Historic houses of IU

The average IU student walking to and from classes in a hurry can forget the architecture IU boasts. While each building around campus has its own personality, few can compare to the character and history of the Bryan and Woodburn houses. Though separate treasures in their own right, they embody the spirit and tradition of IU.

Bryan House
Built in 1924, the William Lowe and Charlotte Lowe Bryan House was commissioned for the president of the University. William Lowe Bryan, whom the house is named for, served as the 10th president. The house has since been home to every University president except Joseph Lee Stutton.

Nestled atop a hill overlooking the campus, the stately building certainly emanates a sense of grandeur. Refurbished once Herman B Wells took residence, the house serves not only as a home but as a meeting place. The Bryan House is well-known for inviting incoming freshmen and outgoing seniors to reflect on their IU journey.  

While the Bryan House has seen many gatherings and happy times, it has also seen some hard ones. Following the firing of men’s basketball Coach Bob Knight, students swarmed the Bryan House to protest former President Myles Brand.

The house has welcomed its fair share of visitors and people of note, and the artifacts and history found inside attest its
vibrant history.

Woodburn House
Much the same as the Bryan House in terms of old-time charm, the Woodburn House is another campus jewel.

Located on College Avenue, the Woodburn House is more than 175 years old. Though it started as a modest house with only two rooms, the house has grown into one of the campus’s most well-known houses.

In 1855, political science professor James Woodburn, the house’s namesake, purchased the entire block including the house from its previous owners. The house became Woodburn’s personal home, and it stayed in his family for a considerable amount of time.

The house saw many improvements and additions until his death in 1865.

After Woodburn’s death, his widow began taking in student boarders, and the house became a hotspot. Former tenants included the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and, at one point, the secretly run student newspaper, the Dagger.

One of the most notable residents was Herman B Wells, whose memorabilia can still be found in the house, including his Santa suit and spectacles.

The house was retired of its duty as a boarding house in the early 1900s and was officially presented to the University during Wells’ residency in 1941.

Today, it still serves as a meeting place for campus and alumni events. This is only fitting to its original motto of “hospes genius domi,” meaning “the guest is the spirit of the house.”