Indianapolis City Market Catacombs

The Indianapolis City Market Catacombs are one of only roughly a dozen in the United States, but don’t entirely fit the definition you might be used to. There are no bodies buried beneath the surface of the City Market, at least not that anyone is aware of. However, the “catacombs” have seen a variety of uses throughout history, from standing in as a temporary homeless shelter to a makeshift venue for important events and dinners. Some of the people who work for the City Market claim the place is haunted.

The tour itself is rather short. The first 30 minutes took place aboveground, where the guide treated us to a tour of the City Market, once the site of Tomlinson Hall before it burned to the ground, leaving behind the catacombs below. The guide was enthusiastic and informative, and history buffs will appreciate the wealth of information.

Once the tour went belowground, things got a little less exciting. The catacombs themselves are little more than a musty storage space comprised primarily of one large room. There are no skulls or burial sites to explore, just poorly lit passages. The guide did her best to make things interesting, but compared to other actual catacombs, it seems a little silly to qualify them as such.

However, I’m told they hold special events during Halloween that probably utilize the spooky atmosphere pretty well. So, if you’re in town during the fall, it might be worth checking out. For only $10 for a public tour, it was definitely worth the money, if nothing else for the history lesson we received while exploring the Market.

1201 Central Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46202

317-639-4534
800-450-4534
Fax: 317-639-6734
info@indianalandmarks.org