Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute, Indiana

cjfjapan · November 9th, 2009, 02:31 AM

These photos are from a quick walk I took around downtown Terre Haute, along Wabash Avenue. Wabash Avenue was the shopping destination for West Central Indiana and East Central Illinois from the late 1800s through about 1970. Along these blocks flowed automobile traffic along the National Road, later US 40, the Terre Haute & Indianapolis Interurban, and all city streetcars. With the opening post war suburban shopping districts in the 1960s and 1970s, and little investment downtown, the commercial heart of the city quickly deteriorated.

Today, it is home to the region's largest bank, many legal and finance firms, and several shops serving students and faculty at Indiana State University.

The Terre Haute Trust Building, later Merchants National Bank, now owned by Evansville-based Old National Bank.

Former Terre Haute Tribune Building, now home to Candlewood Extended Stay Hotel.

The Kaufmann Block, Seventh Street and Wabash Ave

Former Federal Building, soon to be home to the ISU School of Business

Another view of the Trust Building

Kaufmann again

The "New" Terre Haute House-Hilton Garden Inn.

Former IBM Building, now home to the local school corp offices.

Side view of "Center City" Apartments and (currently vacant) retail space.

Longtime downtown Jewelry Store.

Corporate offices of First Financial Bank, formerly the Terre Haute First National Bank, chartered in 1834.

Remains of the former Silverstein Brothers furniture store.

Cityscaping from the late 1970s.

Office and apartments near 5th and Wabash

A short, vibrant commercial block between 4th and 5th Streets along Wabash.

ISU Dormitories

This monstrosity replaced a beautiful set of commercial buildings, last home to the Schultz Department Store.

Another late 1970s reuse of dense commercial space.

Vigo County Courthouse. Better pictures to come.

Looking up North 3rd Street, US 41, toward Chicago and Lake Superior...

Statue on the Civil War Memorial on the Courthouse grounds.

Original office of the First National Bank of Terre Haute, 1834.

Another desperate early 1980s use of downtown land:

Heading back west along Wabash...

A local institution: Abe Malooley's Saratoga...I used to work there...

The beautiful Sycamore Building, still the tallest (commercial) structure between Indy and St. Louis.

The White Building, one of the most beautiful downtown structures. A Barnes and Noble Bookstore will go up behind this early next year.

Former Terre Haute Furniture Store, now the burned-out offices of Ellis Law. That happens a lot to them...

Beautiful, unused structures between 5th and 6th streets. The earlier Silverstein Bros. Furniture store was in the white building.

Former Deming Hotel, now elderly housing.

Aforementioned Center City from the other side of Wabash.

Back to the Hilton Garden Inn at 7th and Wabash.

More Terre Haute Trust Buildling.

Looking up North Seventh Street, the route of US 41 until the late 1960s.

Closer on the Tribune-Candlewood Suites Redo.

The new Childrens' Science Factory.

St. Benedict's Catholic Church. Used to have an enormous center dome.

Terminal Arcade, originally the city's interurban terminal.

Hulman & Co manufacturing and corporate offices. The Hulmans are best known as the owners of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Looking south on 9th Street toward St. Ben's.

ISU Hulman Center.

New University-City Parking Garage and Transit Terminal

Looking up 8th Street toward the soon to be demolished Statesman Towers, the city's tallest structures.

Looking West down Cherry Street.

Recently completed National Road plaza with maps and stuff.

Looking down South Seventh Street, the "Arts District" toward the Swope Art Museum and Indiana Theater.

Back to the car, and the end.

GarfieldPark · November 9th, 2009, 05:32 AM

Thanks cjfjapan!! Beautiful day for photos in Terre Haute. Downtown TH is looking good. Wabash Street in particular. Some of those late 1800's buildings are very beautiful and looking pretty well maintained. I like the small interurban terminal building. I don't think I've seen a small two story (or is it one story) building with so much carving and architectural detail. I thought it was a little peculiar on that beautiful historic building that is painted green -- how it has a couple of windows that are merged together. Too bad that couldn't have been fixed -- although it doesn't look like a couple of normal sized windows would fit in that space properly. I wonder what it originally looked like? Anyway, thanks for all the great pictures.

EastSider · November 9th, 2009, 06:20 AM

Great tour. I like the mix of the modern architecture with the historic stock.

cwilson758 · November 9th, 2009, 05:42 PM

Thanks for these...I attended Indiana Boy's State at ISU and although ISU is drab, I quite liked Terre Haute

Chadoh25 · November 9th, 2009, 08:06 PM

Great photos!!!!!!

araman0 · November 10th, 2009, 04:57 AM

Seems like there are quite a bit of offices downtown. Throw in some more carefully placed residential/mixed use buildings and there is great potential for Terre Haute. I like the new children's museum.

