Corydon Historic District
Encyclopedia
The Corydon Historic District of Corydon, Indiana
, United States
, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. It is also known as Indiana's First State Capital and as Historic Corydon. In 1973, the district comprised the old statehouse and the square around, and in 1989, it was extended so that it extends to Indian Creek in the north and west, College Avenue in the east, and Little Indian Creek to the south. Eight buildings within the district were standing when Corydon was the capital of Indiana
.
building that was once the capitol of Indiana from 1816-1825, and is now the Corydon Capital State Historic Site. It was originally intended to double as the county courthouse; the county would occasionally use the capitol when the state government was not in session.
Next to the old capitol is the Harrison County Courthouse. Between the two buildings, historical markers denote John Hunt Morgan
's capture of the town in July 1863. It sees 30,000 visitors every year. Protected by a sandstone
memorial is the Constitution Elm. In 1816 the trunk was five feet across, with branches spreading out 132 feet (40.2 m). Due to the heat of the capitol building, much of the deliberations for creating the Indiana state government and the writing of the constitution
was under its branches. Dutch elm disease
destroyed the tree in 1925, leaving only the trunk. The First State Office Building is located directly east of the Governor's Headquarters on Walnut Street. The Historic Sites administration in Indianapolis has delayed the renovation of this building for over ten years.
On May 22, 2007, plans were announced to build a memorial to late Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon
on the southwest corner of the courthouse square, which is 20 feet (6.1 m) by 20 feet (6.1 m) and have a life-sized likeness of O'Bannon in bronze
on a limestone
bench, with three pillar
s honoring O'Bannon, his father, and his grandfather, all of whom were prominent in Corydon. The memorial cost $200,000 and was unveiled in June 2008. Officials in Indianapolis now plan to replace much of the town square with a concrete walkway complete with interpretive markers.
The Kintner House Hotel
is within the district, but is listed separately on the National Register. The Leora Brown School is located on Summit Street and is the oldest standing African-American school in Indiana. The Kintner-McGrain House
, also called Cedar Glade, is located on the north side of the district on the bank of the Indian Creek. Behind the Constitution Elm is a log cabin which is the Westfall House, the oldest building still standing in Corydon. The cabin is privately owned and not open to the public.
from a nearby quarry. Construction began in 1811 and was completed in 1813. The building was constructed by Dennis Pennington
, the states first speaker
of the Indiana Senate
and the speaker of the territorial legislature, who was awarded the construction contract by the Indiana Territorial Legislature. The building was constructed to be forty foot square, two stories high, with two feet thick walls. The exposed exterior of the building is not dressed using only stones that were cut roughly square. The foundation was placed three feet into the ground and made two and a half feet thick. The lower room, with fifteen foot ceilings, was made from stone flagging and with the barn rail made from hewn timber. The upper floor's ceiling is 10 feet (3 m) high. Two large fire places where installed in both the upper and lower floor. The original building had a scale and balance on the roof as the symbol of justice. The original building was constructed for approximately $1500.
Shortly after the outbreak of the War of 1812
several battles occurred near Vincennes
, causing the territorial government fear an attack on the capitol. A resolution was drafted to move the government further from the frontier, and Corydon was chosen for its central position within the populated part of the state. The newly constructed building served as the capitol of Indiana Territory
from 1813 until 1816 when the territory was granted statehood. In June 1816 the state's first constitutional convention was held in the building, resulting in the creation of the Constitution of Indiana
. From 1816 until 1825 the building was used as the State capitol. The upstairs housed the state Supreme Court and Senate and the lower floor contained the House of Representatives. State offices were located in the First State Office Building on Walnut Street.
After 1825, when the state capital was moved to Indianapolis
, the building continued to be used as the county courthouse and office building for the Harrison County
Government until 1929 when a new county courthouse was constructed. The balance and scales were removed in 1833 and replaced with a large bell hung in their place. In 1873 the building was renovated, the fireplaces where closed up and the original stone floor covered over with a wood floor.
The building was purchased in 1917 by the state of Indiana to be preserved as a "memorial to the pioneers who established the commonwealth of Indiana". It opened in 1929 and has since been preserved and protected as a memorial. The building was registered as a national historic site in 1973 and is known as Corydon Capitol. Except for the bell tower which was removed, the building has been entirely restored to its original appearance, including furniture and the upstairs library.
