Crispus Attucks High School was opened in 1927 as a black high school. Photo courtesy of Historic Landmarks of Indiana

her own theater built. This a superstar and national icon. was because she had to pay a In addition, Ransom higher price for admission to Place can’t be forgotten in the other theaters because of her list. The neighborhood was race. She strongly felt it was named after Briley Ransom, unfair. a successful attorney who Her new theater eventually bought his home and lived became known worldwide there with his wife. The as the Madam C.J. Walker neighborhood itself was Theatre. This now historic very small. The community landmark represents a powerful eventually became the first The Madam C.J. Walker Theatre is the cornerstone of the Indiana ethnic background words can’t black urban neighborhood that Avenue entertainment district. Photo courtesy of Madame Walker describe. was entered in the Register of Theatre However, the construction Historic Places. One of the most symbolic of the theater is just a fraction This area is special icons in the district is the More Info of what creates an exciting because many of the blacks public art piece, by artist John Indiana Avenue, Indianapo- lis’ historic African American history for blacks with the that lived there at the time Spaulding, created by molding neighborhood, is one of the Indiana Avenue neighborhood. were wealthy. This was rare for together dozens of instruments city’s six Cultural Districts. It is “Its rich history is what blacks to be able to live lavish and carefully tweaking it into a north of New York Street and makes Indiana Avenue stand lives due to design. west of Capitol Avenue and out,” said Megan Bulla of the fact that The has portions of the Central Downtown Indianapolis Inc. the majority church is Canal and White River. Indiana Avenue is one of of blacks also heavily DiscoverCulturalDistricts.com the city’s six Cultural Districts. were living in related into DiscoverIndianaAvenue.com It’s one of the top choices for poverty. African ammin’ history buffs and tourists with When it American Having such a successful on the countless spots to visit that comes to the history. history is what makes Indiana include not only unique arts word jazz The Bethel Avenue precious to African and architecture but also a and Indiana African American history. It is here historically important public Avenue, you Methodist where so many great events school. could almost Episcopal occurred and it is here where In 1927 Crispus Attucks consider them Church, memories are forever stored. venue one word. African Americans Indiana Avenue’s High School, built specifically formed in 1836, is considered for blacks, was opened. It strongly influenced jazz as it the oldest congregation in African American history is by Jay Wilson One of its most prominent female millionaire. for an African American to went on to become the first was a way of showing their Indianapolis. What makes an undeniable location for citizens was a woman named At the time it was accomplish. Nevertheless, her black school to win a state unique differences. Even in its this particular landmark so learning and remembering In the early part of the C.J. Walker, who created a considered something that astonishing accomplishments title in basketball. This was earliest days night clubs were important is that there are accomplishments, a place 20th century, the majority gateway for thousands of society deemed impossible didn’t stop there. She also had accomplished by the help of full of famous jazz musicians many documented stories of where events of the past have of Indianapolis’ African entrepreneurs with her hair Oscar Robertson, who helped who came to Indianapolis to this church playing a part in put forth various activities for today and the future to Americans were centralized care business. She has become Jammin’ on the Avenue, at the entrance of the Lockefield Gardens in bringing more than one play. They included Duke the Underground Railroad mainly within a neighborhood known in history as the first Apartment Complex, is a collage of brass musical instruments championship game to the Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and practices and also the Civil experience how powerful black aroundJ Indiana Avenue. self-made African AmericanA welded together. Photo courtesy of ICVA school. He eventually became Count Basie. War. history in the Avenue really is.