James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home

Part two of the Riley haunting (see my review of his birthplace to catch up). After consulting my local swami, he suggested I take street car to the home of mr Riley. The whole way there he wouldn’t shut up about the «raggedy man», said he wasn’t hungry when I ordered a White Castle crave case. Then still ate like half of it. Didn’t give me money either, I’m getting really sick of this haunting. Also unscrewed the salt shaker kid so I ended up pouring a mountain of salt on my fries. I didn’t have any luck banishing his ghost after visiting his house in Indianapolis. However it was interesting and in a great location, I didn’t feel like I was downtown at all. Since I can’t review the swami on Unilocal,Stay tuned for part 3 in which I visit his grave…
Ps his ghost just tied my shoelaces together causing me to fall. Then he taunted me in perfect rhyme and cadence. Drat!

If you love history and imagining how people lived long ago, this house will transport you to the Victorian age. The beautifully stenciled walls, detailed woodwork, & gorgeous gaslight fixtures throughout just beg to be admired. Everything is set in place as if awaiting the return of its owners. Chairs & footstools, fiddle & guitar, books, teacups, calling cards on a stand all seem to wait for the touch of the Holstein family or Mr. Riley. As the docent led me through the house, I would glance behind us — expecting to see figures flitting down the hall, into a room, dressed in a fashion familiar 100 years ago. Eerily cool. Loved the afternoon sun scalloped by lace curtains slanting across soft well worn carpets, the tall narrow windows, knobs set down low in doors topped by transoms. The top hat & cane on the poet’s bed, along with his shoes in a drawer by the door, forlornly called for Mr. Riley to come, let’s go for a walk today. I was deeply touched by this beautiful house & furnishings. There’s also a new visitor’s center in the back, where I enjoyed watching a short film about the poet’s life & times.

One of the most unbelievable time capsules of Victorian era Indianapolis in the city. As if the Hoosier poet was just out for one of his strolls downtown while you sneak around this house where he lived so long.
The décor is absolutely beautiful – especially around the holidays. I love seeing how they decorate for Xmas with old post cards that fans sent to J.W.R. when he was ill.
Check out the gorgeous house across the street also – I love the stone in front of the house for people stepping out of their horse drawn carriage.
Sigh.

I literally grew up down the street from this home. My parents would take me all the time.
I love the old homes that still have all the same appliances and furniture in them. I believe they still cooked food there. This place is great for young and old to visit. Don’t forget to visit his grave, which is at the highest point in Indianapolis which includes a beautiful view of downtown.

I had a great time at the James Whitcomb Riley House — and, to my delight, I got a private tour! We were greeted at the front door by a guide who showed us just the first floor before sending us upstairs to a second guide; we concluded with a third. All three guides were very friendly and knowledgeable. Now, I love house museums — and particularly authors’ homes — and this one was fantastic. The house itself is very modest, especially considering how many people lived there, but it remains very intact to Riley’s period. After the tour, I completely nerded out with a few of the staff there and chatted about poetry, literary tastes, and how we teach children about classic writing today. My only complaint, if it can be called that, is the road. Lockerbie Square is a beautiful and historic area, but I was not expecting the bumpy brick road — it was not kind to the car. The good news is that they have a little parking lot.
As I’m not an Indiana native, my own exposure to Riley was self-​inflicted. I do enjoy his poetry and I was hoping they’d talk more specifically about his poems, maybe even recite one or two short ones. I mean, there are lots of historic homes with cool stuff in ‘em, but not all of them can boast that Riley lived there!

A super charming historic home tour! I loved seeing the desk where he wrote many of his poems. This was one of my very first historic home tours and probably what turned me into the addict I am today. When traveling — two things I just can’t pass up — libraries and historic homes. Egads, what a nerd I am!

Man, the Riley Museum Home kicks bootay. I’ve always been partial to house museums throughout my travels: there’s something so personal and fascinating to me about them. They seem much more alive than larger museums, which – love them as I do – can feel a bit sterile.
I think every elementary school kid in Indiana has done the James Whitcomb Riley unit, usually around Halloween, and the field trip to the house is the best part. As Tommy said, it really is like going back in time, and a cheap thrill. We don’t have too many of these in Indy, so enjoy the ones we do!

What a piece of history, it’s really a learning experience!
when living in Lockerbie many years ago, it was a monthly visit for my daughter & i
it’s like going back in a time machine
& it only costs a few bucks