The facility is home to the Frank M. Hohenberger Collection, containing over 10,000 photographs documenting life in Brown County between 1917 and 1960.
The building is designed with a specific focus on LEED certification standards, emphasizing sustainable environmental control for archival preservation.
The IHS manages the Cole Porter collection, which includes personal papers and music scores from the Indiana-born composer.
The library holds one of the largest collections of maps and atlases related to the Old Northwest Territory.
The facility was constructed on the former site of an industrial manufacturing plant before being reclaimed for cultural use.
The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) serves as the primary repository for the state's documentary heritage, housed within the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center. The facility features the William Henry Smith Memorial Library, which holds over 1.7 million photographs, maps, and manuscripts detailing Indiana's past. Permanent exhibits include 'The Indiana Experience,' which utilizes high-definition projection and interactive technology to recreate historical scenes. The center includes a 300-seat theater used for performances, lectures, and community events. Researchers can access archival materials in the reading room, which requires registration. The building architecture features an iconic rotunda that overlooks the Central Canal. The institution hosts recurring workshops on genealogy and historic preservation. Visitors can view rare artifacts, including original Civil War documents and early state political records.
The interior rotunda with its sweeping staircase and architectural view of the canal.
Check the library's online catalog before your visit if you intend to request specific archival materials for research.
Allow extra time to walk along the adjacent Central Canal after viewing the indoor exhibits.
Utilize the genealogical reference assistants available in the library if you are tracing Indiana family roots.
Do not attempt to access the climate-controlled archival storage vaults; these are restricted to authorized staff only.
Closed on Mondays and major holidays.
No food or drink allowed in the library reading room; silence is expected in research areas.
