Madison Historic District

Infobox_nrhp | name =Madison Historic District
nrhp_type = nhld


caption =
location= Madison, Indiana
lat_degrees = 38
lat_minutes = 44
lat_seconds = 32
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 85
long_minutes = 22
long_seconds = 38
long_direction = W
locmapin = Indiana
area =
architect=
architecture= Greek Revival, Other, Federal
added = May 25, 1973
governing_body = Local
refnum=73000020cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

The Madison Historic District is a historic district located in Madison, Indiana. In 2006, it was named a National Historic Landmark, due to its unique Midwestern beauty and architecture scheme. [Thomas, Phyllis. " [http://books.google.com/books?id=V_GxV2WZxAIC Indiana: Off the Beaten Path : a Guide to Unique Places] " (Globe Pequot, 2007) pg.152] [http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1146768999&ResourceType=District National Historic Landmarks Program (NHL) ] ] Among the prominent buildings in the district are the Lanier Mansion, one of two buildings separately considered a National Historic Landmark in the district, and the Schofield House, the birthplace of the Grand Lodge of Indiana. In total, it comprises 133 blocks of Madison, Indiana, overlooking the Ohio River in Jefferson County, Indiana. ["Walking Tour of Historic Madison, Indiana". (Madison Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (MACVB), ) pg.6]

Madison's most prominent days were before 1860. It was a major transportation hub, taking river commerce and shipping it to the inland of Indiana. Once transportation routes changes, Madison would falter until tourism saved it more than a century later. [O'Guinn, Helen. "Day Trips from Indianapolis, 2nd Edition" (Globe Pequot, 2004) pg.111]

Many of the prominent building in the district were built by Madison-native-architect Francis Costigan, which favored the Greek Revival style.. Two of these are National Historic Landmarks: the Lanier Mansion, and the Shrewsbury-Windle House. The Lanier Mansion was the former home of James Lanier, who lent money to governor Oliver P. Morton to run the Indiana state government to circumvent the legislative process between 1862-1865. The Shrewsbury-Windle House was built for steamboat captain Charles Shrewsbury, would would later become a mayor of Madison's. Costigan would himself build a home in the district, considered one of the best uses of a narrow lot by modern architects; a thirty-foot parlor is considered the highlight of the House.. [MACVB, pg. 7,8] [ [http://www.oldmadison.com/homes/ Historic homes and buildings of Madison, IN ] ] [O'Guinn pg.112]

Also in the district is the old railroad depot. When the Madison & Indianapolis Railroad was first built in 1835, Madison was far bigger than the new state capital of Indianapolis. The railroad was constructed by Irish laborers. [ [http://www.oldmadison.com/madview2.html Madisonview ] ]

Madison was also a major stop on the Underground Railroad, with many homes in the area having once been used for assisting the escape of slaves that were the legal property of Southern land owners.

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