Old National Centre, Indianapolis, Guia do visitante e o que fazer por perto

The Old National Centre is a landmark performing arts venue at 512 N New Jersey St in Indianapolis, Indiana. It began life in the early twentieth century as the Murat Shrine temple, and its Moorish Revival design still makes it one of the most unusual buildings in the downtown area. Today it hosts concerts and live events, so the building is both a piece of city history and a working music hall.

The story behind it

The building was put up as the home of the Murat Shrine, a local temple of the Shriners, a fraternal order that liked to give its meeting houses an exotic look. The Indianapolis architects chose a Moorish and Middle Eastern style, with ornate decoration, a dome and a tower that reads like a minaret. Nothing else nearby looks like it, which is why people often stop to ask what it is.

Over the decades the hall moved from private fraternal use to public entertainment. It became known as the Murat Theatre and later took its current name, Old National Centre, after a naming partnership with a bank. The venue now draws touring musicians and other acts, and the old Shrine rooms inside are used for shows and events.

What to look for

• Look up at the tower and dome, whose Moorish Revival shapes stand out sharply against the more conventional brick and stone buildings around them.
• Study the decorative details around the entrance and upper walls, where the ornamental patterns show how seriously the original builders took the theme.
• Check the marquee and posters out front to see who is playing, as the lineup changes often and says a lot about the venue's current life.
• Notice how the building sits at the edge of the Massachusetts Avenue district, where its grand scale contrasts with the smaller shops and restaurants nearby.

Tips for your visit

• Allow ten to fifteen minutes to see the exterior and photograph it, longer if you plan to walk the surrounding streets.
• Daylight is best for the architectural details, while evenings suit show nights, when the entrance is lit and busy.
• You can normally go inside only with a ticket for an event, so check the venue's current schedule before you plan on seeing the interior.
• Massachusetts Avenue is a short walk away and has plenty of cafes, bars and independent shops for a break before or after.

See it on a quest

The Oz Escape in Indianapolis is a good way to see the Old National Centre because you reach it on foot as one stop on a longer route through the area. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Massachusetts Avenue, Indianapolis takes you through the same neighbourhood with a mystery theme. You walk from stop to stop, hear about each place along the way and solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

Lucky Treasure Hunt: The Golden Shamrock in Indianapolis turns the walk into a treasure hunt that passes the venue. You start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join, and the app gives you the story of each stop and a puzzle to solve there. One ticket covers the whole group.