Mass Ave Cultural Arts District

Located just a few blocks northeast of Monument Circle, Massachusetts Avenue was designed in 1821 as one of the four original diagonal streets of downtown Indianapolis. It runs northeast from the circle. Today it lies at the heart of the city's arts district, which includes four theaters as well as a number of shops, galleries, and eateries.

Massachusetts Avenue offers some of the city's most visible theaters and art galleries. Located just a few blocks northeast of Monument Circle, Massachusetts Avenue was designed in 1821 as one of Downtown's four original diagonal streets (Indiana Avenue to the northwest, Kentucky Avenue to the southwest, and Virginia Avenue to the southeast are the other three).

Gentrification in the 1990s propelled the area from squalor to one of the city's more fashionable addresses. Currently, redevelopment of "Mass Ave" focuses on fostering locally-owned shops, theaters, and restaurants. The once destined-for-demolition Athenaeum building now houses the American Cabaret Theatre and the Rathskeller Restaurant [1] with its popular Biergarten.

This city also held the 1992 Mass. Ave fall festival.