November 9th, 2009, 02:31 AM	#1
cjfjapan Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,017	Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute, Indiana These photos are from a quick walk I took around downtown Terre Haute, along Wabash Avenue. Wabash Avenue was the shopping destination for West Central Indiana and East Central Illinois from the late 1800s through about 1970. Along these blocks flowed automobile traffic along the National Road, later US 40, the Terre Haute & Indianapolis Interurban, and all city streetcars. With the opening post war suburban shopping districts in the 1960s and 1970s, and little investment downtown, the commercial heart of the city quickly deteriorated. Today, it is home to the region's largest bank, many legal and finance firms, and several shops serving students and faculty at Indiana State University. The Terre Haute Trust Building, later Merchants National Bank, now owned by Evansville-based Old National Bank. Former Terre Haute Tribune Building, now home to Candlewood Extended Stay Hotel. The Kaufmann Block, Seventh Street and Wabash Ave Former Federal Building, soon to be home to the ISU School of Business Another view of the Trust Building Kaufmann again The "New" Terre Haute House-Hilton Garden Inn. Former IBM Building, now home to the local school corp offices. Side view of "Center City" Apartments and (currently vacant) retail space. Longtime downtown Jewelry Store. Corporate offices of First Financial Bank, formerly the Terre Haute First National Bank, chartered in 1834. Remains of the former Silverstein Brothers furniture store. Cityscaping from the late 1970s. Office and apartments near 5th and Wabash A short, vibrant commercial block between 4th and 5th Streets along Wabash. ISU Dormitories This monstrosity replaced a beautiful set of commercial buildings, last home to the Schultz Department Store. Another late 1970s reuse of dense commercial space. Vigo County Courthouse. Better pictures to come. Looking up North 3rd Street, US 41, toward Chicago and Lake Superior... Statue on the Civil War Memorial on the Courthouse grounds. Original office of the First National Bank of Terre Haute, 1834. Another desperate early 1980s use of downtown land: Heading back west along Wabash... A local institution: Abe Malooley's Saratoga...I used to work there... The beautiful Sycamore Building, still the tallest (commercial) structure between Indy and St. Louis. The White Building, one of the most beautiful downtown structures. A Barnes and Noble Bookstore will go up behind this early next year. Former Terre Haute Furniture Store, now the burned-out offices of Ellis Law. That happens a lot to them... Beautiful, unused structures between 5th and 6th streets. The earlier Silverstein Bros. Furniture store was in the white building. Former Deming Hotel, now elderly housing. Aforementioned Center City from the other side of Wabash. Back to the Hilton Garden Inn at 7th and Wabash. More Terre Haute Trust Buildling. Looking up North Seventh Street, the route of US 41 until the late 1960s. Closer on the Tribune-Candlewood Suites Redo. The new Childrens' Science Factory. St. Benedict's Catholic Church. Used to have an enormous center dome. Terminal Arcade, originally the city's interurban terminal. Hulman & Co manufacturing and corporate offices. The Hulmans are best known as the owners of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Looking south on 9th Street toward St. Ben's. ISU Hulman Center. New University-City Parking Garage and Transit Terminal Looking up 8th Street toward the soon to be demolished Statesman Towers, the city's tallest structures. Looking West down Cherry Street. Recently completed National Road plaza with maps and stuff. Looking down South Seventh Street, the "Arts District" toward the Swope Art Museum and Indiana Theater. Back to the car, and the end. Last edited by cjfjapan; November 9th, 2009 at 02:51 AM.

November 9th, 2009, 05:42 PM	#4
cwilson758 Cory Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 3,127	Thanks for these...I attended Indiana Boy's State at ISU and although ISU is drab, I quite liked Terre Haute __________________ "Indianapolis has the reputation of a shark striking when other cities sleep." My Examiner Page: http://www.examiner.com/x-7674-India...ansit-Examiner

November 9th, 2009, 08:06 PM	#5
Chadoh25 Proud German-American Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 2,131	Great photos!!!!!! __________________ "Wir sind das Volk. Wir sind ein Volk". Leipzig 1989

November 10th, 2009, 04:57 AM	#6
araman0 Purdue U. / Marquette U. Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Madison Posts: 1,006	Seems like there are quite a bit of offices downtown. Throw in some more carefully placed residential/mixed use buildings and there is great potential for Terre Haute. I like the new children's museum. __________________ "A society is ultimately judged by how it treats its weakest and most vulnerable members."

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November 9th, 2009, 05:32 AM	#2
GarfieldPark Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 705	Thanks cjfjapan!! Beautiful day for photos in Terre Haute. Downtown TH is looking good. Wabash Street in particular. Some of those late 1800's buildings are very beautiful and looking pretty well maintained. I like the small interurban terminal building. I don't think I've seen a small two story (or is it one story) building with so much carving and architectural detail. I thought it was a little peculiar on that beautiful historic building that is painted green -- how it has a couple of windows that are merged together. Too bad that couldn't have been fixed -- although it doesn't look like a couple of normal sized windows would fit in that space properly. I wonder what it originally looked like? Anyway, thanks for all the great pictures.

November 9th, 2009, 06:20 AM	#3
EastSider Fresh Coast Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,618	Great tour. I like the mix of the modern architecture with the historic stock.