YMCA of Greater Indianapolis history

African-American leaders formed the Young Men’s Prayer Band in 1900.

As early as May 1909, the “colored department of the Indianapolis Y.M.C.A.” was described by the Indianapolis Star as “the largest in the United States.” Its membership had grown from 186 to 400.

By 1911, the Indianapolis “colored” YMCA had outgrown its building located at California and North streets.

On July 28, 1912, “more than 5000 colored persons” attended the groundbreaking for the $100,000 new building located at the southwest corner of Senate Avenue and Michigan Street.

Reported by the Indianapolis Recorder, August 2, 1913, the Indianapolis Colored Y.M.C.A. buildings had “become the center of attraction in many ways, not only in Indianapolis, but throughout the State of Indiana.”

20; “Du Bois to Speak,” Indianapolis Recorder, March 8, 1941; “Mrs.

The September 13, 1952 Indianapolis Recorder reported that discussion was underway for replacing the Senate Avenue Y with a new, modern building.

A fund drive to raise $1.5 million was announced in January 1953; $690,000 would be allocated to a new Senate Avenue YMCA.

At the groundbreaking ceremony held in April 1958, the Recorder reported that the Fall Creek YMCA represents: “The ideal of finer young manhood shared by Indianapolis people without regard for race, color or creed.”

The Senate Avenue YMCA moved to Fall Creek in 1959.

In June 2003, the Metropolitan Board of the Indianapolis YMCA passed a resolution to close the Fall Creek YMCA on September 30, 2003.