Washington Street is the primary east–west street in
Indianapolis
Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of U.S. state and territorial capitals, state capital and List of U.S. states' largest cities by population, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat, seat of ...
, in the
central part of the U.S. state of
Indiana
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th st ...
. The street follows the route of the
National Road
The National Road (also known as the Cumberland Road) was the first major improved highway in the United States built by the federal government. Built between 1811 and 1837, the road connected the Potomac and Ohio Rivers and was a main tran ...
for almost all of its length in the city of Indianapolis. For a time, its entire length was designated as
U.S. Route 40 (US 40) before that highway was re-aligned with the southern segment of
Interstate 465
Interstate 465 (I-465), also known as the USS ''Indianapolis'' Memorial Highway, is the beltway circling Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It is roughly rectangular in shape and has a perimeter of approximately . It lies almost complet ...
(I-465); now only the segments of Washington Street between I-465 and the city limits on either side of the city are part of US 40.
The street delineates north–south address numbering for the eastern two-thirds of the city; Rockville Road separates north and south from the western border of the city until it meets Washington Street in
Wayne Township at Tibbs Avenue.
Route description
Washington Street begins in the west at the
intersection
In mathematics, the intersection of two or more objects is another object consisting of everything that is contained in all of the objects simultaneously. For example, in Euclidean geometry, when two lines in a plane are not parallel, their ...
with Raceway Road. As it heads east-northeast, it passes by the
Indianapolis International Airport
Indianapolis International Airport is an international airport located seven miles (11 km) southwest of downtown Indianapolis in Marion County, Indiana, United States. It is owned and operated by the Indianapolis Airport Authority. T ...
, which lies to south. Immediately thereafter, it has an
interchange with I-465 on the west side of the city, where US 40 diverges. After merging with Rockville Road, Washington Street heads more directly east toward
downtown Indianapolis
Downtown Indianapolis is a neighborhood area and the central business district of Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Downtown is bordered by Interstate 65, Interstate 70, and the White River, and is situated near the geographic center of M ...
. Approaching downtown it passes the
Indiana Medical History Museum on the former site of
Central State Hospital for the Insane; it then passes the headquarters of the
Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation, which is in buildings that once housed the
Duesenberg Automobile and Motors Company.
On the west side of downtown, Washington Street passes by the
Indianapolis Zoo and
White River Gardens, crosses the
White River, and traverses
White River State Park
White River State Park is an urban park in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. Situated along the eastern and western banks of its namesake White River, the park covers . The park is home to numerous attractions, including the Eiteljorg Museum of ...
, with the
Indiana State Museum
The Indiana State Museum is a museum located in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The museum houses exhibits on the science, art, culture, and history of Indiana from prehistoric times to the present day.
History
The original coll ...
and
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art on the north side of the street and
Victory Field on the south. Within downtown, the street carries only westbound traffic; eastbound traffic is routed a block south to Maryland Street where it passes by the
Indiana Convention Center
The Indiana Convention Center is a major convention center located in Downtown Indianapolis, Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. The original structure was completed in 1972 and has undergone five expansions. In total, there are 71 meeting rooms, 11 ...
. Among the buildings directly on Washington Street within the central business district are (from west to east): the
Indiana Statehouse
The Indiana Statehouse is the state capitol building of the U.S. state of Indiana. It houses the Indiana General Assembly, the office of the Governor of Indiana, the Indiana Supreme Court, and other state officials. The Statehouse is located in ...
; the
Indiana Theatre, home of the
Indiana Repertory Theatre
Indiana Repertory Theatre, frequently abbreviated IRT, is a professional regional theatre in Indianapolis, Indiana that began as a genuine repertory theatre with its casts performing in multiple shows at once. It has subsequently become a regi ...
; the headquarters of the
Simon Property Group
Simon Property Group, Inc. is an American real estate investment trust that invests in shopping malls, outlet centers, and community/lifestyle centers. It is the largest owner of shopping malls in the United States and is headquartered in Ind ...
; the
Circle Centre shopping mall; the
Barnes and Thornburg Building
The Barnes and Thornburg Building is a high rise in Indianapolis, Indiana originally known as the Merchants National Bank Building. In 1905, the Merchants National Bank and Trust Company engaged the architectural firm of D. H. Burnham & Company ...
(which until the 1960s was the tallest building in the city); and the
City-County Building.
Washington also runs under the
Indianapolis Artsgarden, a suspended glass structure at the intersection with Illinois Street. Washington does not intersect
Monument Circle (the city's
town square
A town square (or square, plaza, public square, city square, urban square, or ''piazza'') is an open public space, commonly found in the heart of a traditional town but not necessarily a true geometric square, used for community gatherings. ...
); rather, the Circle is located on Market Street, one block north of the intersection of Washington with
Meridian Street.
On the eastern edge of downtown, Washington Street has an interchange with the
I-65
Interstate 65 (I-65) is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates ending in 5, it is a major crosscountry, north–south route, connecting between the Great Lakes and the Gulf ...
/
I-70
Interstate 70 (I-70) is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from I-15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a park and ride lot just east of I-695 in Baltimore, Maryland, and is the fifth-longest Interstate in the c ...
"Inner Loop". As it continues east, it travels through or by the
Cole-Noble and
Rural-Sherman neighborhoods. In the
Irvington Historic District, an early
suburb
A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area, which may include commercial and mixed-use, that is primarily a residential area. A suburb can exist either as part of a larger city/urban area or as a separat ...
of Indianapolis, Washington crosses
Pleasant Run Creek with its associated parkway and
trail
A trail, also known as a path or track, is an unpaved lane or small road usually passing through a natural area. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a path or footpath is the preferred term for a pedestrian or hiking trail. ...
. On the far east side of the city, US 40 again joins Washington Street at the interchange with I-465. The street travels south of the
Washington Square Mall as it approaches
Cumberland, Indiana, where it terminates at Carroll Road.
See also
*
*
References
{{Reflist
Streets in Indianapolis
National Road
U.S. Route 40