The neoclassical limestone tower dominates Monument Circle, the geographical heart of Indianapolis. Designed by German architect Bruno Schmitz and dedicated in 1902, it commemorates Indiana's veterans of the Civil War, the Mexican–American War, the War of 1812, the Revolutionary War, and the Spanish–American War. The bronze and sculpture work — including the female "Victory" at the top — is unusually ambitious for a Midwestern memorial of its era.
A glass elevator (small fee) runs up the centre to an observation deck, with a 31-step climb at the top. The view across downtown and out to White River State Park is the best in the city. The basement museum is free and worth twenty minutes.