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List of the oldest buildings in Indiana

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This article lists the oldest extant buildings in Indiana, including extant buildings and structures constructed prior to and during the United States rule over Indiana. Only buildings built prior to 1820 are suitable for inclusion on this list, or the building must be the oldest of its type.

In order to qualify for the list, a structure must:

  • be a recognizable building (defined as any human-made structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or continuous occupancy);
  • incorporate features of building work from the claimed date to at least 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in height and/or be a listed building.

This consciously excludes ruins of limited height, roads and statues. Bridges may be included if they otherwise fulfill the above criteria. Dates for many of the oldest structures have been arrived at by radiocarbon dating or dendrochronology and should be considered approximate. If the exact year of initial construction is estimated, it will be shown as a range of dates.

List of oldest buildings

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Building Image Location First built Use Notes
Grouseland Vincennes, Indiana 1802-1804 Residence Home of president William Henry Harrison[1] It is the oldest standing building in Indiana.
Indiana Territorial Capitol Vincennes, Indiana 1804 Government First territorial capitol of Indiana; moved from original foundation in 1949[1]
Mont Clair Farmhouse Knox County, Indiana 1806 Residence
The French House Vincennes, Indiana ca. 1806-1809 Residential Built by an early French fur trader, also known as the Michel Brouillet House[1]
Westfall House Corydon, Indiana ca. 1807 Residential
Branham Tavern Corydon, Indiana ca. 1808 Commercial
Kintner-McGrain House Corydon, Indiana ca. 1808 Residential
Thomas Downs House Charlestown, Indiana ca. 1809 Residential Built for Thomas Downs, Clark County's first treasurer
316 Ferry Street Vevay, Indiana ca. 1810 Commercial
Veraestau Dearborn County, Indiana ca. 1810 Residence
John Work House Charlestown Township, Clark County, Indiana ca. 1811 Residential Built for miller John Work
Old Salisbury Courthouse Centerville, Indiana ca. 1811 Courthouse One of the oldest remaining courthouses in the Northwest Territory.
Little Cedar Grove Baptist Church Mound Haven, Indiana ca. 1812 Church Oldest church on its original foundation
Scribner House New Albany, Indiana ca. 1813-1814 Residence Oldest building in New Albany. Built by one of the town's founders Joel Scribner
Aunt Lucy Detraz House Vevay, Indiana ca. 1814 Residence
Barrett-Gate House New Harmony, Indiana ca. 1814 Residence
David McCormick Tavern Vevay, Indiana ca. 1814 Commercial/ Residence
Eigner Barn New Harmony, Indiana ca. 1814 Outbuilding
Potter's Barn New Harmony, Indiana ca. 1814 Outbuilding
Potter's Cabin New Harmony, Indiana ca. 1814 Residence
Weber Cabin New Harmony, Indiana ca. 1814 Residence
346 Granary Street New Harmony, Indiana ca. 1814 Residence
Old State Capitol Corydon, Indiana ca. 1814-1816 Government The second territorial capitol and the first state capitol of Indiana.
Blue River Friends Hicksite Meeting House Washington County Indiana ca.1815 Church The oldest Quaker meeting house standing in the state.
505 Granary Street New Harmony, Indiana ca. 1815 Residence
Armstrong Tavern Vevay, Indiana ca. 1816 Commercial/ Residence Oldest known meeting place of the Masonic Lodge in Indiana.
Benjamin Ferguson House Charlestown, Indiana ca. 1816 Residence Built for state senator Benjamin Ferguson
Empire House Rising Sun, Indiana ca. 1816 Residence/ Commercial
Perret Dufour House Vevay, Indiana ca. 1816 Residence
Adams-Payne House Corydon, Indiana ca. 1817 Residence
Governor Hendricks' Headquarters Corydon, Indiana ca. 1817 Residence/ Government
Heth House Corydon, Indiana ca. 1817 Residence
Israel Whitehead House Vevay, Indiana ca. 1817 Residence
Old Treasury Building Corydon, Indiana ca. 1817 Government
Posey House Corydon, Indiana ca. 1817 Residence
Schofield House Madison, Indiana ca. 1817 Residence The location of where the Grand Lodge of Indiana was formed in 1818.
Harmonist Granary New Harmony, Indiana ca. 1818 Commercial
James Brown Ray Home Brookville, Indiana ca. 1818 Residence
James N. Tyner House Brookville, Indiana ca. 1818 Residence
Jeremiah Sullivan House Madison, Indiana ca. 1818 Residence
Old Perry County Courthouse Rome, Indiana ca. 1818 Courthouse
Richard Talbott Inn Madison, Indiana ca. 1818 Commercial/ Residence
Talbott House Madison, Indiana ca. 1818 Residence
Vance-Tousey House Lawrenceburg, Indiana ca. 1818 Residence
Eigner Cabin New Harmony, Indiana ca. 1819 Residence
George Keppler House New Harmony, Indiana ca. 1819 Residence
Jesse Hunt Hotel Lawrenceburg, Indiana ca. 1819 Commercial
Porter Law Office Corydon, Indiana ca. 1819 Commercial
Salomon-Wolf House New Harmony, Indiana ca. 1819 Residence
510 Church Street New Harmony, Indiana ca. 1819 Residence
Sanders-Childers House Indianapolis, Indiana ca. 1820 Residence Oldest house in Indianapolis, built by William Sanders around 1820[2]
St. Francis Xavier Cathedral Vincennes, Indiana ca. 1826 Church Oldest Catholic Church in Indiana
Richardville House Fort Wayne, Indiana ca. 1827 Residence Oldest building in Fort Wayne, built for Chief Richardville

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Vincennes - Indiana State Museum". indianamuseum.org. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
  2. ^ Rudavsky, Shari. "Check out this house that's known as the oldest home in Indianapolis". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
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