The Lilly Mansion, Indianapolis, Indiana

A gorgeous, French-inspired 22 room mansion, the Lilly home was constructed in 1912 by the original owner, Hugh McKennan Landon who hired architect Lewis Ketcham to bring his vision to life.

Josiah K. Lilly, Jr., grandson of Eli Lilly, purchased the 20th Century estate property in 1932, expanded it to 56 acres and the Lilly's lived there until the 1960's. The historical home is preserved in the 1930's era and it is stunning. Self-guided tours are included with general admission to the Indianapolis Museum of Art, which was founded by Mrs. Ruth Lilly. It is well worth the time to visit, it's an amazing home with beautiful formal gardens that overlook the White River.

Come with me on a historical and photographic tour of the Lilly Mansion, you won't be disappointed.

What to Know About The Lilly Mansion

Officially designated a US National Historic Landmark District in 2003, the 20th Century French Chateauesque Lilly Mansion and Gardens are located on the near Northwest side of Indianapolis, Indiana at 4000 North Michigan Road.

From 1909 to 1913, Hugh McKennan Landon developed the estate and home, also known as Oldfields, on a tract of land that was part of the town of Woodstock, a suburban Indianapolis neighborhood.

Originally 52 acres, the property is now 26 acres located adjacent to the White River and massive historic 555 acre Crown Hill Cemetery, which was established in 1863 at Strawberry Hill. A high point summit known as "The Crown," overlooks the city of Indianapolis. Crown Hill Cemetery is the third largest non-government cemetery in the United States.

The Lilly Mansion and Gardens are best visited in the warmer months of the year when the gardens are green and blooming.

The Colonel Eli Lilly Family Dates to the 19th Century

Colonel Eli Lilly (1838 - 1898) made his fortune developing pharmaceuticals and marketing them wholesale to pharmacies. Lilly founded his namesake company in 1876 in Indianapolis, Indiana and it eventually became a pharmaceutical giant, which is now a billion dollar enterprise. A self-made man, Colonel Lilly made two significant advances in the early development manufacturing medicinal drugs and later pioneered quality manufacturing assurances. Colonel Lilly was one of the first manufacturers to create a staffed, dedicated research department within his manufacturing company.

Colonel Lilly pioneered the concept of creating prescriptions for dangerous and/or addictive medicine that would only be dispensed by pharmacies after a patient had been seen by a medical doctor.

He was a longtime advocate for federal regulation of the pharmaceutical industry. In 1906 many of the Colonel's reforms were enacted into law, which lead to the creation of the United States' Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Colonel Eli Lilly married Emily Lemon in 1861 and they had a son, Josiah Kirby Lilly (also known as JK Lilly Sr., 1861 - 1948). JK Lilly Sr. is regarded as an American businessman, pharmaceutical industrialist, and philanthropist who served as president and chairman of the board of Eli Lilly and Company, the pharmaceutical company that his father, Colonel Eli Lilly, founded.

When Colonel Eli Lilly's wife, Emily passed, he remarried. Maria Cynthia Sloane Lilly (1849 - 1932) gave birth to their only child, Eleanor Wallace Lilly (1870 - 1884), who died of diphtheria as a young teen. She is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In 1882, Josiah Kirby Lilly Sr. (J.K. Lilly Sr.) married Lilly Marie Ridgely (1862 - 1934) and they produced two children, Eli Lilly II (1885 - 1977) and Josiah K. Lilly Jr. (1893 - 1966). Lilly Marie Ridgely Lilly passed away at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1934. Josiah Kirby Lilly Sr. then married a widow, Lila Allison Humes (1884 - 1971) in 1935 and there were no marital children. Her first husband was Dr. Charles Dolph Humes (1882 - 1932, m. 1908). JK Lilly Sr. and both of his wives are buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Eli Lilly II  formally met Evelyn Fortune (1887 - 1997) at Lake Wawasee in Northern Indiana where their two families vacationed in the summers. At the lake, Mr. Lilly enjoyed swimming, hiking, fishing and sailing. He proposed to Ms. Fortune in 1906 and they were married in August, 1907. They had three children born in 1908, 1910 and 1918. The first born were sons, both named Eli--who died in the first year of life. Their daughter, Evelyn, whom they called Evie, died childless in 1970.

Eli Lilly II divorced Evelyn in 1926, accusing her of being too strong and independent, blaming her for the death of their sons and accusing her of being affectionless. The judge presiding over the divorce awarded Ms. Fortune $300,000 in cash, a car and the marital home located at 1239 N. Delaware Street in downtown Indianapolis. The judge also awarded Ms. Fortune custody of the couple’s eight-year-old daughter Evie. Ms. Fortune and her daughter began a new life on the East Coast after the divorce. In 1927 Eli Lilly II married Ruth Allison. They did not have children.

Josiah Kirby Lilly Jr. (JK Lilly Jr.) married Ruth Marie Brinkmeyer in 1914 and they had two children: Ruth Lilly (1915 - 2009) and Josiah Kirby Lilly III (1916 - 1995). JK Lilly Jr. purchased what became known as the Lilly estate in 1932.

In 1941 Ruth Lilly married Guernsey Van Riper; however, they divorced in 1981 with no children.

Josiah Kirby Lilly III married Jean K. Heller in 1938 and they had three children. In 1946 Josiah Kirby Lilly III married Josephine Mohan and they had three children. J.K. Lilly III married Margaret Corsini in 1989 and they had no children.

Public Spaces

In addition to the walkable areas of Oldfields, self guided tours of the formal gardens are available to visitors. The mansion is available for tours of the first floor and part of the garage area on the lower level. Eight rooms including the great hall, drawing room, game room, sunroom, dining room, loggia, butler's pantry and kitchen and library are fully furnished in period pieces of the 1930's era.

Children and adults are welcome for indoor tours during operating hours. Strollers must be parked outdoors and photography is permitted with non-professional camera equipment.