# Old National Centre > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Old_National_Centre > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Old_National_Centre.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_National_Centre > Source revision: 1338459347 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Performing arts center in Indianapolis, Indiana, US Old National Centre Murat Theatre Old National Centre in 2025 Interactive map of Old National Centre Former names Murat Shrine Temple Murat Shrine Center Address 502 N. New Jersey St. Indianapolis, Indiana United States Coordinates 39°46′27″N 86°9′4″W / 39.77417°N 86.15111°W / 39.77417; -86.15111 Owner Murat Shriners of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine Operator Live Nation Capacity 2,500 (Murat Theatre) 2,000 (Egyptian Room) 600 (Corinthian Hall) Current use music venue Construction Opened 1909 Architect Oscar D. Bohlen Website www.oldnationalcentre.com The **Old National Centre**, formerly known as the **Murat Shrine Temple** and the **Murat Shrine Center**, is located at North and New Jersey streets in [Indianapolis](/source/Indianapolis), Indiana, and is owned by the Murat Shriners of the [Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine](/source/Ancient_Arabic_Order_of_the_Nobles_of_the_Mystic_Shrine). The theater portion of the building is now known as the **Murat Theatre at Old National Centre** or simply the **Murat Theatre** and houses the oldest extant stage house in [downtown Indianapolis](/source/Downtown_Indianapolis). It is the only Shrine Center in the world with a name of French origin and is the largest Shrine Center in [North America](/source/North_America).[1][2] ## History In 1882, five Freemasons wanted a Shrine organization in Indianapolis. They joined the Shrine Temple at [Cincinnati, Ohio](/source/Cincinnati%2C_Ohio), and had that temple's help in establishing an Indianapolis temple. The local organization of the Shrine, called the Indianapolis Shriners, was given its charter on June 4, 1884. The first potentate was [John T. Brush](/source/John_T._Brush), who served as such from 1884 to 1897. [Lew Wallace](/source/Lew_Wallace) and [Thomas Taggart](/source/Thomas_Taggart) were among their first Ceremonial Class, held in 1885. By the end of the first year, there were 105 members. The Indianapolis Valley of [Scottish Rite](/source/Scottish_Rite) gave them the Townsley and Wiggans "Pork House" for their meetings.[1][3] The Murat Temple was built in 1909 by the William P. Jungclaus Company using the designs of Murat Shriner [Oscar D. Bohlen](/source/D._A._Bohlen_and_Son), with Middle Eastern and [Egyptian](/source/Egypt) stylings that were fitting for a building intended for Shriners. Its namesake is the [Nubian Desert](/source/Nubian_Desert) [oasis](/source/Oasis) [Bir Murat](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bir_Murat&action=edit&redlink=1), which was named for the [Frenchman](/source/Frenchman) [Joachim Murat](/source/Joachim_Murat), one of [Napoleon](/source/Napoleon)'s generals in his Egyptian campaign.[1][3] The Murat Shrine gave the [Indianapolis Zoo](/source/Indianapolis_Zoo) its first [camel](/source/Camel) and established the [500 Festival Parade](/source/500_Festival_Parade). The Murat Shrine is primarily known in Indianapolis for its theater, which was built in 1910. In its early days it featured Broadway plays and even a 1932 speech by [Winston Churchill](/source/Winston_Churchill). Between 1948 and 1963, it was the only [road show](/source/Roadshow_theatrical_release) [venue](/source/Theater_(structure)) in Indianapolis. Before [Clowes Memorial Hall](/source/Clowes_Memorial_Hall) opened in 1963, it was the home of the [Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra](/source/Indianapolis_Symphony_Orchestra); the orchestra survived the [Great Depression](/source/Great_Depression) due only to the nominal fee the Temple charged the orchestra for using the theater. The orchestra made recordings with [Fabien Sevitzky](/source/Fabien_Sevitzky) in the theater for [RCA Victor](/source/RCA_Victor) between 1941 and 1953. The [Indianapolis Opera Company](/source/Indianapolis_Opera) briefly used the facility during the 1980s. In 1984, the Murat Shriners had the second largest membership of all Shrine temples in the world. In 1988, a fire broke out in the 1968 addition, injuring 15 firefighters when a portion of the addition collapsed. However, there was relatively little damage to the structure.[1] ## Construction The edifice is themed after [Moorish](/source/Moorish_architecture) mosques found in the Middle East and Egypt. Features of the building include [stained-glass](/source/Stained-glass) windows, [terra cotta](/source/Terra_cotta) trim, [minarets](/source/Minaret), and brown and yellow brick banding. A 208-foot (63 m) tall tower[4] is at the southeast corner. An addition to the temple was designed to blend with the existing structure. The Egyptian-themed auditorium, added as part of the 1922 addition, had already been planned before the discovery of the [18th dynasty](/source/Eighteenth_dynasty_of_Egypt) Pharaoh [Tutankhamun](/source/Tutankhamun)'s tomb, which coincided with the opening of the auditorium.[1] ## Facilities The main sections of Murat Shrine are the 2,000-seat concert hall and the 2,500-seat performing arts theater. Today, there are nine areas for hosting events. The Egyptian Room can hold 2,000 people for a standing cocktail reception. The smaller areas are the Corinthian Hall, the Corinthian Annex, the Corinthian Meeting Room, the Great Hall, the Imperial Lounge (formerly the "Crowne Room"), and various lobby areas.