NEWS

Stories of dramatic transformations fill new book about historic Indiana places

More than 50 rescued and restored Hoosier places featured in Indiana Landmarks Rescued & Restored

NOTE TO MEDIA:  To request a complimentary review copy of Rescued & Restored, contact Mindi Woolman at mwoolman@indianalandmarks.org or 317-417-1204.

To mark its 60th year, Indiana Landmarks has published a new book filled with dramatic before-and-after photos and more than 50 stories of landmarks across the state snatched from the wrecking ball or lifted from decades of neglect and restored to new uses.

Indiana Landmarks: Rescued & Restored tells the stories of down-to-the-wire rescues, dramatic transformations from ruin to resplendence, and entire neighborhoods revitalized by historic preservation. All proceeds from sale of the book will support preservation and revitalization of more historic Hoosier places.

Featured landmarks range from the oldest house in Wabash–small and quirky–to Bush Stadium in Indianapolis, reinvented as apartments. It includes the beloved Michigan City Lighthouse Catwalk and the story of how West Baden Springs Hotel rose from ruinous collapse to become a fairy tale castle, a turnaround that lifted an entire regional economy.

“Who doesn’t love inspirational comeback stories?” asks Indiana Landmarks’ President Marsh Davis, who wrote the book’s introduction. “The pictures really tell the story, with brief text that gives a thumbnail history of each place and how it was revived with help from Indiana Landmarks. We hope Indiana Landmarks: Rescued & Restored will be displayed on many coffee tables and start conversations about preservation and revitalization, no matter where you live,” he adds.

Former Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall Shepard wrote the book’s foreward. “We need places that give us a sense of stability in a rocky era, a sense of belonging to something other than our iPads,” Shepard notes.

Tina Connor, who retired as executive vice president of Indiana Landmarks in 2018, edited the book, weaving the stories of sites from the work of the organizations’ talented publications and preservation staff, past and present.

“This project was inspired and driven by the indominable Sallie Rowland, a great preservation champion and civic leader who serves on Indiana Landmarks’ board of directors,” say Davis. “Sallie, a keen observer of the positive impact of historic preservation, encouraged us to tell the story of Indiana Landmarks through a book featuring some of the places we had a meaningful role in saving.”

Indiana Landmarks is a private nonprofit organization founded in 1960 as Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana to preserve significant sites for the benefit of present and future generations.

The 144-page book is $29.95, available at bit.ly/RescuedRestored. Or call Indiana Landmarks to order, 800-450-4534, 317-639-4534.

Online Auction for Commemorative Edition

Bid on a commemorative edition of the book, Indiana Landmarks Rescued & Restored, at an online auction. The special edition, with custom handmade case, will be signed by contributors and personally delivered by Indiana Landmarks President Marsh Davis. Bidding is open May 1 through May 15 at bit.ly/RescuedRestoredAuction.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Mindi Woolman, Director of Communications and Marketing, Indiana Landmarks, 317-417-1204 (cell), mwoolman@indianalandmarks.org

Before-and-after photos available from Indiana Landmarks. Contact Paige Wassel, pwassel@indianalandmarks.org.

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Indiana Landmarks revitalizes communities, reconnects us to our heritage, and saves meaningful places. With nine offices located throughout the state, Indiana Landmarks helps people rescue endangered landmarks and restore historic neighborhoods and downtowns. People who join Indiana Landmarks receive its bimonthly magazine, Indiana Preservation. For more information on the not-for-profit organization, call 317-639-4534, 800-450-4534, or visit www.indianalandmarks.org.

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