#ThursdayDoors — Circle Tower

Posted on June 8, 2017 by joey

It’s not the doors, it’s the entrance.

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Check out that arch.

You can maybe see The Mister and I in the door on the right. I snapped this on the fly, and couldn’t even fit the whole thing in the frame without crouching on the sidewalk, and y’all, I am not that committed.

But then when I went to research the building on Historic Indianapolis how I do, I discovered it’s a gem … Finished in 1930, Circle Tower is one of Indianapolis’s finest examples of Art Deco architecture.
And also:

Circle Tower was completed only eight years after archaeologist Howard Carter’s sensational discovery of King Tutankhamen’s tomb in 1922. The intricate bronze screen over the north entry arch reflects the widespread interest in Egyptology at the time. Sculptor Joseph Willenborg filled the bronze grille with hieroglyphic-like images, stylized into the Deco mode.

Obviously I had to go back.

I’m seldom tenacious, but I went to the circle TWICE before I got the shot, cause events. Often the circle will be closed to cars during events. Parking downtown on a weekday and then heading into crowds is not what Joeys do best. Finally a day came when the circle was open and not bustling with people.

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(The center of Indianapolis is a circle.  It’s called Monument Circle. Inside the circle is the Soldier’s and Sailor’s Monument.)

I took more than a dozen photos of the tower, just to make up for lost time.

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I cannot possibly convey how weird it is that it’s been here my entire life and I’d never actually SEEN it.
I think it was worth it a few trips.

#ThursdayDoors is part of an inspired post series run by Norm Frampton. To see other doors of interest, or to share your own, click the link.

About joey

Neurotic Bitch, Mother, Wife, Writer, Word Whore, Foodie and General Go-To-Girl
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59 Responses to #ThursdayDoors — Circle Tower

  1. ghostmmnc says:
    June 8, 2017 at 11:22 AM

    That’s an interesting building. The arch is outstanding, especially with the Egyptian type motif! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  2. coldhandboyack says:
    June 8, 2017 at 11:40 AM

    Really interesting building, and the arch is cool.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt says:
    June 8, 2017 at 11:53 AM

    Never would have seen this without your photos. I can see why it fascinated you – pretty cool. I thank you for making the effort to go back.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. marianallen says:
    June 8, 2017 at 12:17 PM

    What a fantastic building! That’s one of the things I love about Thursday Doors — how it opens our eyes and toggles our Appreciation switch to ON.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. joanfrankham says:
    June 8, 2017 at 12:30 PM

    Beautiful craftsmanship.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Dan Antion says:
    June 8, 2017 at 1:23 PM

    I love that entrance. When I was first looking at it, I couldn’t figure out was interesting about the shapes over the doors. Egypt – ah, yes, now it makes sense. It is amazing how many buildings I’ve noticed for the first time since doing this door thing. That includes buildings in Hartford I walked past during the 6 years I worked downtown! This one was worth a few trips. Thanks for digging through the history on this one.

    Liked by 2 people

    • joey says:
      June 8, 2017 at 10:58 PM

      Thank you! I’m glad you understood me. Isn’t it interesting how we don’t see what’s right there? Goodness. We’re always so busy and purposeful. Of course, I don’t know how smart it is to lollygag through city streets, starin up and around…. but maybe on a low traffic day, I should try 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  7. bikerchick57 says:
    June 8, 2017 at 1:45 PM

    Beautiful arch, Joey. Thanks for going back for more and sharing. I’ve seen the soldier monument in photos before, but didn’t realize it was in the middle of the city in a circle. Learned something new today.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Ally Bean says:
    June 8, 2017 at 2:01 PM

    I love seeing Art Deco gems “hidden” around a city. Or in some buildings, too. That entryway is amazeballs. And I like the monument, too. Very interesting sites you got there.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. jesh stg says:
    June 8, 2017 at 2:01 PM

    The entrance – there’s so much to see there! And a very unusual circle tower building. Where we have been, certainly has an effect on us!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. undiscoverdimagesamongstus says:
    June 8, 2017 at 2:10 PM

    You probably missed it cause you were looking for a circular tower; the bulding appears to look more like a pyramid (now that you mention Egyptian). And that entrance, the arch is terrific and a good piece for Thursday Doors!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Benson says:
    June 8, 2017 at 4:18 PM

    Brilliant shots. Downtown Indy is amazing. The Circle reminds me of so much. Have you walked the Monument?

