Bloomington Township in Monroe County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Woodburn House

Photographed by Daniel Barriball, June 15, 2026

1. Woodburn House Marker

Inscription.
Built in 1829, the Woodburn House is one of Bloomington's oldest properties. Professor James Woodburn purchased the home and surrounding land in 1855, beginning an 86-year occupancy by the family. Herman B Wells leased the home in 1932 and lived here during most of his long tenure as President of Indiana University. This hospitality center is owned by IU and maintained and managed by the Alumni Association through gifts of the Woodburn Guild.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1829.

Location. 39° 10.265′ N, 86° 32.099′ W. Marker is in Bloomington, Indiana, in Monroe County. It is in Bloomington Township. It is on North College Avenue near West 10th Street, on the right when traveling south. This marker stands to the right of the front door of the Woodburn House facing North College Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 519 N College Ave, Bloomington IN 47404, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Indiana.

It is also in the American

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Railroads and Industry (approx. 0.2 miles away); Johnson's Creamery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Monroe County Korean War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Monroe County Vietnam Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Civil War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Monroe County / Bloomington World War II Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Susan B. Anthony Speech (approx. 0.3 miles away); Warren Henegar (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bloomington.

Also see . . . Woodburn House, Bloomington. GPSmyCity

Throughout its storied history, the Woodburn House served as a hub for various social and academic activities. Following Professor Woodburn's passing in 1865, his widow opened the house to student boarders, establishing a vibrant community within its walls.
Photographed by Daniel Barriball, June 15, 2026

2. Woodburn House Marker in context
The marker is to the right of the front door.
Notably, during this period, the house witnessed the organization of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and the emergence of an underground student newspaper known as The Dagger. Subsequently, esteemed faculty members, including William Lowe Bryan and Amos Hershey, resided in the house, further enriching its legacy as an academic enclave.

(Submitted on June 29, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 29, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.