The Blacherne

The Blacherne is a seven-story red brick apartment building featuring two circular projecting bays at the corners and a limestone Romanesque Revival entrance portal. The structure follows a grid pattern of six bays wide by fifteen bays deep, creating a rhythmic arrangement across its facade.

The building was completed in 1895 by Indiana native Lew Wallace, who financed its construction using earnings from his novel Ben Hur. Its completion marked a significant moment in the residential development of Indianapolis during that era.

The building takes its name from a palace in Lew Wallace's 1893 novel The Prince of India, linking the structure to a famous local author's literary world. This naming choice reflects the cultural interests of its era and connects the residents to a work of fiction.

The building sits on North Meridian Street and is easily accessible from downtown Indianapolis. For those wanting to see the exterior architecture, the site is straightforward to reach and the design details can be viewed from the street.

The building was one of the first major residential projects in Indianapolis to be completely funded by a writer's personal wealth. This unusual connection between literature and urban development makes it a rare example of how local artists translated their success into the built environment.