James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home & Visitor Center

I visited the museum after doing the Indie Indy Book Crawl. I can't believe I hadn't been here before! The house is beautiful, and I really didn't know anything about Riley before the tour, but I learned so much. Allison, the tour guide and intern, did an amazing job personalizing the tour and answering all of our questions!

My husband and I had our rehearsal dinner at the Riley home and it was also the place in which he proposed in Oct. 2023. It is a beautiful and underrated venue in the Indy area! The gardens are gorgeous and the home itself is a beautiful backdrop for any event, wedding, shower, etc. A big plus is the Riley Home comes with tables, chairs, speakers, microphone, coolers and indoor backup for events plus they do the set up and tear down of their own supplies. Amanda is awesome to work with and was so helpful leading up to our rehearsal. She was quick to respond to messages and answer our questions. When it started to rain in the middle of dinner, she quickly adapted and helped us move all our decor and supplies inside for the remainder of the evening. Not to mention, the Home is a staple for the Lockerbie Square neighborhood in hosting several neighborhood events. My husband and I greatly appreciate this as we live in Lockerbie. In summary, the Home is an amazing place for events and a true hidden gem in Indy! We couldn't recommend this place enough.

We hosted our Rehearsal Dinner here in May and could not have been more in love! Amanda made the entire planning process so seamless, the rental fee goes to a great cause, and you have freedom on catering! Amanda hooked us up with tables, chairs, tents, AND a mic system for speeches. The weather held up, but there was a backup banquet room if not. We will be spreading the news about this angelic location nonstop. A truly beautiful "night at the museum" that our guests loved.

Home of James Whitcomb Riley, the Hoosier poet! Victorian home in mint condition with 90% plus original contents- including James Whitcomb Riley's hat, walking stick, chair, books, clothing, calling cards, his entire bedroom with his desk and chair, and all household furnishings with a few exceptions in the kitchen. The tour was excellent, with interesting film and even better info shared by our guide. Has a small gift shop in the kitchen. A selection, basically of books of his poetry, and a few of the usual things, bookmarks, mugs, shirts.... Restrooms are in the Visitors Center. Tour and parking is free but need to book in advance. A little off the usual path, need good GPS to get there. Exceptional place. I love his poetry.

We hosted our daughter’s second birthday at the James Whitcomb Riley Home - in the visitor center. It was absolutely perfect! We had planned to have activities outside but the weather didn’t cooperate. It was stress free knowing there was basement space for a rain backup. Added bonus, Amanda Mirani is top notch! Amanda works with you from start to finish and ensures a wonderful experience. She’s friendly, informative, professional, and welcoming to you and all your guests. I’m seriously considering hosting all my daughter’s birthdays here. 10/10 recommend!

We had our wedding at the James Whitcomb Museum and it was absolutely perfect. Amanda was our main point of contact and she went above and beyond for us. Unlike most places that triple the price when they hear the word "wedding," they kept things incredibly fair — almost too good to be true. The venue included a multi-story building with clean restrooms, audio equipment, beautiful tables and chairs, and even coolers. We were able to bring our own food and drinks, which gave us full control over the day. The outdoor setting was stunning, and Amanda didn’t just hand us the keys — she helped with coordination, supported our musician and caterers, and kept things running smoothly throughout the day. Can’t recommend this place or Amanda enough. If you're looking for a beautiful, affordable, and stress-free wedding venue, this is it.

We rented the visitor center out for our daughter’s birthday. The space was amazing and the surrounding area is equally as amazing. Our event organizer, Amanda is probably one of the coolest humans I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. I absolutely recommend this spot!