Butler-Tarkington, Indianapolis Homes for Sale
The Butler-Tarkington area encases Butler University just north of Downtown Indianapolis offering a small town college feel near the heart of a big city. The name is derived from Butler University and the Pulitzer Prize winning author, Booth Tarkington.
Latest Butler Tarkington, Indianapolis Homes for Sale
5420 N Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208
Subdivision: Meridian Terrace
Add to FavoritesQuintessential Tudor in the prestigious North Meridian Historic District. Step into this magnificent historic Tudor home offering a perfect blend of timeless charm a...
5 Beds 5 Bath Areas 6073 SqFt
$1,150,000
431 Blue Ridge Road, Indianapolis, IN 46208
Subdivision: No Subdivision
Add to FavoritesEverything about this Butler Tarkington Tudor hits the mark! Its front facade oozes curb appeal and inside is equally as delightful. After a recent renovation, this ...
4 Beds 4 Bath Areas 2567 SqFt
$775,000
4144 N Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46208
Subdivision: Lattas North Capitol Ave
Add to FavoritesOriginal 1920s charm meets tasteful updates, w/ 4 Beds & 2.5 Baths plus an office, this renovated Butler Tarkington home has it all. Refinished original hardwood flo...
4 Beds 3 Bath Areas 2970 SqFt
$449,000
3906 Graceland Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46208
Subdivision: C E Shovers
Add to FavoritesYour (PROPOSED) NEW CONSTRUCTION home awaits in the desirable, historic BUTLER-TARKINGTON neighborhood. Plenty sq ft w/ 3bed, 3bath and optional 4th bed or office on...
4 Beds 3 Bath Areas 2800 SqFt
$369,000
3850 N Kenwood Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46208
Subdivision: Haugheys Mapleton
Add to FavoritesLocation and proximity to amenities is key for this property. Just a 5 min. drive to the State Fairgounds, walking distance to Tarkington Park, and plenty of dining ...
3 Beds 1 Bath Areas 2100 SqFt
$189,900
530 W 41st Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208
Subdivision: Culver Riggs & Lynns
Add to FavoritesGreat new home build opportunity! Don't let this one slip away.
0 Beds 0 Bath Areas 0 SqFt
$27,000
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The neighborhood, originally known as "Mapleton" (due to the large number of maple trees in the area) began as a German farming settlement in the 1840s. The settlement was connected to the railway in the 1860s. In 1890, the city's electric street car system ran a line through the neighborhood. These "trolleys" provided city residents with a fast efficient means of mass transit that made possible residential development in areas farther removed from the city.
By 1898, 350 streetcars ran through the community, providing rapid access to all parts of the growing city. Mapleton was annexed by Indianapolis in 1902, and most of the rest of the neighborhood was annexed by 1906. Residential development took off in the 1910s and 1920s, and the neighborhood was completely built-out by the end of WWII.
Consisting mainly of working-class and upper-middle-class households, much more upscale homes can be found along the western edge of Meridian Street and those parts of Illinois Street north of 40th. Butler-Tarkington is known for its stunning residential architecture. The neighborhood was named after nearby Butler University, which relocated here in 1928, and famous writer, Booth Tarkington.
Crown Hill Cemetery marks the southern boundary of the neighborhood. Dedicated in 1864, the 555-acre cemetary is the third largest non-governmental cemetery in the United States, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The cemetary is built on the summit of "Strawberry Hill" (which has since been renamed "The Crown"), a high point overlooking the city. It's the final resting place for many well-known people, including President Benjamin Harrison, and Vice Presidents Charles Fairbanks, Thomas Hendricks, and Thomas Marshall. The gravesite of poet James Whitcomb Riley also overlooks the city from atop "The Crown".
Eager to boost business, the Indianapolis Street Railway Company purchased 200 acres of wooded area along the Central Canal, north of the cemetary, and developed the area into a park featuring a restaurant, bowling alley, refreshment stand, merry-go-round, and picnic area. Outdoor plays were staged on the banks of the canal, and band concerts became a Sunday tradition.
The park helped redeem the image of the canal, which until then had been considered an eyesore. In 1885 the Indianapolis Water Company (who owned the canal) began offering boat rides to the cemetery from the bridge at Indiana Avenue. Relatives and friends of the deceased, picnickers, and courting couples all took advantage of the service. Canoeing on the canal became a popular pastime.
This change in public attitudes toward the canal, combined with the attractions of Fairview Park, and the freedom afforded by the trolley, all combined to stimulate the residential development of what later became known as Butler-Tarkington.
