Through the stillness and the shadows, the small group of history-minded visitors literally stepped into the past.
The musty smell of dank air and dust filled the space. Electric lights attempted to light corridors between the brick arches, but intriguing pockets of darkness tempted exploration.
They call this place the Catacombs, but the space underneath the Indianapolis City Market wasn’t intended to be the final resting place for anyone. Rather, this is the remains of one of the city’s most ornate buildings of the early 20th century.
“People love to be be underground. We don’t have a lot of opportunity around here to do that,” said Kasey Zronek, director of volunteers and heritage experiences for Indiana Landmarks. “Just getting to go in and see the remnants of a place where you’d otherwise not be really makes it unique.”
Intrigued local residents are invited to journey into the dark during Indiana Landmarks’ new after-hours tours of the City Market Catacombs. On select Thursday evenings in August, September and October, people will be guided through the subterranean collection of brick arches, vaulted ceilings and rough limestone columns.
Along the way, guides from Indiana Landmarks will walk people through the history of the space, connecting it to the present City Market and its vibrant role in the community. The 21-and-over events will feature props for photo opportunities, and special drinks created particularly for the event.
“It’s another way to get people connected to history, and to reach a wider audience,” Zronek said. “We decided to take the catacombs tour and make a few adjustments, to try it in a different way.”
The series of archways and hallways are what remains of a formerly iconic Indianapolis building. Tomlinson Hall was an imposing building which could seat 3,500 people, situated adjacent to the existing City Market.
The grand hall was designed by Dietrich Bohlen, the same man who created the City Market and the nearby Morris-Butler House. Construction was completed in 1886, and the imposing building housed orchestra performances and other cultural events.
John Phillip Sousa conducted concerts in the space. The first basketball game ever played in Indianapolis — featuring Yale University vs. players from the local YMCA — was in Tomlinson Hall. Olympic star Jesse Owens spoke at a political rally there, and the Anti-Saloon League held a large convention in the hall during its push for prohibition.
“I like to think of it as the convention center before we had one,” Zronek said.
For 71 years, the hall was a centerpiece of downtown Indianapolis. But on Jan. 30, 1958, a fire broke out in Tomlinson Hall. More than 20 fire engines tried to save the structure, and their hoses flooded the streets around the building.
“But they couldn’t save Tomlinson Hall,” Zronek said.
The walls were still standing, but the interior had fallen in. It would have been way too expensive to rebuild.
Above ground, the only indication that Tomlinson Hall had existed is a single arch that stands on the pedestrian plaza. But underground, its history survives. The brick arches, limestone columns and other architectural features make for a one-of-a-kind atmosphere. In recent years, events such as yoga classes, bourbon tastings and haunted houses have been held in the catacombs.
One couple even rented the space to host a wedding, Zronek said.
“It’s still a very active space,” she said.
Since 2012, Indiana Landmarks has been hosting tours of the space on select Saturday mornings from May to October. The events have proven to be so popular that organizers wanted to expand their offerings with a new kind of tour.
The after-hours tours are held in the evening, creating a different kind of ambiance than the daytime versions. The tours are longer than the Saturday ones, as well, allowing for more detail and history from the Indiana Landmarks tour guides.
Participants meet on the second floor of City Market, near the aptly named Tomlinson Tap Room. Prior to embarking on the adults-only tour, people can purchase an Indiana brew or other beverage to take along with them.
“People will get one or two more stories, and have some more time in the Catacombs. We’ll also setting up a table with some photo props so people can commemorate their experience,” Zronek said.
