. It has one of the four IMAX theaters in the state of Indiana.-History:The museum was started...
and Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art on the north side of the street and Victory Field
Victory Field
Victory Field is the name of the current minor league baseball park that is the home of the Indianapolis Indians of the International League. It is located in Indianapolis, Indiana....
on the south. Within downtown the street carries only westbound traffic; eastbound traffic is routed a block south to Maryland Street where it passes by the Indiana Convention Center
Indiana Convention Center
The Indiana Convention Center is a convention center located in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. It contains over of open exhibit space and almost of group meeting space. It was finished in late 1983 along with the Hoosier Dome , which it was connected to prior the Dome's deconstruction in 2008....
. Among the buildings directly on Washington Street within the central business district are (from west to east): the Indiana Statehouse,; the Indiana Theatre, home of the Indiana Repertory Theatre
Indiana Repertory Theatre
-History:Indiana Repertory Theatre, frequently abbreviated IRT, is a theatre in Indianapolis, Indiana that began as a genuine repertory theatre with its casts performing in multiple shows at once. It has subsequently become a regional theatre and a member of the League of Resident Theatres...
; the headquarters of the Simon Property Group
Simon Property Group
Simon Property Group, Inc. is an American commercial real estate company, ranked #1 in the United States as the largest real estate investment trust. Simon is a fully integrated real estate company which operates from five retail real estate platforms: regional malls, Premium Outlet Centers, The...
; the Circle Centre
Circle Centre
Circle Centre is a large indoor shopping mall located in downtown Indianapolis. Plans for a downtown Indianapolis mall had been in development by the Simon Property Group since 1979. Circle Centre was opened to the public on September 8, 1995, adjoining Simon corporate headquarters, and...
shopping mall; the Barnes and Thornburg Building
Barnes and Thornburg Building
The Barnes and Thornburg Building is a high rise in Indianapolis, Indiana. Designed by architect Daniel Burnham, it was completed in 1909 and has 17 floors. It is primarily used for office space and was added to National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Its owner and primary occupant is the...
(which until the 1960s was the tallest building in the city); and the City-County Building
Indianapolis City-County Building
The Indianapolis City–County Building is a 28-story building at 200 E. Washington Street in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana that houses the offices of the consolidated city–county government of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana, known as Unigov...
. Washington also runs under the Indianapolis Artsgarden
Indianapolis Artsgarden
The Indianapolis Artsgarden is a glassed dome spanning the intersection of Washington and Illinois streets in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. It serves not only as a pedestrian connector between the Circle Centre Mall and nearby buildings, but also as a venue for the display and performance of...
, a suspended glass structure at the intersection with Illinois Street. Washington does not intersect Monument Circle
Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (Indianapolis)
The Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument is a tall neoclassical monument in the center of Indianapolis, Indiana that was designed by German architect Bruno Schmitz and completed in 1901....
(the city's town square
Town square
A town square is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town used for community gatherings. Other names for town square are civic center, city square, urban square, market square, public square, and town green.Most town squares are hardscapes suitable for open markets,...
); rather, the Circle is located one block north of the intersection of Washington with Meridian Street
Meridian Street (Indianapolis)
Meridian Street is the primary north-south street in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States.Meridian Street was formerly aligned with US 31 for much of its length in the city of Indianapolis, before being re-routed to a segment of Interstate 465. The street delineates east addresses from west...
.
On the eastern edge of downtown Washington Street has an interchange with the I-65
Interstate 65 in Indiana
In the U.S. state of Indiana, Interstate 65 traverses the state from south to north. The Indiana portion begins near Louisville, Kentucky and travels north, passing through Columbus, Indianapolis, Lafayette. Interstate 65 terminates near Gary on the Indiana Toll Road. Interstate 65 covers 261.27...
/I-70
Interstate 70 in Indiana
In the U.S. state of Indiana, Interstate 70 travels east–west across the state passing through Indianapolis. Interstate 70 crosses into Indiana near Terre Haute and crosses into Ohio in Richmond. It covers 156.60 miles in Indiana. It parallels U.S...
"Inner Loop". As it continues east, it passes through or by the Cole-Noble
Cole-Noble District
-History:The name Cole-Noble District derives from two pieces of Eastside Indianapolis history. The Cole Motor Car Company was located on Washington Street just east of College Avenue. The company produced the first four-door automobile and competed with the prestigious Cadillac. Noble refers...
and Rural-Sherman
Rural-Sherman
Rural-Sherman is the name of a neighborhood located on the Near-Eastside of the downtown Indianapolis metropolitan area. Its boundaries are East 16th Street/Brookside Pkway on the North, Washington Street on the South, Rural Street on the West, and Sherman Avenue on the East...
neighborhoods. In the Irvington Historic District, an early suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Indianapolis, Washington crosses Pleasant Run Creek with its associated parkway and trail
Pleasant Run Trail
The Pleasant Run Trail, also known as the Pleasant Run Greenway, is a pedestrian and bicycle trail in Indianapolis, Indiana. It runs for from Ellenberger Pack, through Christian Park, to Garfield Park. It follows the general course of Pleasant Run Creek as it flows to the south and west...
. On the far east side of the city, U.S. 40 again joins Washington Street at the interchange with I-465. The street passes south of the Washington Square Mall as it approaches Cumberland, Indiana
Cumberland, Indiana
Cumberland is a town split between Hancock and Marion counties in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 5,169 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Cumberland is located at ....
, where it terminates at Carroll Road.