Lew Wallace Study and Museum
The General Lew Wallace Study and Museum chronicles every aspect of the general’s eventful life. Designed and built by Wallace near his home at Crawfordsville, Ind., between 1895 and 1898 for what was then a lavish $30,000, it combines three types of architecture: Romanesque, Byzantine and Periclean Greek—perhaps reflecting the general’s multifaceted career as soldier, inventor, musician, artist, naturalist, diplomat and author of the novel Ben-Hur, later made into a film. Near the study is the Carriage House Interpretative Center, which houses special exhibits, a gift shop and offices.
The museum is about a 45- minute drive from Indianapolis. Filled with an evocative collection of books, artifacts and film ephemera, it looks much as it did during Wallace’s lifetime and was recently nominated for a national medal for Museum and Library Service.
Originally published in the October 2008 issue of Civil War Times. To subscribe, click here.