[5][6] ## Concerts The Old National Centre has hosted numerous concerts with bands such as [Babymetal](/source/Babymetal), [Elle King](/source/Elle_King), [Huddy](/source/Huddy_(musician)), [Pennywise](/source/Pennywise_(band)), [Mitski](/source/Mitski), [State Champs](/source/State_Champs) and [Sierra Ferrell](/source/Sierra_Ferrell). ## See also - [List of music venues in the United States](/source/List_of_music_venues_in_the_United_States) - [List of attractions and events in Indianapolis](/source/List_of_attractions_and_events_in_Indianapolis) - [List of tallest buildings in Indianapolis § Other structures](/source/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Indianapolis#Other_structures) - [List of Masonic buildings in Indiana](/source/List_of_Masonic_buildings_in_Indiana) - [Moorish Revival architecture](/source/Moorish_Revival_architecture) - [House of Blues](/source/House_of_Blues) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Bodenhamer_1027_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Bodenhamer_1027_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Bodenhamer_1027_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Bodenhamer_1027_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Bodenhamer_1027_1-4) Bodenhamer, David (1994). [*The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis*](https://books.google.com/books?id=bg13QcMSsq8C). [Indiana University Press](/source/Indiana_University_Press). pp. 1026–1027. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0253112494](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0253112494). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Indianapolis Bragging Rights"](http://www.indydt.com/braggingrights.cfm). Indianapolis Downtown Inc. Retrieved 2013-03-04.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service)) 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Murat_Shrine_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Murat_Shrine_3-1) Paul Page. ["The Great Parade of the Nobles of Murat"](https://www.muratshrine.org/history.php). MuratShrine.org. Retrieved 2013-03-04. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Old National Centre"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210203020440/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/118650/old-national-centre-indianapolis-in-usa). *[Emporis](/source/Emporis)*. STR Germany GmbH. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-visit_5-0)** ["Old National Centre"](https://visitindy.com/indianapolis-old-national-centre). VisitIndy.com. Retrieved 2013-03-04. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Catering & Hosting"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130213022809/http://www.muratshrine.org/cater_host.php). MuratShrine.org. Archived from [the original](http://www.muratshrine.org/cater_host.php) on 2013-02-13. Retrieved 2013-03-04. ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Old National Centre](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Old_National_Centre). - [Official website](https://www.oldnationalcentre.com/) - [Website of the Murat Shriners](http://www.muratshrine.org/) v t e Live Nation Entertainment Divisions Live Nation Ticketmaster Subsidiaries Academy Music Group (51%) BigChampagne C3 Presents (majority stake) DF Concerts (part owner) Festival Republic (majority owner) Gods of Metal Hard Events MAMA & Company (joint venture) Ones to Watch Festivals Boomtown (18%) Bospop Calling Festival Camp Bestival Copenhell Creamfields Download The Great Escape HoagieNation I Love Techno Isle of Wight Festival Jamboree in the Hills Latitude Lollapalooza Loud Park Lowlands Lytham Festival Made in America Festival Main Square Festival (75%) MixTape Music Midtown North Sea Jazz Paradiso (partnership) Parklife The Peach Music Festival Pinkpop Festival Pukkelpop Rock Werchter Sasquatch! (partnership) Squamish (50%) Summer Sonic TRNSMT Voodoo Watershed Way Out West When We Were Young House of Blues clubs and theatres The Louisville Palace Toyota Presents Oakdale Theatre Saint Andrew's Hall (Detroit) Theatre of Living Arts Tower Theater Other venues 3Arena (Dublin) Belasco Theater (Los Angeles) Blossom Music Center Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park Fillmore Auditorium FivePoint Amphitheatre Freedom Mortgage Pavilion Germania Insurance Amphitheater Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre (Maryland Heights, Missouri) Jamboree in the Hills Festival Site Jiffy Lube Live Leader Bank Pavilion North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre Northwell at Jones Beach Theater Oak Mountain Amphitheatre PNC Bank Arts Center Regent Theatre (Los Angeles) Rogers Stadium Ruoff Music Center Toyota Amphitheatre Truliant Amphitheater Xfinity Center Related United States v. Live Nation Entertainment v t e Tallest buildings in Indianapolis Skyscrapers over 500 ft Salesforce Tower OneAmerica Tower Regions Tower High-rises 400 ft to 499 ft Market Tower 300 North Meridian BMO Plaza 300 ft to 399 ft JW Marriott Indianapolis City-County Building AT&T Building Capital Center South Tower Hilton Indianapolis 250 ft to 299 ft Riley Towers I and II 360 Market Square Conrad Indianapolis 220 Meridian Market Square Center Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital Hyatt Regency Indianapolis / PNC Center Simon Property Group Headquarters Indiana Statehouse 200 ft to 249 ft Barnes and Thornburg Building Fletcher Trust Building Indiana Government Center North Indianapolis Marriott Downtown One North Pennsylvania Riley Hospital for Children Simon Family Tower 110 East Washington Street Other structures over 200 ft Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument Lucas Oil Stadium Scottish Rite Cathedral Indiana World War Memorial Old National Centre Unbuilt Indiana Tower See also: List of tallest buildings in Indiana Authority control databases International VIAF National United States Geographic MusicBrainz place --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Old National Centre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_National_Centre) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_National_Centre?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.