Monroe Terrace Historic District

Monroe Terrace Historic District is a small residential complex of eight homes with Bungalow and Craftsman-style features along Monroe Street in Gary. The buildings form a cohesive group of early 20th-century dwellings built as a unified housing project.

The homes were built in 1910 by architect D.F. Creighton as housing for steelworkers at a local factory. They were based on experimental construction methods developed by Thomas Edison that were applied here on a larger scale for the first time.

The homes reflect how industrial-era workers' families lived and the company housing model of that period. Visitors can see the practical design philosophy behind early modern residential concepts built specifically for factory employees.

The homes sit closely together on a compact lot and are easy to view from the street. The location is in Gary's industrial area and is best explored on foot, allowing time to notice the details of the facades and rooflines.

The homes were built using concrete construction methods that Thomas Edison had patented, making them an experimental application of this relatively new building material for residences. This concrete experiment marks an important moment when innovative inventors tried to reshape how ordinary people lived.

Location: Indiana

GPS coordinates: 41.60528,-87.34361

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:02