Bush Stadium, built in 1931 near the confluence of Fall Creek and White River on West 16th Street in Indianapolis, was one of the greatest minor league parks in the nation. In addition to its storied past as the home the Indianapolis Indians, it also hosted significant Negro league teams.

Designed by Pierre and Wright, the stadium boasts an Art Deco entry pavilion, handsome architectural detailing, and a red-brick outfield wall, once covered in ivy like its famed major-league counterpart at Wrigley Field. The stands held 12,000 fans under roof. In the 1980s, steeped in history, Bush stood in for Comiskey Park and Crosley Field in the movie Eight Men Out.  Few parks of its era and significance remain standing.

The threat: When the Indianapolis Indians moved downtown to Victory Field in 1996, their venerable former home was left empty. The city of Indianapolis, owner of the stadium since 1967, has not invested to maintain the structure, so deterioration is escalating. In 2007, the city entertained demolishing the stadium for a life science-related development. Some advocates would love to see Bush rehabbed as a city-wide Little League stadium. A private developer has proposed adapting the stadium for office and residential use.  Without investment in one of these ideas, Bush Stadium will go the way of so many late, lamented ballparks—a crying shame in a city that bills itself as a national sports capital.

Landmarks in jeopardy. Each year, Historic Landmarks Foundation announces its list of Indiana’s 10 Most Endangered landmarks. Jeopardized by abandonment, neglect, deterioration, and sprawl, the 10 Most Endangered face imminent threats.

When Historic Landmarks puts a site on the Most Endangered list, we commit ourselves to saving it. The Most Endangered status establishes these places as our top preservation priorities. Sites remain on the Most Endangered list until they’re declared safe or no longer in immediate danger.

To view the top ten most endangered landmarks in Indiana, visit http://www.historiclandmarks.org/SavingPlaces/10Most/
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