25 Of Indiana’s Grand Homes Still Standing

Indiana’s old mansions are tough and unbothered by time. These homes were built with permanence in mind—stubborn brick, patient wood, and enough presence to outlast everyone who ever walked their halls. Be sure to check out these 25 places next time you’re in Indiana.

Grouseland – Vincennes

Visitors to Grouseland wander through preserved Federal-style halls and into the life of William Henry Harrison, Indiana Territory’s governor and future U.S. president. First occupied in 1804, the house hosted key treaty negotiations and political gatherings that helped shape America’s early frontier expansion.

Lanier Mansion – Madison

Today, the Lanier Mansion operates as a museum and educational venue by welcoming visitors into a carefully preserved past. Corinthian columns and carved staircases frame its lavish interiors. The Greek Revival mansion once belonged to James F.D. Lanier, who famously helped finance Indiana’s Civil War obligations during the 1840s.

Huddleston Farmhouse – Cambridge City

This Federal-style home from the early 1840s welcomed National Road travelers with warmth and Quaker hospitality under settler John Huddleston. Once restored by Indiana Landmarks and home to pioneer-era exhibits, it was sold to private owners in 2023 with protections ensuring its architectural legacy stays intact.

Reitz Home Museum – Evansville

This 1871 French Second Empire mansion was home to lumber baron John Augustus Reitz. Its silk damask walls and parquet floors remain intact, alongside stained glass and period furnishings. Guided tours now reveal a Victorian interior redecorated by his son and preserved for public history.

Hillforest – Aurora

Hillforest was made for the shipping magnate Thomas Gaff to blend mid-19th-century grandeur with refined Italianate design. Its circular veranda and domed ceilings reflect the tastes of Indiana’s rising elite in the 1850s. Restored interiors now host guided tours and programs inside this mansion-turned-museum.

Culbertson Mansion – New Albany

Visitors stepping through this 20,000-square-foot mansion admire frescoed ceilings and gaslight fixtures—hallmarks of 19th-century luxury. It was Indiana’s wealthiest man, William S. Culbertson, who oversaw the construction of this mansion. Its careful restoration highlights his philanthropy that defined New Albany’s Gilded Age ambitions.

Tippecanoe Place – South Bend

Now a restaurant filled with period charm, Tippecanoe Place preserves its soaring hearths and carved wood inlays. The mansion was completed in 1889 for Clement Studebaker, co-founder of the iconic wagon and automobile company. Interpretive exhibits trace both his legacy and South Bend’s industrial rise.

Barker Mansion – Michigan City

Facing Lake Michigan, this 38-room estate was finished in 1905 for John H. Barker. Its Beaux-Arts interiors, which feature chandeliers and silk wall panels, echo refined taste. Today’s tours include the restored formal garden and original servant quarters that highlight the Barkers’ deep civic ties to Michigan City.

Seiberling Mansion – Kokomo

Built for industrialist Monroe Seiberling during Indiana’s 1890s gas boom, this Romanesque Revival mansion now anchors the Howard County Museum. Visitors admire stained-glass windows and terracotta accents reflecting the era’s brief affluence. Exhibits in the mansion explore Seiberling’s and the region’s industrial growth.

Ruthmere – Elkhart

Constructed in 1910 for Albert Beardsley, a pharmaceutical heir, Ruthmere blends Beaux-Arts symmetry with refined artistry. Visitors encounter Tiffany’s stained glass and a music room with original furnishings. The home’s guided tours cover family history and the city’s development during the early 20th century.

Hazelwood – Muncie

Hazelwood, a 1914 Colonial Revival home built for Alva Kitselman, showcases Italian marble accents and rich mahogany finishes. Thanks to local restoration efforts, its grand staircase and fireplaces are on full display today. They give you a lasting glimpse into Muncie’s industrial heritage and architectural refinement.

Oldfields–Lilly House – Indianapolis

At the heart of Newfields, this 22-room French Chateau-style mansion showcases 1930s interiors with nearly all original furnishings intact. Designed by Lewis Ketcham Davis for Hugh Landon, the estate also includes gardens reimagined by the Olmsted Brothers and offers guided tours through the family’s former home.

