Madam Walker Legacy Center, Performing arts center in Indianapolis, United States
The Madam Walker Legacy Center is a four-story building featuring terra cotta elements and Egyptian-influenced decorative details located on Indiana Avenue in Indianapolis. Inside sits the Grand Casino Ballroom, a large event space with decorative plasterwork and adjustable seating for various gatherings.
The building was constructed in 1927 as the headquarters for the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company and became a major center for African American business enterprise. It was later recognized as a National Historic Landmark for its importance to the history of Black entrepreneurship.
The building served as a gathering place for Black artists and performers who took the stage to share their talents with audiences. Today, visitors can sense this artistic heritage through the ornate rooms and restored spaces.
The ballroom space inside can be arranged for different types of events with flexible seating and audiovisual equipment available for presentations and performances. Visitors planning events should inquire ahead about specific setup needs, as configurations vary depending on the intended use.
The building displays an unusual blend of African, Egyptian, and Moorish design elements visible in its woodcarvings and plaster details. These exotic motifs such as masks, sphinxes, and elephants were quite unconventional for an American business building of that era.
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