Established in 1863 amidst the turmoil of the American Civil War, Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis is historically significant as a premier and exceptionally well-preserved example of the 19th-century Rural Cemetery movement. Conceived to replace the city's overflowing Greenlawn Cemetery, Crown Hill was designed by renowned landscape architect John Chislett to harmonize the natural topography of the rolling Indiana landscape with picturesque, winding carriage paths, a mature forest canopy, and dramatic scenic vistas. Spanning hundreds of acres, it became one of the largest private cemeteries in the United States. Its historical importance is further elevated by the inclusion of the Crown Hill National Cemetery, established within its grounds in 1866, which serves as the final resting place for thousands of Union soldiers and Confederate prisoners of war, underscoring the site's profound connection to the Civil War era.

Architecturally, the cemetery is renowned for its outstanding collection of Victorian, Gothic Revival, and Classical Revival structures, most notably the iconic 1875 Gothic Chapel designed by Diedrich A. Bohlen, and the grand limestone arched gateway. Beyond its landscape and architectural merit, Crown Hill possesses immense national significance as the burial site of numerous historically prominent individuals who shaped the political, social, and cultural fabric of the United States. Among those interred within its scenic grounds are U.S. President Benjamin Harrison, three U.S. Vice Presidents (Thomas A. Hendricks, Charles W. Fairbanks, and Thomas R. Marshall), legendary Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley, and the notorious Depression-era outlaw John Dillinger.

Crown Hill National Cemetery, established in 1866 within the grounds of the larger, private Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana, holds profound historical significance under Criterion A for its association with the American Civil War and the federal government's efforts to honor fallen Union soldiers. The cemetery's creation was spearheaded by Indiana Governor Oliver P. Morton and the federal government to address the rapid deterioration and flooding of Greenlawn Cemetery, the city's original military burial site. Between 1866 and 1868, the remains of over 700 Union soldiers were carefully relocated to this dedicated 1.4-acre federal tract. Today, the national cemetery serves as the final resting place for over 2,100 military personnel, representing veterans from the Civil War-including hundreds of unknown soldiers-through the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War, standing as a solemn monument to Indiana's military contributions.

Architecturally and aesthetically significant under Criterion C, the Crown Hill National Cemetery epitomizes the standardized, dignified design principles of the late nineteenth-century national cemetery system. Embedded within the rolling, picturesque lawn-park landscape of the larger Crown Hill Cemetery, the national section is distinguished by its orderly, concentric rows of upright white marble headstones radiating outward from a central flagpole. This military precision contrasts beautifully with the surrounding naturalistic canopy of mature trees, while a low, perimeter stone wall gently segregates the federal grounds from the civilian sections. The site retains an exceptional degree of historic integrity, preserving a sacred, reflective landscape that honors the nation's dead through a harmonious blend of military order and Victorian landscape design.

The Charles W. Fairbanks House, located at 3002 North Meridian Street in Indianapolis, is historically significant for its direct association with Charles Warren Fairbanks, one of Indiana's most influential political figures of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Fairbanks served as a U.S. Senator from Indiana (1897?1905) and as the 26th Vice President of the United States under President Theodore Roosevelt from 1905 to 1909. Constructed in 1907 during his vice presidency, this grand residence served as Fairbanks' primary home and political headquarters during the peak of his national stature. Throughout his later career, the house was a frequent gathering place for high-profile political strategy sessions, national dignitaries, and civic events, cementing its status as a vital landmark of both state and national political history.

Architecturally, the Fairbanks House is an outstanding and rare local example of the Chateauesque and Beaux-Arts styles, designed by the prominent Indianapolis architect Herbert Foltz. The imposing two-and-a-half-story mansion features a smooth-faced Indiana limestone facade, a steeply pitched slate roof, elegant dormers, copper cresting, and refined classical ornamentation that reflects the opulence of the Gilded Age. Situated along the historic North Meridian Street corridor, which served as the premier residential enclave for the city's elite during the early twentieth century, the home stands as a monument to Indianapolis's rapid growth and architectural sophistication during this era. Its preservation honors both its exceptional design and its association with a statesman whose legacy is felt nationwide.

Established in 1903 and named in honor of Indiana's only U.S. President, the Fort Benjamin Harrison Historic District holds national significance as a premier military installation that played a vital role in American defense and military administration throughout the twentieth century. Located in Lawrence, Marion County, the fort served as a major training and mobilization site during both World Wars, hosting Officer Candidate Schools during World War I and serving as a massive troop induction center, Finance School, and Allied prisoner-of-war camp during World War II. In the post-war era, the base transitioned into the "Service School of the Army," housing the massive U.S. Army Finance Center-historically the second-largest administrative building in the Department of Defense after the Pentagon-and the Adjutant General's Corps, cementing its legacy as the administrative and financial heart of the nation's military.

Architecturally, the historic district is highly significant for its exceptionally well-preserved collection of early twentieth-century military buildings, primarily designed in the stately Colonial Revival style. The district's layout reflects formal military planning of the era, centered around a sprawling, picturesque parade ground flanked by impressive brick officers' quarters, barracks, a hospital, and administrative structures that showcase the standardized, high-quality construction of the Quartermaster General's office. Following the base's closure in 1991 under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) action, a highly successful adaptive reuse campaign preserved these historic assets, integrating them into Fort Harrison State Park, residential neighborhoods, and commercial spaces while maintaining the visual integrity of this crucial Hoosier military landmark.

The Benjamin Harrison House, located at 1230 North Delaware Street in Indianapolis, is a grand 16-room Italianate-style mansion built between 1874 and 1875 for the prominent attorney and future U.S. President, Benjamin Harrison. Constructed of red brick with limestone trim, the residence is characterized by its three-story bracketed tower, tall arched windows, and a classic front porch added in 1896. The interior of the home remains exceptionally well-preserved, showcasing original features such as intricate walnut and oak woodwork, parquet flooring, and gas chandeliers. Today, it functions as a historic house museum, retaining a vast collection of original Harrison family furnishings, personal belongings, and political artifacts that reflect the high-style Victorian tastes of the late 19th century.

Historically, the property is of national significance as the primary residence of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States, who lived there from its completion until his death in 1901, interrupted only by his terms in the U.S. Senate and the White House. The home gained national prominence during the presidential campaign of 1888, serving as the backdrop for Harrison's famous "Front Porch Campaign," during which he delivered speeches to more than 300,000 citizens gathered on his lawn. After his presidency, Harrison returned to the Delaware Street home to practice law, write his notable book This Country of Ours, and draft his final speeches before passing away in his second-floor bedroom. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964 and formally listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966, the home stands as a premier monument to Indiana's only U.S. president and a pivotal site in American political history.