Step Back in Time

Built as a German cultural center in the 1890s, today the Athenaeum houses the Rathskeller Restaurant, the YMCA, Coat Check Coffee, and more. In partnership with the Athenaeum Foundation, we offer two ways to enjoy this historic landmark. Both allow guests to see spaces not typically open to the public and find out why this was one of author Kurt Vonnegut’s favorite buildings in the city.

ATHENAEUM BUILDING TOUR

Discover Indianapolis’s German roots at the historic Athenaeum, as guides trace the building’s evolution from a German clubhouse to a hub of modern urban life. Tourgoers will enjoy unique architectural features throughout the late nineteenth-century building, while learning how they reflect the founders’ “sound mind in a sound body” ethos.

Along the way, guides will highlight the Athenaeum’s connections to the Vonnegut and Lieber families and the mark they left on the streetscape, culture, and business community in a growing Indianapolis throughout the early 1900s. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the German American influence on the city and the importance of preserving cultural landmarks.

Please Note: Exact tour route is subject to change based on day-of tour room availability. Participants should expect to walk or stand for the entire length of the experience. Tours typically include several flights of stairs. Please contact Indiana Landmarks prior to the tour if anyone in your group has accessibility concerns, so we can plan to make appropriate accommodations.

Parking: Paid parking is available on surrounding streets and in nearby garages. This parking guide from Visit Indy may be helpful: https://downtownindy.org/explore/parking.

Tickets: Tickets cost $12/general public, $10/Indiana Landmarks member, $5/child (age 6-11), and are free to children age 5 and under.

Bier & Building Experience