Progressive Preservation
Progressive Preservation efforts assist in caring for buildings, landscapes, and art in Bartholomew County. Through research, conservation, fundraising, and documentation, it educates and advocates for the stewardship of cultural resources. This work demonstrates a community-based approach to addressing some of the country’s most complex heritage challenges.
Progressive Preservation projects and events represent a community dedicated to keeping our cultural heritage active and relevant. This work is aligned toward three main goals:
Identifying significant cultural resources in threat and advocating for their proper care
Informing communities about the existence, significance, and condition of cultural resources
Leveraging our network to assist owners and managers in caring for cultural resources.
Featured Projects
Downtown Black Heritage Trail Markers
Paulette Roberts, Tami Iorio, and Jim Nickoll, experts who have been conducting research on Columbus Black Heritage, presented their findings on what Columbus was like from 1870–1940. Ten sites were proposed and documented as significant places of Black Heritage. The public had opportunities to share thoughts, opinions, and stories. Ten bronze markers will be installed for Juneteenth 2025.
Local Social Design Trips
These trips allow our community to share their unique perspectives and personal connections to the histories and meanings of significant cultural sites in and around downtown. Local Social Design Trips bring awareness to our history and heritage in a fun, after-work style event. The 2024 season guides were Jared Anderson and Jim Nickoll, Josh Mings, Martha Velderrain Chavz, Matthew Jackson, and Tu Futuro.
American Modern: Architecture, Community, Columbus, Indiana
The once-in-a-generation publication American Modern: Architecture, Community, Columbus, Indiana, officially launched worldwide on July 24, 2024. The book, written by Matt Shaw and photographed by Iwan Baan, is jointly published by The Monacelli Press and Landmark Columbus Foundation. Studio Lin designed the book.
American Modern is the first in-depth publication about Columbus, Indiana that demonstrates the unique convergence of civic, industrial, and social forces that produced the preeminent laboratory of architectural modernism in the country.
Progressive Preservation Talks: Schools Edition
In 2024, Glenda Winders continued the “Progressive Preservation Talks: Schools Edition” to document the history and design of Cummins Architecture Foundation-funded education environments. In partnership with the Columbus Visitors Center, Glenda presented her research to the community on Northside Middle School and Parkside Elementary School.
HutchFest
HutchFest is an annual two-day music festival fundraiser in the heart of downtown Columbus that supports three organizations: Landmark Columbus Foundation, the Crump Theatre, and the Miller House and Garden. Learn more: hutchfest.org
Atlas of Bartholomew Culture
The Atlas of Bartholomew Culture is a digital tool that brings together new and existing resources to help residents, stakeholders, and decision-makers navigate the histories, stories, and contexts of culturally significant places across Bartholomew County. Increasing access to this type of information on a single platform will tell the stories of the buildings and places that make Columbus special, and help members of our community understand their value and the important place they have in Columbus’ future. It is set to launch in spring of 2025.
Former Projects
Save Our Tower Campaign
In November 2023, the congregation of First Christian Church (FCC), the community of Columbus, and supporters from around the country celebrated the completion of the first comprehensive restoration of the Church’s iconic tower. With a musical ceremony held in the Church’s sanctuary that honored towers around the world, First Christian leadership thanked the congregation and all of those who supported the $3.2-million, eight-month restoration project, which began in 2022 and was completed in December 2023.
Collaborating with leadership from FCC and Heritage Fund, a significant effort was completed to raise the needed funds for the repairs of the iconic tower. With over half of the dollars raised from outside of Bartholomew County, this achievement demonstrates that the value of the cultural heritage in Columbus extends beyond Bartholomew County, around the country.
Learn more about the completion of this project here.
The Crump Project Encore
When Crump’s New Theatre opened in1889, it was the first stand-alone opera house in Columbus. The Art Deco façade was designed by architect Alden Merenda in 1941. In April 2019, the Crump was placed on Indiana Landmarks' "Top 10 Most Endangered List."
Today, The Crump is undergoing a Capital Campaign to transform the theatre back into a performance venue for generations to come. Learn more about Project Encore here. Read the Press Release about Project Encore here. To directly donate to support Project Encore, visit Heritage Fund’s website.
Keeping It Modern—North Christian Church Conservation Management Plan
Landmark Columbus Foundation partnered with the former North Christian Church congregation to win a prestigious Getty Foundation Keeping It Modern grant that funded the first-ever, building‑wide conservation management plan for Eero Saarinen’s 1964 landmark and its Dan Kiley landscape. An interdisciplinary team conducted exhaustive archival research, photo documentation, and developed forward-looking guidelines addressing this internationally significant cultural resource. The plan now serves as a roadmap for phased restoration, daily maintenance, and sustainable operation, ensuring that this late‑modern icon continues to inspire visitors for generations to come.
Lucabe + Irwin Union Bank
In fall 2021, Lucabe Coffee Co. expanded its coffee business with a second location in the former Irwin Union Bank and Trust branch at Eastbrook Plaza, which was designed by legendary Modern architect Harry Weese and opened in 2961. Working in a progressive way, they adapted this bank into a new community icon, complete with a drive-up window. Lucabe received a Commercial Design Citation of Merit by Docomomo US for their adaptive reuse renovation.
Civic Identity
The Columbus Indiana Civic Identity Resource Booklet was written with input from dozens of local civic leaders and residents who shared insights and stories about what makes Columbus the best community of its size in the country. This booklet and corresponding website are now a new asset for civic and arts organizations, businesses, governmental agencies, educational groups, religious organizations, and more who would like to help communicate about what makes this place unique.
The Artwork of Carole Wantz: Collected Stories of Columbus, Indiana
After several years of museum exhibitions and collaboration with the celebrated artist Carole Wantz, a number of her significant paintings have been successfully acquired by major collections in Columbus, including Bartholomew County Historical Society, Cummins Inc., Indiana State Museum, and the Miller House and Garden.
Guided Public Art Tours
This event is a fun, accessible, guided public art tour of downtown Columbus that tells stories about places and people in the context of Columbus’ public art. Over a 1.5-mile tour, many of the major artworks can be viewed.
The “Columbus” Movie 5th Anniversary Celebration with the Stars
It has been five years since the film Columbus arrived on the big screen, once again catapulting Columbus into the national spotlight. This event was a rare opportunity to reconnect with the stars of the production. The conversation took place in the sanctuary of the former North Christian Church and was moderated by Holly Warren from the City of Bloomington. The event was produced in collaboration with the Columbus Area Visitors Center and the City of Bloomington.