Indianapolis, Indiana · 46202
Get to know Old Northside
Victorian landmarks one mile from Monument Circle
The Old Northside is a National Register historic district about one mile north of Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis, bounded roughly by 12th and 16th Streets between Pennsylvania Street and the Monon Trail. Together with neighboring Herron-Morton Place, it holds one of the city's richest collections of Victorian architecture.
The neighborhood's roots trace to the Civil War, when Camp Morton occupied these grounds; in the decades that followed, Indianapolis' most prominent families built the opulent Victorian homes now protected on the National Register of Historic Places. President Benjamin Harrison's home on North Delaware Street — today the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site — anchors the district's story.
A cultural hub, block by block
Art and community life converge here. On First Fridays, local galleries open their doors — the Harrison Center chief among them, spotlighting Indianapolis artists while engaging the city's story through art. Tinker House Events hosts everything from weddings to yoga classes, and the Morris-Butler House, an 1865 Second Empire landmark, stands a short walk away.
For day-to-day living, the blocks around 16th and Pennsylvania have grown into one of the city's most walkable commercial corridors: coffee at Provider, tea at Tea's Me Cafe (founded by WNBA legend Tamika Catchings), brunch at Gallery on 16th, and dinner options spanning Loco's Mexican kitchen, Festiva's vegan-friendly menu, and Bocca's handmade pasta with an underground speakeasy below.
Outdoors and active life
The Monon Trail — Indianapolis' flagship rail-trail, stretching more than 25 miles — runs along the district's eastern edge, with a Pacers Bikeshare station nearby. Riders reach Mass Ave in minutes heading south or Broad Ripple heading north.
Evenings out are equally close at hand: Scarlet Lane's gastropub pours and West Fork Whiskey's craft distillery round out a nightlife scene that stays neighborly.
Landmarks
- Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
- Morris-Butler House (1865)
- Harrison Center & First Fridays
- Camp Morton historical markers
Eat & drink
- Provider
- Tea's Me Cafe
- Gallery on 16th
- Bocca
- Festiva
- West Fork Whiskey
Getting around
- About one mile north of Monument Circle — a 5-minute drive or 20-minute walk downtown.
- IndyGo Red Line bus rapid transit stops along Capitol Avenue and Meridian Street.
- Monon Trail and Pacers Bikeshare access on the district's east edge.
- Quick access to I-65 and I-70 via the downtown loop.
Live here
Our communities in Old Northside
Fordham & Ralston operates 3 communities in Old Northside, each restored with the neighborhood's character intact.
Old Northside
St. Regis Apartments
Seventy-two live-and-create residences in a landmark Old Northside building, designed for innovators and artists.
26 E 14th St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Old Northside
Piccadilly Apartments
An architecturally restored antique mid-rise in Herron-Morton with original hardwood, soaking tubs, and skyline views.
28 E 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Old Northside
Penn Arts Apartments
A restored 1923 Art Deco-era building between Herron-Morton Place and the Old Northside — also home to our main office.
111 E 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Living here
Old Northside questions, answered
Where is the Old Northside in Indianapolis?
The Old Northside is a historic district about one mile north of Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis, roughly between 12th and 16th Streets from Pennsylvania Street east toward the Monon Trail, in ZIP code 46202.
What is the Old Northside known for?
Protected Victorian architecture on the National Register of Historic Places, the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, First Friday art walks at the Harrison Center, and one of the most walkable dining corridors in Indianapolis along 16th Street.
Are there apartments for rent in the Old Northside?
Yes. Fordham & Ralston operates three historic apartment communities in and around the district: St. Regis Apartments (26 E 14th St), Piccadilly Apartments (28 E 16th St), and Penn Arts Apartments (111 E 16th St), with studios through three-bedroom floor plans.
How do residents get downtown without a car?
The IndyGo Red Line runs through the neighborhood with stops near 16th Street, and the Monon Trail connects by bike to Mass Ave in about five minutes. Walking to Monument Circle takes roughly twenty minutes.
Is the Old Northside a historic district?
Yes — the Old Northside is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and adjacent Herron-Morton Place is likewise protected, which is why the area's Victorian homes and early apartment buildings remain so well preserved.