Turns out the Athenaeum will be without workout facilities for just over a month.
The Athenaeum Foundation will open and operate a gymnasium in the historic building starting Thursday, May 1. The Athenaeum Turner Gymnasium will feature a full assortment of cardio, strength and weight training equipment.
That news came just a day before the YMCA of Indianapolis ceased its long-standing operations the Athenaeum, set to take effect March 28.
“Opening this gymnasium takes us back to the Athenaeum’s core roots and mission – a building dedicated to nurturing a sound mind and sound body,” said Athenaeum Foundation president, Craig Mince. “The Athenaeum Turners operated the gym inside the Athenaeum until the late 1980s when it was converted to a YMCA. Following the recent announcement of the YMCA’s closure in the Athenaeum, transitioning ownership of the space back to the Athenaeum Foundation and Turner family was the right next step.”
The Athenaeum was constructed as the Das Deutsche Haus in the 1890s following a tremendous influx of German immigrants to the city. The project was spearheaded by the Turners, a group of gymnastics enthusiasts with a desire to promote physical and mental wellness in the community. The building was intended to provide space for athletic and mental endeavors.
Since opening to the public in 1894, the Athenaeum has seen many changes, but the commitment to nurturing sound minds in sound bodies has endured.
Memberships for the Athenaeum Turner Gymnasium are currently available through the Athenaeum website. Individual adult memberships start at $45.
For more information about the Athenaeum or Athenaeum Turner gym, please visit athenaeumindy.org.
About the Athenaeum / The Athenaeum Foundation preserves a treasured German-American landmark that encourages all to nurture a sound mind in a sound body through arts and culture, wellness, and community. Based on the values of its founders, the Foundation offers programming that lifts spirits and engages diverse communities. Built in 1894, the Athenaeum, formerly known as Das Deutsche Haus, serves as a community center for many cultural, business and nonprofit groups including Urban Musical Theatre, React and The Rathskeller restaurant and the Athenaeum Turner Gymnasium. The Athenaeum is listed three times in the National Register of Historic Places: for architecture and historical significance, as well as for its location in the Massachusetts Avenue Commercial District and the Lockerbie Square Historic District.