    Liked by 1 person

    • joey says:
      June 8, 2017 at 10:53 PM

      Thanks! Yes, it is 🙂
      I have been up it. Twice. Both times in the hot. I shall not do a third. lol BUT I tell the girls they need to do it at least once!

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Jean Reinhardt says:
    June 8, 2017 at 4:25 PM

    That is some archway, Joey, and what a fabulous building. Well worth being tenacious for. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  13. JT Twissel says:
    June 8, 2017 at 7:35 PM

    That building almost looks like a pyramid, doesn’t it?

    Liked by 1 person

  14. evelyneholingue says:
    June 8, 2017 at 10:07 PM

    The arch is gorgeous!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. JoAnna says:
    June 9, 2017 at 12:55 AM

    Very cool. I want to run my hand along the arch and wonder what it’s like inside the building.

    Liked by 2 people

  16. BeckyB says:
    June 9, 2017 at 4:34 AM

    wow! What an entrance . . . . I wonder if the architect managed to photograph it in its entirety?!

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Manja Mexi Movie says:
    June 9, 2017 at 6:58 AM

    Amazing discoveries. I like the monument, love the tower (I have never seen something like that), but that door is the queen (king?) of doors not just of this week but wider. Look at that! 😮 Well, for the bottom part they could choose something else, but the arch and the little people are just…. Yeah, you can call them Egyptians if you wish, to me they look like an entire apartment house with 50’s-style families. Just glorious! And in your city! 😮

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Norm 2.0 says:
    June 9, 2017 at 8:23 AM

    Great job in going back to get more shots. That arch is special indeed. The building in terms of footprint and total floor space seems enormous.
    You’re not the only one discovering previously “unseen” hometown gems. Thursday Doors has a way of doing that to us…we just start to notice things more.

    Liked by 2 people

  19. CadyLuck Leedy says:
    June 9, 2017 at 2:10 PM

    I was born and raised in Indiana and all my kids and grandkids still live there and I have never seen these buildings either! I just may have to change all that! Great post as always!

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Joanne Sisco says:
    June 9, 2017 at 4:35 PM

    Awesome doorway. Truly.
    … and that’s not a word I banter around very often since it is so overused inappropriately.
    …but I’m still confused by Circle Tower. I was expecting a round tower. To my surprise, it’s built more like a wedding cake. Is it *Circle* Tower because it’s in the circle?

    Liked by 1 person

  21. reocochran says:
    June 11, 2017 at 1:40 PM

    Gorgeous, intricate designs in metal, did you say brass? I am at pool trying to blog but bright sun doesn’t allow brain nor eyes to function, Joey!! I love the fact you included the archaeological details, too. The archeologist’s name. xo Robin

    Liked by 1 person

  22. larva225 says:
    June 12, 2017 at 9:24 AM

    I heart art deco. I wish it would hurry on up and come back around.

    Liked by 1 person

  23. bedlamanddaisies says:
    June 12, 2017 at 8:36 PM

    Ooh… I love me some interesting architecture. Great find. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  24. John Holton says:
    June 14, 2017 at 1:16 PM

    Woooooooooooowwwwww… As many times as I’ve been down there (Merchant’s Bank (I think that was the name) was on the circle), I never noticed it.

    Liked by 1 person

    • joey says:
      June 14, 2017 at 5:57 PM

      Isn’t that peculiar? I have to say, I almost didn’t believe the historical site. How could I (or you) never have seen it?!?

      Like

  25. Pingback: #ThursdayDoors — The Capitol Building | joeyfullystated

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