Gene Stratton-Porter Cabin – Rome City

This 1913 lakeside home reflects Stratton-Porter’s rustic Arts & Crafts aesthetic and conservation ethos. Visitors step into preserved rooms filled with her books and personal furnishings. Native plant gardens surround the property, underscoring her environmental commitment and influence in the early 20th century. 

Rose Hill – Anderson

Initially built in 1895 and nearly lost to fire, local preservationists have meticulously restored Rose Hill. The Queen Anne-style mansion features wraparound porches and stained-glass accents. Tours also recount its near-demolition and return as a cherished symbol of Anderson’s historic identity.

Benjamin Harrison Home – Indianapolis

This Italianate brick house was home to America’s 23rd president. Guided tours showcase Harrison’s library and original furnishings. Maintained by the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, it immerses visitors in post-Civil War politics and the private life of a former U.S. leader.

William H. Block Mansion – Indianapolis

Once belonging to department store tycoon William H. Block, this early 20th-century mansion faced years of neglect before preservationists intervened. Its restored staircase and decorative ceilings now reflect its original grandeur. Occasionally open for public tours, it remains a quiet triumph of local restoration.

Eiteljorg Museum – Indianapolis 

Though little is publicly known about Harrison Eiteljorg’s private residence, its proximity to the Eiteljorg Museum links the site loosely with his legacy. The museum, founded by Eiteljorg, highlights Native American and Western art, which reflects his patronage rather than serving as a personal memorial.

Golden Hill Historic District – Indianapolis

Golden Hill rose between 1908 and 1920 as a retreat for Indianapolis’s wealthiest families. Thanks to dedicated preservation, the district’s architecture remains intact, lined with sprawling Tudor and Mediterranean homes. From public walkways, visitors glimpse a neighborhood that still shows Indiana’s early 20th-century social order.

Haan Mansion – Lafayette

Originally part of the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, this Georgian Revival mansion was relocated to Lafayette in 1905. It is home to the Haan Museum of Indiana Art and includes carved fireplaces and an extensive art collection. The museum highlights Hoosier artists and decorative arts as well.

Brookside (Bass Mansion) – Fort Wayne

This 1902 Romanesque mansion, which belonged to industrialist John H. Bass, now anchors the University of Saint Francis. Hand-carved sandstone, Renaissance interiors, Holslag murals, and even ornate woodwork highlight its grandeur. It has since been restored and is open for tours.

Strong Mansion – Pendleton

The Strong Mansion, which came to be in the late 1860s for a leading Pendleton family active in civic affairs, fell into disrepair before local historical societies stepped in to save it. Today, all of its restored woodwork and a grand staircase welcome visitors to many community heritage events.

Rhodes House – Crown Point

The Rhodes House, an early 1900s mansion, blends neoclassical elegance with Midwestern symmetry by echoing East Coast refinement. Inside, visitors discover oak-paneled rooms and decorative ceiling moldings. Thanks to community restoration, it now quietly reclaims its role as a proud landmark in Crown Point’s civic story.

Morris-Butler House – Indianapolis

One of Indiana’s finest examples of Gothic Revival residential design, the Morris-Butler House became central to Indianapolis’s urban preservation movement. Operated by Indiana Landmarks, the home features arched windows and period decor that highlight upper-middle-class life post the Civil War.

Two Historic Mansions – Vevay

Vevay’s stately pair—the Schenck and U.P. Schenck Mansions—showcase Swiss-influenced architecture tied to the area’s early settlers. With river views and wrought-iron details, both homes are on preservation watchlists. Occasionally open for tours or lodging, they anchor Vevay’s efforts to sustain its architectural legacy.

Copshaholm (Oliver Mansion) – South Bend

Copshaholm, a 38-room Victorian mansion built in 1897 for industrialist J.D. Oliver, remains fully furnished with original decor and leaded-glass windows. Located on the History Museum campus, it offers guided tours that bring to life the daily rhythms of South Bend’s manufacturing elite.

Allison Mansion – Indianapolis

Red brick walls and a white marble aviary define the elegance of Riverdale, now known as the Allison Mansion. Commissioned by auto racing pioneer James A. Allison during the 1910s, it’s part of Marian University and available for events, though not open for regular tours.