Sheffield Inn, apartment building in Indianapolis, Indiana
The Sheffield Inn is a Tudor Revival-style hotel in Indianapolis built in 1928 that originally offered 125 guest rooms along with a restaurant and nightly entertainment lounge. The two-story brick building features characteristic details including exterior half-timbering, grouped leaded glass windows, a slate roof with multiple gables, and decorative brickwork that distinguishes it from standard brick structures.
The hotel was designed by architect Harry R. Fitton in 1928 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. It closed around 1966 and was converted into apartments, later becoming managed by the Hoosier Veterans Assistance Fund to provide housing for homeless veterans.
The Sheffield Inn served as one of the first themed restaurants of its kind, bringing English pub culture to the Midwest with its distinctive design and entertainment. Guests stepped into a space that offered them a departure from everyday life and a taste of European atmosphere within an American city.
The building is located in the northern downtown area next to the Manchester Apartments and is easily accessible on foot when exploring Indianapolis's historic neighborhoods. The exterior facade can be viewed from the sidewalk, with the brickwork, roof, and decorative details visible from various angles as you pass.
During the 1950s, the Sheffield Inn was at the center of labor disputes and arson attempts linked to union organizing efforts, and in 1962 staff members reported unexplained phenomena such as flying objects. These events were later documented in a book about paranormal occurrences and became part of the city's local history.
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