Herron-Morton Place Park — Attraction in Indianapolis

The Herron-Morton Place Park is situated on the south side of a historic Civil War location known as "Camp Morton". The land which encompassed the Camp is found on the North side of Indianapolis, just to the East of Meridian by a few blocks. The Camp property was originally bounded by N. Talbot St. to the West, E 19th to the South, Central Ave. to the East, and 22nd St. to the North. Originally a site used for the Indiana State Fair, the acreage was used for training of Union soldiers, and then later, housing thousands of Confederate prisoners of war during the Civil War. The stables and barns were where the prisoners lived, and one sturdier building was used as a hospital. Conditions at Camp Morton were primitive and unpleasant, but eventually, when the war ended and the last of the soldiers was paroled, the property received funds for restoration, and returned to use by the State Fair, until the Fair purchased its present property and moved.

The former Camp property was then auctioned to private buyers who had it platted for homes after 1891. The area was recently designated a historic area, and was named Herron-Morton Place, in part for its one-time location of the Herron Art Museum. It too, was relocated, but the original building became Herron High School.

The former Camp Morton grounds have been completely rehabilitated and feature beautiful homes that surround the Herron-Morton Place Park. The residents, sensitive to the hardships of prison camps and the entirety of the Civil War, have had markers placed in the area to honor the Camp's history, and it's men from both sides.

The whole history of Herron-Morton Place was compelling to learn about and to imagine the thousands of men kept in poor shelters in the midst of the worst war in American History. I was led to visit the area when I discovered a photo (said to be one of the earliest taken in Indianapolis) depicting a long row of buildings and hundreds of soldiers around them; a small creek in the foreground.

It's interesting how the finding of one photo can lead one on a historical journey like this, and I enjoyed every...

Sweet little park, probably a little small once the kid hits about 10-11, but not every park has to be huge and cater to all kids. It's nice that there is a sidewalk around the perimeter that kids can ride their trikes and such on.

Some neighborhood events are held here; Oktoberfest, a meetup Halloween night, and so on. I've never been, but I'm glad to know it's there and I could walk over in the future.

Extra points for being the historical site of the Confederate prison camp, at least to this high school history teacher. Long before Indiana became KKK central all the way up to governor's house, we sent the second highest number of recruits in the nation (in proportion to the total state population). Most states recruited out of state; not Indiana, so all those thousands were Hoosiers. Of the over 4,000 who answered Lincoln's initial call for volunteers (by the end, there would be almost 200K Hoosiers who served), most enlisted 3 years even though other terms we're available, from as little as 30/60/100 days, to 3/6/9 months, 1 year, then 3. Even immigrants to Indiana, not born on that soil, served in higher numbers than Northern immigrants overall.

And, your kids will like the...

It's a wonderful little neighborhood park- swings and other play equipment for the kiddies, some benches sprinkled throughout and a small sheltered area in the corner that even has a bathroom--I believe you need to have the key for that. It's owned and maintained by the wonderful Herron-Morton Place Foundation and is the host to a now annual Oktoberfest. It's beautifully maintained and well loved by the neighbors and neighborhood. Rarely a time there aren't kids in here playing. The nearby neighbors are also wonderful stewards, keeping watchful eye over the park!

Want to support it? You can buy a brick and have your name added to the...