Address: 528 Lockerbie Street
Pricing: $3 adults, $2 senior, 50 cents kids 7-17
Phone: 317-631-5885
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
How To Get There:
From Indianapolis International Airport, take I-70 East toward Indianapolis. Take the exit onto I-65 North/I-70 East toward Columbus, OH. Take exit 111 for Market Street. Turn left at East Market Street. Turn right at North Park Avenue. Turn left at Lockerbie Street. Destination will be on the right.
Parking:Free on street
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James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home: A step back in time to 1916
Published: Oct 6, 2009
A visit to the former home of renowned Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley is a step back to the beginning of the 20th century—just as the noted Riley experienced it. The Riley home is now a museum frequented by visitors from throughout the world.
Riley himself was born in a log cabin on Oct. 7, 1849, in Greenfield, east of Indy, and moved to Indianapolis in the early 1880s and published his first poems in the Hoosier capital in 1883. Almost immediately Riley’s work grew in popularity. Soon after his first book was published, Riley started touring with the Mark Twain and Bill Nye. It was an era during which authors were treated like today’s Hollywood stars.
When Riley finally neared retirement, he settled down at 528 Lockerbie Street. The Nickum and Holstein families asked him to be their houseguest and he lived his remaining 23 years of his life there.
On July 22, 1916, Mr. Riley died from a stroke, and he was interred in Crown Hill Cemetery, where other famous Hoosier legends, such as Benjamin Harrison, are buried. His tomb sits on one of the highest points in Marion County.
The home has been renovated and was kept in virtually the very same status as it was when vacated in 1916. Various copies of Riley’s 1,000 poems, in addition to authentic furnishings and décor, including the poet’s writing desk, a portrait of his beloved dog and his top hat and cane, are features of the home these days. The furniture and décor date back more than 125 years. The home was named a National Historic Landmark in 1962 and is open to the public.
The home is open to visitors and available for tours from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and closed Sunday and Monday. Entry fee is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and 50 cents for students 7-17. For group reservations, call 317-631-5885 in advance.
- by Jim Brown , Indianapolis Reporter for HelloMetro
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