Christmas in Old Indianapolis

Remember when Christmas meant going downtown?

Christmas in Old Indianapolis is a nostalgic journey back to the city as it looked during the late 1960s and early 1970s—when families bundled into the car or boarded a city bus, department stores filled with Christmas shoppers, and the lights of Monument Circle announced that the holiday season had arrived.

This historical adult coloring book brings together 42 detailed illustrations inspired by real Indianapolis places, traditions, photographs, and memories from approximately 1968–1974.

Return to a downtown filled with familiar landmarks and experiences: the Soldiers and Sailors Monument transformed into the “World’s Largest Christmas Tree,” L.S. Ayres & Co. at Christmas, the beloved Tea Room and Treasure Chest, Toyland and the Santa Claus Express, Indianapolis City Market, the Indiana Statehouse, Central Library, Union Station, the Indiana War Memorial, Murat Theatre, Circle Theatre, St. Elmo Steak House, Lockerbie Square, Christ Church Cathedral, the newly built Indiana National Bank Tower, and more.

Some of these places remain. Others have changed dramatically or disappeared. Together, they tell the story of an Indianapolis that once existed—and of the ordinary family experiences that made Christmas downtown unforgettable.

This is also a personal collection. Author J. S. Adams grew up in Indianapolis, with parents who lived and worked in the city, and many of the experiences depicted here come directly from childhood memories. The little girl visiting Santa is the author herself, while the L.S. Ayres Santa Claus Express represents one of her most treasured Christmas memories.

Each historically inspired illustration is paired with a short description, bit of local history, or personal memory, making the book as enjoyable to browse as it is to color.

Created in a richly detailed Maxi coloring style, the illustrations offer substantial architectural and period detail while maintaining clear, open spaces for coloring.

Christmas in Old Indianapolis is for anyone who remembers downtown the way it used to be—and for anyone curious about the Indianapolis their parents or grandparents knew.

Come downtown for Christmas one more time.

paperback, 8.5" x 11", 42 illustrations