Do you know which Monument Circle landmark once had an executive putting course on its roof? Or why the figure at the top of Soldiers and Sailors Monument faces south? On Fridays and Saturdays, May through October, at 10:00AM, guides from Indiana Landmarks lead a free one-hour walking tour that tells the story of Monument Circle and its landmark architecture.  The tour will begin at the South Bend Chocolate Company store on the Circle.

The tour guide reveals the symbolism in the Soldiers and Sailors Monument’s, from the bears and turtles that support the light standards to the major statuary groups and Miss Liberty at the top. The guides, volunteers trained by Indiana Landmarks, also talk about the Circle’s role in the 1821 plan for the city, why the site was abandoned as the Governor’s Residence, and the role it has played as a gathering place in times of triumph and tragedy.

The landmarks surrounding the monument also receive attention on the tour, from the oldest Christ Church Cathedral, 1859-to an outstanding trio of 1920s buildings. On most tours, the group will step inside to view the elegant lobby of the private Columbia Club, built in 1925.

Tour lasts one hour and will be held rain or shine, unless there are hazardous weather conditions.