INDIANAPOLIS — On Christmas Eve in 1937, Indianapolis architect Edward D. Pierre, who was prone to last-minute shopping, noted Monument Circle’s dark and somber atmosphere as he browsed for gifts downtown. He proposed a seasonal display to boost holiday spirits, launching the city’s time-honored tradition of decorating the Soldiers and Sailors Monument.
On Dec. 11 from 6-7 p.m. at the Indiana Landmarks Center, 1201 Central Ave., Pierre’s granddaughter, author Lisa Hendrickson, shares the origin story of the Circle of Lights and other highlights from the respected architect’s life and legacy, which includes designing the Indiana State Library and Perry Stadium (later renamed Bush Stadium) in Indianapolis.
U.S. Senator Richard Lugar called Pierre “One of the most significant and imaginative thinkers in regard to the beauty of Indianapolis,” and a former executive director of the Indiana Society of Architects described him as “The greatest architect the state of Indiana ever produced and probably the greatest visionary architectural professional Indiana has ever known.”
Hendrickson, author of Burning the Breeze: Three Generations of Women in the American West, published by University of Nebraska Press, is currently working on a book about her grandfather.
The talk is $5 for the general public; free for Indiana Landmarks members. Register online www.indianalandmarks.org/edward-pierre-the-circle-of-lights/ or call 317-639-4534.
