Lockerbie Square developed as Indianapolis' first "suburban" neighborhood because it was a short walk from downtown. The original one-mile square, the oldest section of the neighborhood, dates back to 1821. The neighborhood is named for the Lockerbie family, the founders of the neighborhood. James Whitcomb Riley, a famous poet, lived in the neighborhood. His house is now a museum and a National Historic Landmark.
As one of the most intact historic districts in Indianapolis, the neighborhood is filled with elegant homes ranging from Queen Anne to Italianate. The James Ray-Buscher House is one of the oldest homes in the city, built in 1835. Lockerbie Square is adjacent to downtown on its northeast side, starting just before East Street and extending east to I-70.
