Hotel Washington, historic building in Indianapolis, Indiana
Hotel Washington is a 17-story building completed in 1912 featuring Beaux-Arts design with steel frame and brick exterior, large window openings on middle floors, and a three-story stone base. The structure stands on East Washington Street near the Lombard Building and has been adapted for apartments and office use alongside its original hotel function.
The hotel opened on December 28, 1912, as a project by developer J. Edward Krauss with architect Robert Frost Daggett, using local building materials and featuring modern amenities like private bathrooms in each room. It closed in 1963 due to competition from newer motels, and was later converted to apartments in 1965, then to office space, before being purchased by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1997.
The hotel served as a social hub where important community gatherings and dances took place throughout the early 20th century. Its banquet halls reflected the city's aspirations and provided spaces where residents and visitors came together during Indianapolis's growth period.
The building is centrally located on East Washington Street near Monument Circle and is easily accessible on foot from downtown areas. Visitors can view the exterior architecture from the street and explore the surrounding neighborhood with numerous historic sites, shops, and restaurants nearby.
The hotel was constructed almost entirely using local materials, an unusual expression of community pride during an era when national resources were readily available. A major fire in 1973 heavily damaged the upper floors, but the building survived this setback and remains a symbol of the city's resilience through change.
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