INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis ranks first in the nation in the number of acres dedicated to honoring our veterans, and second only to Washington D.C. in the number of monuments.
One of the monuments, the Indiana War Memorial, has been shrouded in scaffolding since late last summer. On March 7, Indiana Landmarks is hosting a talk to explain what’s taking place to preserve the architectural icon — including an operation that would have looked at home in a Hollywood blockbuster. The talk begins at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.) at the Indiana Landmarks Center, 1201 Central Ave.
At the free talk, “Indiana War Memorial: Behind the Scaffolding,” Logan Cook, a professional engineer with Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates (WJE), will tell the tale of the professional daredevil crew (dubbed “Difficult Access Team” by WJE) that scaled the Memorial’s ziggurat roof to find the source of leaks damaging interior plaster and murals. The talk precedes sold-out March 9 tours of the landmark.
The work is part of a $2.2 million project that involves carefully removing the monument’s Indiana limestone cladding, replacing the lead sheet metal underneath, and installing a waterproof material behind it.
Dedicated in 1933 to honor Hoosier veterans of World War I, the Memorial — along with the other museums, monuments, and parks within the Indiana War Memorials Historic District — are managed and operated by the Indiana War Memorials Commission with support of the Indiana War Memorials Foundation.