Walker Building was listed on the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. As the Madam C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company, it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1991. The historic Walker Building, which remains an anchor site along Indiana Avenue, initially served as the headquarters and factory for the Walker Company and as a center of black female employment. It also functioned as a hub "of entertainment, business and pride" for the city's African American community from the 1920s to the 1950s. The restored building continues to serve the community as a legacy to Madam C.J. Walker's success in the beauty and cosmetology industry, as well as her interest in promoting the arts. It no longer houses the Walker Manufacturing Company, but the building continues to serve as a cultural center for the African American community. The Walker Building is the only extant architectural building of Indiana Avenue's once vibrant nightlife. Since it opened in 1927, the building has offered performances, educational programs, and a gathering place for public and private gatherings and celebrations. As of 2012, the building was one of the city's only National Historic Landmark-owned and operated by African Americans. As a tribute to Madam C.J. Walker, the building's namesake, the facility's ongoing mission is to promote social justice, provide cultural education, and empower "the next generation of entrepreneurs, business owners, and civic leaders" and serves as a "symbol of African-American pride." In pop culture The historic Walker Theatre is referenced in singer/songwriter Leroy Carr's "Naptown Blues" and Mari Evans's poem, "I Am A Black Woman." References Sources Also, Further reading External links Official website Madam C. J. Walker African-American history of Indianapolis National Historic Landmarks in Indianapolis Theatres completed in 1927 Buildings and structures in Indianapolis Performing arts centers in Indiana Theatres in Indiana Tourist attractions in Indianapolis Madam C. J. Walker National Register of Historic Places in Indianapolis Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in Indiana