It started as the home of Indianapolis’ oldest African-American church congregation + now it’s a Hilton hotel.

A new place to stay has opened downtown and it’s a mouthful — Hampton Inn by Hilton and Homewood Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Canal IUPUI. As the name suggests, it’s located across from IUPUI on the Canal Walk at 414 W. Vermont St.

The seven-story, dual-branded property was built around three stories of the existing Bethel A.M.E. Church, which now operates as the hotel’s welcome center.

The Romanesque-style church was completed in 1894 at what once was the heart of Indy’s African-American community. Many civil rights activists spoke there, including W.E.B. Du Bois + Booker T. Washington. It was also the founding site of Indy’s chapter of the NAACP in 1912.

Although it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, the cost of upkeep and membership decline became unsustainable for the congregation so it sold the building to SUN Development and Management Corp. in 2016 and moved to the north side.

The church was also used as a venue for concerts. | Photo via SUN Development

Now, its roots are preserved as a prime location for guests who want to explore downtown — just in time for playoff weekend. Visitors will have easy access to the convention center, Lucas Oil Stadium, Madame Walker Legacy Center, White River State Park, and the zoo, just to hit on a few attractions.

It has an indoor pool, rooftop patio, 11,000 sqft of event space, a 24-hour fitness center, and 231 guest rooms for out-of-towners and staycationers to enjoy. Plus, Starbucks and McAlister’s Deli are slated to open in the building later this year.

Can’t wait to explore this hotel/church hybrid? There are rooms available today starting at $142.