Governor Hendricks' Headquarters (pictured left) was built in 1817 by Davis Floyd
. Floyd had been the treasurer and auditor of the Indiana Territory and was then an Indiana State Legislator. Floyd lost his home in Panic of 1819
and it was then purchased by the state to house the Governor. Governor William Hendricks
, and later Congressman
and Senator
of the United States
, occupied the building from 1822-1825. In 1841 the building was purchased by Judge William A. Porter, a lawyer who also served several terms in the Indiana State legislature as a Whig. He was also Speaker of House in 1849. The home is now part of the Corydon Capitol State Historic Site.
was built in 1817 after being organized by many of the leading men in the state government. It is located on the city block east of the statehouse. The Masons had been active in Indiana for over two decades before its building. After statehood its membership and influence grew to the point where a building was constructed. It is the oldest Masonic Lodge building in Indiana. Its founding members included Senator Dennis Pennington
, Governor Jonathan Jennings
, Representative Davis Floyd
, and Congressman William Hendricks
just to name a few. It is still used by Masons and the Order of the Eastern Star
. Next door to the lodge is the oldest standing Methodist Church in the state that was built in 1826.
school for African-American children in Indiana. Corydon, an early home of the state's abolitionist leaders, always had a number of free African-American citizens living in the vicinity of the school. The first graduation of students from the school occurred on May 14, 1897. In 1987, the school was renamed for the school's longest serving teacher, Leora Brown. Brown taught at school from 1924 until 1950. In 1989, it was added to National Register of Historic Places as part of the district. Indiana public schools were desegregated
by an act of the Indiana General Assembly during the 1949–50 school year, and the students were integrated with the Corydon public schools starting in the 1950–1951 school year. The building was converted to a cultural center in 1993.
Press, 2006). pg.204-5.
Corydon, Indiana
Corydon is a town in Harrison Township, Harrison County, Indiana, United States, founded in 1808, and is known as Indiana's First State Capital. After Vincennes, Corydon was the second capital of the Indiana Territory from May 1, 1813, until December 11, 1816. After statehood, the town was the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. It is also known as Indiana's First State Capital and as Historic Corydon. In 1973, the district comprised the old statehouse and the square around, and in 1989, it was extended so that it extends to Indian Creek in the north and west, College Avenue in the east, and Little Indian Creek to the south. Eight buildings within the district were standing when Corydon was the capital of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
.
Sites
The centerpiece of the district is a two-story Federal-style limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
building that was once the capitol of Indiana from 1816-1825, and is now the Corydon Capital State Historic Site. It was originally intended to double as the county courthouse; the county would occasionally use the capitol when the state government was not in session.
Next to the old capitol is the Harrison County Courthouse. Between the two buildings, historical markers denote John Hunt Morgan
John Hunt Morgan
John Hunt Morgan was a Confederate general and cavalry officer in the American Civil War.Morgan is best known for Morgan's Raid when, in 1863, he and his men rode over 1,000 miles covering a region from Tennessee, up through Kentucky, into Indiana and on to southern Ohio...
's capture of the town in July 1863. It sees 30,000 visitors every year. Protected by a sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
memorial is the Constitution Elm. In 1816 the trunk was five feet across, with branches spreading out 132 feet (40.2 m). Due to the heat of the capitol building, much of the deliberations for creating the Indiana state government and the writing of the constitution
Constitution of Indiana
There have been two Constitutions of the State of Indiana. The first constitution was created when the Territory of Indiana sent forty-three delegates to a constitutional convention on June 10, 1816 to establish a constitution for the proposed State of Indiana after the United States Congress had...
was under its branches. Dutch elm disease
Dutch elm disease
Dutch elm disease is a disease caused by a member of the sac fungi category, affecting elm trees which is spread by the elm bark beetle. Although believed to be originally native to Asia, the disease has been accidentally introduced into America and Europe, where it has devastated native...
destroyed the tree in 1925, leaving only the trunk. The First State Office Building is located directly east of the Governor's Headquarters on Walnut Street. The Historic Sites administration in Indianapolis has delayed the renovation of this building for over ten years.
On May 22, 2007, plans were announced to build a memorial to late Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon
Frank O'Bannon
Frank Lewis O'Bannon was an American politician who was the 47th Governor of Indiana from 1997 until his death in 2003.-Background:...
on the southwest corner of the courthouse square, which is 20 feet (6.1 m) by 20 feet (6.1 m) and have a life-sized likeness of O'Bannon in bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
on a limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
bench, with three pillar
Column
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a vertical structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. For the purpose of wind or earthquake engineering, columns may be designed to resist lateral forces...
s honoring O'Bannon, his father, and his grandfather, all of whom were prominent in Corydon. The memorial cost $200,000 and was unveiled in June 2008. Officials in Indianapolis now plan to replace much of the town square with a concrete walkway complete with interpretive markers.
