The Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) is an encyclopedic art museum located at Newfields, a 152-acre (62 ha) campus that also houses Lilly House, The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park: 100 Acres, the Gardens at Newfields, the Beer Garden, and more. It is located at North Michigan Road and West 38th Street, about three miles north of downtown Indianapolis, northwest of Crown Hill Cemetery. There are exhibitions, classes, tours, and events that change seasonally. The entire campus was previously referred to as the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Still, in 2017 the campus and organization were renamed “Newfields” to reflect the breadth of offerings and venues better. The “Indianapolis Museum of Art” now refers explicitly to the main art museum building that acts as the cornerstone of the campus and the legal name of the organization doing business as Newfields.
The Indianapolis Museum of Art was founded as the Art Association of Indianapolis, an open-membership group led by suffragist May Wright Sewall. In 1883, the organization aimed to inform the public about visual art and provide art education. The Art Association’s first exhibition, which opened November 7, 1883, contained 453 artworks from 137 artists. The death of wealthy Indianapolis resident John Herron in 1895 left a substantial bequest with the stipulation that the money was used for a gallery and a school with his name. The John Herron Art Institute opened in 1902 at the corner of 16th and Pennsylvania street. Emphasis on the Arts and Crafts movement grew throughout the early years of the school, with a focus on applied art. William Henry Fox was hired in 1905 as the Art Institute’s first director. From 1905 to 1910, Fox managed both the museum and the school while constructing two new buildings on the 16th street site. Bed Bug Exterminator Indianapolis
In 1960, Art Association of Indianapolis board members began discussing the idea of placing the museum at the center of a new cultural campus. Inspired by University Circle in Cleveland, Ohio, board chairman Herman Krannert proposed building an “Acropolitan Area” that would combine a number of cultural institutions in a natural setting. The museum’s location on the grounds of Oldfields allowed architect Ambrose Madison Richardson to build on the idea of an acropolis while also utilizing the site’s natural features.
Restaurants and Pubs
- Meridian Restaurant & Bar is located at 5694 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN
- Big City Grill & Lemonade is located at 23 E 38th St, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Chatman Tap Butter is located at 4702 Sunset Ave Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN
- Old Pro’s Table is located at 827 Broad Ripple Ave, Indianapolis, IN
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