Some time ago, my partner introduced me to one of the most intriguing parks in Indianapolis: The Ruins at Holliday Park.
Some time ago, my partner introduced me to one of the most intriguing parks in Indianapolis: The Ruins at Holliday Park. This unique spot combines my love of history, quirky places (though it’s not technically abandoned), and nature. Situated along the White River in the Delaware Trails neighborhood, Holliday Park came to be through a land donation from John and Evaline Holliday.
John Hampden Holliday was a prominent civic leader, philanthropist, and journalist who founded the Indianapolis News. Although his primary residence was on North Meridian closer to the city, the family owned an 80-acre farm as a countryside retreat. In 1916, they donated this land to the city in honor of Indiana’s centennial, stipulating that it be maintained as a public park for recreation and nature study.
Decades later, The Ruins took shape using remnants from the facade of New York City’s St. Paul Building, one of the city’s first skyscrapers, built in 1898. When the building’s owner, Western Electric Corporation, decided to replace it with a modern skyscraper in the 1950s, the St. Paul Building was demolished in 1958. To preserve its sculptures and architectural details, Western Electric held a competition for cities to propose displays for the artifacts. Indianapolis artist Elmer Taflinger won with his vision for The Ruins and worked with the city for nearly 20 years to bring it to life.
However, the project faced delays due to limited funding and Taflinger’s evolving design, which incorporated salvaged pieces from other Indianapolis structures. These included a horse trough from Fountain Square, 26 Greek columns from the Sisters of Good Shepherd Convent, statues from the demolished Marion County Courthouse, capitals from Broadway Christian Church, and a stone table that once served as an altar at St. Paul’s Church. The installation was crowned with “The Races of Man” statues, sculpted from Indiana limestone by Karl Bitter, depicting figures representing African American, Asian, and Caucasian people appearing to support the original skyscraper on their backs.
The Ruins were officially dedicated in October 1973, and in 1977, the site was expanded with Constitution Mall, featuring a reflecting pool, elaborate landscaping, and giant limestone slabs engraved with the Preamble to the Constitution.
Over the years, The Ruins fell into disrepair due to a lack of maintenance, leading to the site’s closure in the early 1990s. Two statues were even removed. In 2012, the Friends of Holliday Park launched a capital campaign to restore The Ruins and reopen the area to visitors. After raising $3.2 million, the park reopened on September 17, 2016, following extensive renovations.
Today, visitors can explore 94 acres of green space just six miles north of downtown Indianapolis. Holliday Park now offers an interactive nature center, playgrounds, 3.5 miles of trails, and, of course, The Ruins themselves.