The Kintner House Hotel
Kintner House Hotel
The Kintner House Hotel, located within the Corydon Historic District in Corydon, Indiana, is a historic bed & breakfast. It is on the National Register of Historic Places since 1987. The present building was built in 1873...
is within the district, but is listed separately on the National Register. The Leora Brown School is located on Summit Street and is the oldest standing African-American school in Indiana. The Kintner-McGrain House
Kintner-McGrain House
The Kintner-McGrain House, also known as Cedar Glade, is on the National Register of Historic Places, located north of downtown Corydon, Indiana. It attained the "Cedar Glade" name due to the giant red cedars Jacob Kinter, the builder, planted in front of the house. It has been owned by three...
, also called Cedar Glade, is located on the north side of the district on the bank of the Indian Creek. Behind the Constitution Elm is a log cabin which is the Westfall House, the oldest building still standing in Corydon. The cabin is privately owned and not open to the public.
The Old Capitol Building
Indiana's First State Capitol building was constructed of limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
from a nearby quarry. Construction began in 1811 and was completed in 1813. The building was constructed by Dennis Pennington
Dennis Pennington
Dennis Pennington was an early legislator in Indiana and the Indiana Territory, speaker of the first Indiana State Senate, speaker of the territorial legislature, a member of the Whig Party serving over 37 years in public office, and one of the founders of Indiana. He was also a stonemason and...
, the states first speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the Indiana Senate
Indiana Senate
The Indiana Senate is the upper house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The Senate is composed of 50 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. Senators serve four-year terms without term limits...
and the speaker of the territorial legislature, who was awarded the construction contract by the Indiana Territorial Legislature. The building was constructed to be forty foot square, two stories high, with two feet thick walls. The exposed exterior of the building is not dressed using only stones that were cut roughly square. The foundation was placed three feet into the ground and made two and a half feet thick. The lower room, with fifteen foot ceilings, was made from stone flagging and with the barn rail made from hewn timber. The upper floor's ceiling is 10 feet (3 m) high. Two large fire places where installed in both the upper and lower floor. The original building had a scale and balance on the roof as the symbol of justice. The original building was constructed for approximately $1500.
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
several battles occurred near Vincennes
Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Indiana, United States. It is located on the Wabash River in the southwestern part of the state. The population was 18,701 at the 2000 census...
, causing the territorial government fear an attack on the capitol. A resolution was drafted to move the government further from the frontier, and Corydon was chosen for its central position within the populated part of the state. The newly constructed building served as the capitol of Indiana Territory
Indiana Territory
The Territory of Indiana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1800, until November 7, 1816, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Indiana....
from 1813 until 1816 when the territory was granted statehood. In June 1816 the state's first constitutional convention was held in the building, resulting in the creation of the Constitution of Indiana
Constitution of Indiana
There have been two Constitutions of the State of Indiana. The first constitution was created when the Territory of Indiana sent forty-three delegates to a constitutional convention on June 10, 1816 to establish a constitution for the proposed State of Indiana after the United States Congress had...
. From 1816 until 1825 the building was used as the State capitol. The upstairs housed the state Supreme Court and Senate and the lower floor contained the House of Representatives. State offices were located in the First State Office Building on Walnut Street.
After 1825, when the state capital was moved to Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, the building continued to be used as the county courthouse and office building for the Harrison County
Harrison County, Indiana
Harrison County is a county located in the far southern part of the U.S. state of Indiana along the Ohio River. It is divided into twelve townships, and the county seat is Corydon, the former capital of Indiana. The county is part of the larger Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan...
Government until 1929 when a new county courthouse was constructed. The balance and scales were removed in 1833 and replaced with a large bell hung in their place. In 1873 the building was renovated, the fireplaces where closed up and the original stone floor covered over with a wood floor.
The building was purchased in 1917 by the state of Indiana to be preserved as a "memorial to the pioneers who established the commonwealth of Indiana". It opened in 1929 and has since been preserved and protected as a memorial. The building was registered as a national historic site in 1973 and is known as Corydon Capitol. Except for the bell tower which was removed, the building has been entirely restored to its original appearance, including furniture and the upstairs library.
