The Mass Ave Cultural Arts District, colloquially known as Mass Ave, is one of seven designated cultural districts in Indianapolis,

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 s ...

, United States. The district centers on of its namesake Massachusetts Avenue, from its southern terminus at New York and Delaware streets to its northern terminus at Bellefontaine Street. The avenue is one of the four original diagonal streets included in

Alexander Ralston Alexander Ralston (1771 – January 5, 1827) was a Scottish surveyor who was one of two co-architects for the design of the city of Indianapolis, Indiana. He also helped to design Washington, D.C. Life Alexander Ralston was born in Scotlan ...

's plan of 1821. Mass Ave also contains the Massachusetts Avenue Commercial District, a historic district included on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

since 1982. Today it lies at the heart of the city's arts district. It offers some of the city's most visible theaters and art galleries as well as a number of shops and eateries.

Gentrification Gentrification is the process of changing the character of a neighborhood through the influx of more affluent residents and businesses. It is a common and controversial topic in urban politics and planning. Gentrification often increases the ec ...

in the 1990s propelled the area from

squalor Squalor refers to filthiness and degradation, as from neglect or poverty. Squalor may also refer to: * ''Squalor'' (comic), a limited series by Stefan Petrucha and Tom Sutton * Student squalor, various situations of student housing * Senile S ...

to one of the city's more fashionable addresses. Currently, redevelopment of Mass Ave focuses on fostering locally owned shops, theaters, and restaurants.

Massachusetts Avenue Commercial District

Landmarks

Athenæum (Das Deutsche Haus) The Athenæum, originally named ''Das Deutsche Haus'' (German: "The German House"), is the most ornate and best-preserved building affiliated with the German American community of Indianapolis. Once used as a German American '' Turnverein'' and ...

: building houses Young Actors Theatre and the

Rathskeller Ratskeller (German: "council's cellar", pl. ''Ratskeller'', historically ''Rathskeller'') is a name in German-speaking countries for a bar or restaurant located in the basement of a city hall (''Rathaus'') or nearby. Many taverns, nightclubs, ba ...

Restaurant, the city's oldest restaurant still in operation. *

Old National Centre The Old National Centre, formerly known as the Murat Shrine Temple and the Murat Shrine Center, is located at North and New Jersey streets in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is owned by the Murat Shriners of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of ...

: is the headquarters of the Indianapolis

Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine Shriners International, formally known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (AAONMS), is an American Masonic society established in 1870 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Shriners International describes itself ...

References

External links

Mass Ave Merchants Association
Neighborhoods in Indianapolis Culture of Indianapolis Streets in Indianapolis 1821 establishments in Indiana Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Indiana National Register of Historic Places in Indianapolis {{Indianapolis-stub