Oldfields, Indianapolis

Oldfields, also known as Lilly House and Gardens, is a magnificent 26-acre historic estate nestled within the Newfields campus in Indianapolis, Indiana. A hallmark of the American Country House movement, this estate exemplifies early 20th-century elegance and was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 2003.

Constructed between 1909 and 1913 by architect Lewis Ketcham Davis for the family of Hugh McKennan Landon, Oldfields showcases the French Châteauesque style. The estate occupies a scenic bluff overlooking the White River, offering breathtaking views. The mansion originally featured a music room, library, sunroom, dining and living rooms, and a third-floor ballroom.

In 1933, the property was acquired by Josiah K. Lilly Jr., an Indianapolis businessman and philanthropist. Lilly extensively renovated the mansion during the 1930s and 1940s, introducing elements like a great hall, game room, and loggia. Today, the house is restored to reflect the 1930s era and is open to the public as a museum. Its rooms, largely original, showcase nearly 90% of the furnishings and objects used by the Lilly family.

The estate's grounds, designed initially by Lewis Ketcham Davis, included a formal sunken garden with a limestone bridge, fountain, and sculptures. In 1920, Jessie Landon enlisted Percival Gallagher of the famed Olmsted Brothers to further enhance the estate's landscape. Gallagher's design integrated formal elements, like the Grand Allée, with more naturalistic features, such as the ravine garden.

Today, Oldfields is a key component of Newfields, alongside the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park. The Lilly House offers visitors eight meticulously restored rooms and upper-level exhibits that delve into the American Country Place era, the estate's history, and life in early 20th-century Indianapolis. The museum also preserves and interprets the estate's gardens, ensuring Percival Gallagher's vision endures.