{"id":235,"featured":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:48:36","latitude":39.77222669999999737910911790095269680023193359375,"longitude":-86.14779609999999365754774771630764007568359375,"title":"James Whitcomb Riley Home","subtitle":"","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org/files/fullsize/72e97a91dbd15923385e11d9f147f3ea.jpg","address":"528 Lockerbie St, Indianapolis, IN 46202","all_locations":[],"zoom":13,"creator":["Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology"],"description":"James Whitcomb Riley’s writing opportunities increased with his move to Indianapolis. He worked for the Indianapolis Journal and continued writing on his own. His first real success came with a series entitled “Benjamin F. Johnson of Boone”. Riley wrote in the American<br />\r\nvernacular and is known as &quot;The Hoosier Poet.&quot; His first book was &quot;The Old Swimmin’ Hole and ‘Leven More Poems.&quot; Some of his more popular works are &quot;Little Orphan Annie&quot; and &quot;The Raggedy Man.&quot; Riley was also an eloquent speaker. Upon his rise in popularity, much time was spent on the lecture circuit. <br />\r\n<br />\r\nRiley lived at a brick home in Lockerbie Square, Indianapolis’ oldest historic district, from 1893-1916. He did not actually own the 1872 house. He rented a suite of rooms from Charles Holstein for twenty-three years. Much of his later writing was done at this house, and famous people came to visit him here. In 1915, Riley had a<br />\r\nstroke, and he died the following year in this house.","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"","lede":"","website":"https://rileymuseumhome.org/","related_resources":[],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://discoverindianahistory.org/files/fullsize/72e97a91dbd15923385e11d9f147f3ea.jpg":{"id":1475,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"James Whitcomb Riley Home","description":"Courtesy of Indiana DNR","thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org/files/square_thumbnails/72e97a91dbd15923385e11d9f147f3ea.jpg"}}}