INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana Landmarks has placed the historic Kemper House in downtown Indianapolis on the market for $800,000. The listing includes the 1873 residence and an adjacent parking lot, located at 1028 N. Delaware St., and will continue the organization’s practice of rehabil itating historic buildings for office use before returning them to the community. The house’s history Indiana Landmarks says Charles Pierson constructed the home in 1873 as a wedding gift for his bride, Mary Alice Scofield. Eli Lilly, a founder of Indiana Landmarks, saved the house from demolition and restored it in 1962. He renamed the property for Bishop Kemper, the first Episcopal bishop in Indiana and provided the space for use by the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis. Following Lilly’s death in 1977, the diocese donated the property to Indiana Landmarks. The organization utilized the building as its Indianapolis and Central Regional Office from 1977 until 2009. The property later transitioned back to residential use, serving as the home for the organization’s president from 2013 to 2025. The board of directors voted to sell the property following the 2025 retirement of Indiana Landmarks’ Davis. Features Its online listing describes the home as a “remarkable blend of Greek Revival and Italianate architecture.” The 2,800-square-foot home features high ceilings, detailed woodwork, and fireplaces in two front parlors. It is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom with a “spacious” second-floor suite and “generously sized” windows. Because of its ornate roof cresting and highly detailed architecture, the residence is nicknamed “the wedding cake house.” It also underwent recent improvements, including new carpet and a fresh paint job inside and outside the home. The lot includes a three-car garage accessed from the rear alley. The Kemper House is individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It has also been locally designated by the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission. This status protects the landmark from inappropriate exterior alterations. Indiana Landmarks will include protective covenants in the sale to further safeguard its architectural character. This story was formatted for WISHTV.com using AI-assisted tools. Our editorial team reviews andedits all content published to ensure it meets our journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness. ...read more read less