Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, Indianapolis (must see)

The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, formerly known as the Benjamin Harrison Home, is the meticulously preserved residence of the 23rd President of the United States, Benjamin Harrison. Located in the Old Northside Historic District of Indianapolis, this Italianate-style home was built between 1874 and 1875 and stands as a testament to Harrison's life and legacy.

The 16-room red-brick house was designed by architect Herman T. Brandt and features characteristic Italianate elements such as bracketed cornices and a three-story bay window. The interiors showcase exquisite oak-trimmed walnut staircases, butternut woodwork, and parquet floors. Harrison lived in the house for most of his life, except during his tenure as a U.S. Senator (1881–1887) and as President (1889–1893).

After Harrison's death, his widow, Mary Lord Dimmick Harrison, sold the property in 1939 to the Arthur Jordan School of Music, with the condition that it remain a memorial to the late president. Initially, the second and third floors served as a dormitory, while the first floor functioned as a museum. In 1974, after extensive renovations by the Arthur Jordan Foundation, the entire house was converted into a museum managed by the Benjamin Harrison Foundation.

The site became a National Historic Landmark in 1966 and now offers regular guided tours. Visitors can explore 10 of the 16 rooms, which are decorated in Victorian style to reflect the period of Harrison's residency. A remarkable 75% of the 3,700 artifacts displayed belonged to the Harrison family, including a library of 2,440 books.

Visitors to the site can immerse themselves in the story of a president whose home sparked a migration of Indianapolis' prominent residents to the north side, transforming the area into the historic district it remains today.