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One of Indianapolis’ Hidden Jewels: Jens Jensen’s Historic Landscape Design at Riverdale, the James A. Allison Estate

Riverdale, the James A. Allison estate, is located on Cold Spring Road, once known as "Millionaire's Row” and home to the lavish estates of Allison, Carl Fisher, Frank Wheeler and Charles Sommers, among others. Constructed from 1911-1914 for automotive entrepreneur James A. Allison, the estate was completed at a reported cost of $2 million. James Allison was an investor, with Carl Fisher, in headlights for the new automobile industry. Their company, Prest-O-Lite, was later sold to Union Carbide for $9 million.