Herron-Morton Place Historic District
The Herron-Morton Place Historic District is significant for its outstanding collection
of late 19th and early 20th century residential architecture. The area is also significant
for its association with some of Indianapolis' most prominent business and political
leaders, as well as for its role in the development of the city's heritage in the fine
arts. Historically, the area is notable as the first permanent location of the Indiana
State Fairgrounds, and as the site of the Union's third largest Civil War prison camp.
Although much of the area had deteriorated to near-slum conditions after the 1940's,
the neighborhood is currently being revitalized, with numerous homes the recipients
of extensive renovation work.
The area known as Herron-Morton Place was originally part of a 160-acre land patent
granted to Thomas O'Neal in November, 1822. Thirteen years later, O'Neal sold the land
to Samuel Henderson, Indianapolis' first postmaster and later its first mayor (1847-1849)
Except for improvements made by the State to remedy drainage problems in the area in
1839, and thus prevent the repeated flooding of some parts of Indianapolis a mile farther
south, the area remained largely undeveloped. However, a 36-acre wooded tract, now
bounded roughly by 19th Street, Talbott Street, 22nd Street, and Central Avenue, known
at the time as Henderson's Grove, became a popular picnic spot around the middle of the
19th century. Henderson sold the land in 1850; approximately 80 acres,west of what is
now Delaware Street was purchased by Elizabeth Tinker, while the rest of the area east
of Delaware was purchased by William A. Otis.
In 1859, Otis made his land available for sale. It was purchased by the Indiana State Board
of Agriculture for development as a permanent home for the Indiana State Fair, which
heretofore had been held at a variety of different sites across the state. The area now
bounded by 19th Street, Talbott Street, 22nd Street, and Central Avenue was designated
the new State Fairgrounds, being considered far enough from the city so as not to interfere
with Indianapolis residents, while close enough to allow easy access. Several
buildings were constructed on the site, including an exhibition hall, office, and a
number of livestock barns. When the Civil War began in 1861, however, the area was
requisitioned by Indiana Governor Oliver P. Morton to fill another pressing need.
Answering Lincoln's call for volunteers, Morton initiated a recruiting campaign and
arranged to use the new State Fairgrounds as an induction encampment. The fairgrounds
buildings soon served as-the living quarters for some 5,000 new soldiers, and the encampment
was named Camp Morton. -In early 1862, Camp Morton was enclosed with a stout
oak palisade and became a prison camp for captured Confederate soldiers. By the war's
end, 15,000 rebel troops had been interred at the camp, with a peak population, occurring
in July of 1864, reaching approximately 5,000 men. To guard these prisoners, Union
troops were stationed in an encampment known as Camp Burnside, extending south of Camp
Morton to what is now 16th Street. After the war, the land was returned to the State
Board of Agriculture.
Alan Goebes, Herron-Morton Place Neighborhood Association, Herron-Morton Place Historic District, 1983, nomination document, National Park Service, Natonal Register of Historic Places, Washington, D.C.; accessed September, 2021.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Street Names
19th Street • 22nd Street • Alabama Street • Central Avenue • Delaware Street • New Jersey Street • Pennsylvania Street • Talbott Street
