Architectural Details Essay --- Madison, Indiana: A Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary

Image details (left to right): A tulip garden in downtown Madison,
Courtesy of Bradley Miller; Iron detail on Judge Jeremiah Sullivan House, Courtesy of Larry Hunt; Spindles and decorative
vergeboard, Courtesy of Bradley Miller.

Decorative and functional ironwork appears on many of Madison’s historic properties. Lyre, honeysuckle, and palmetto designs as well as spear points, curls, rosettes, and scrolls add style to both cast and wrought iron gates, balconies, fences, and railings. Madison was home to several foundries throughout the 19th century. While the companies first produced stoves, boilers, and other industrial castings, they eventually also designed and manufactured cast iron store fronts, fences, and decorative wrought pieces for Madison houses. Gates and fronts from foundries in Evansville and Muncie, Indiana; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Louisville, Kentucky are also seen around town.

Fine examples of Federal, Greek Revival, and Italianate houses sporting elaborate entrances and doorways line Madison’s streets. Whether it is a pedimented entrance porch supported by grand columns, a simpler wood-panel door with transom and sidelights, or a recessed entry with glasswork and brackets, stylized doorways add an additional layer of character and architectural interest on already impressive facades. Many of the decorative roof and window cornices are made of sheet metal, which became popular after the Civil War.

Gardening has been a popular pastime in Madison since at least the mid-19th century. After James Lanier’s son Alexander inherited the family’s grand Greek Revival mansion in 1861, the younger Lanier created elaborate gardens for the grounds. Not all of Madison’s private gardens are as elaborate as Alexander Lanier’s post-Civil War design, which has been recreated around the Lanier Mansion using period plants, but many line Madison’s residential streets.

The best way to view Madison's architectural details is to explore Madison on foot. Impressive ironwork, entrances, and landscaping can be seen in any of Madison’s streetscapes. See the West Third Street, East Third Street, West Second Street, and Main Street Commercial Buildings' pages for more information about specific neighborhoods.