Posey House
The home of Thomas Lloyd Posey, son of territorial governor Thomas Posey, is also preserved as part of the district. A brick home built in 1817, it was a museum operated by the Daughters of the American Revolution through 1999. It is one of the oldest homes in Indiana and was added to the district in 1989. It was acquired by the state in 2000 but has been vacant since that time. The photo in the gallery below is mislabeled and is actually the Heth House (1817) located on Mulberry Street.Governor's Headquarters
Davis Floyd
Davis Floyd was an Indiana Jeffersonian Republican politician who was convicted of aiding American Vice President Aaron Burr in the Burr conspiracy. Floyd was not convicted of treason however and returned to public life after several years working to redeem his reputation...
. Floyd had been the treasurer and auditor of the Indiana Territory and was then an Indiana State Legislator. Floyd lost his home in Panic of 1819
Panic of 1819
The Panic of 1819 was the first major financial crisis in the United States, and had occurred during the political calm of the Era of Good Feelings. The new nation previously had faced a depression following the war of independence in the late 1780s and led directly to the establishment of the...
and it was then purchased by the state to house the Governor. Governor William Hendricks
William Hendricks
William Hendricks was a Democratic-Republican member of the House of Representatives from 1816 to 1822, the third Governor of Indiana from 1822 to 1825, and an Anti-Jacksonian member of the U.S. Senate from 1825 to 1837. He led much of his family into politics and founded one of the largest...
, and later Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, occupied the building from 1822-1825. In 1841 the building was purchased by Judge William A. Porter, a lawyer who also served several terms in the Indiana State legislature as a Whig. He was also Speaker of House in 1849. The home is now part of the Corydon Capitol State Historic Site.
Grand Masonic Lodge
The Grand Masonic LodgeMasonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
was built in 1817 after being organized by many of the leading men in the state government. It is located on the city block east of the statehouse. The Masons had been active in Indiana for over two decades before its building. After statehood its membership and influence grew to the point where a building was constructed. It is the oldest Masonic Lodge building in Indiana. Its founding members included Senator Dennis Pennington
Dennis Pennington
Dennis Pennington was an early legislator in Indiana and the Indiana Territory, speaker of the first Indiana State Senate, speaker of the territorial legislature, a member of the Whig Party serving over 37 years in public office, and one of the founders of Indiana. He was also a stonemason and...
, Governor Jonathan Jennings
Jonathan Jennings
Jonathan Jennings was the first Governor of Indiana and a nine-term congressman from Indiana. Born in Readington, New Jersey, he studied law with his brother before immigrating to Indiana in 1806 where he took part in land speculation...
, Representative Davis Floyd
Davis Floyd
Davis Floyd was an Indiana Jeffersonian Republican politician who was convicted of aiding American Vice President Aaron Burr in the Burr conspiracy. Floyd was not convicted of treason however and returned to public life after several years working to redeem his reputation...
, and Congressman William Hendricks
William Hendricks
William Hendricks was a Democratic-Republican member of the House of Representatives from 1816 to 1822, the third Governor of Indiana from 1822 to 1825, and an Anti-Jacksonian member of the U.S. Senate from 1825 to 1837. He led much of his family into politics and founded one of the largest...
just to name a few. It is still used by Masons and the Order of the Eastern Star
Order of the Eastern Star
The Order of the Eastern Star is a fraternal organization that both men and women can join. It was established in 1850 by Rob Morris, a lawyer and educator from Boston, Massachusetts, who had been an official with the Freemasons. It is based on teachings from the Bible, but is open to people of all...
. Next door to the lodge is the oldest standing Methodist Church in the state that was built in 1826.
Leora Brown School
Built in 1891, the Corydon Colored School is the oldest standing segregatedRacial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
school for African-American children in Indiana. Corydon, an early home of the state's abolitionist leaders, always had a number of free African-American citizens living in the vicinity of the school. The first graduation of students from the school occurred on May 14, 1897. In 1987, the school was renamed for the school's longest serving teacher, Leora Brown. Brown taught at school from 1924 until 1950. In 1989, it was added to National Register of Historic Places as part of the district. Indiana public schools were desegregated
Desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
by an act of the Indiana General Assembly during the 1949–50 school year, and the students were integrated with the Corydon public schools starting in the 1950–1951 school year. The building was converted to a cultural center in 1993.
Sources
My Indiana:101 Places to See, by Earl L. Conn (Indiana Historical SocietyIndiana Historical Society
The Indiana Historical Society is one of the United States' oldest and largest historical societies and describes itself as "Indiana's Storyteller". Housed within the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, it is located at 450 West Ohio St...
Press, 2006). pg.204-5.