Every morning, I take off my hat to the beauty of the world.
These words must have had special meaning to T. C. Steele because he had them carved in his fireplace mantle by Gustave Baumann. Arguably, the most famous Indiana painter of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, T.C. Steele noticed the beauty of Brown County in 1906 when scouting for new painting locations. He was amazed at the unlimited supply of subjects and grand vistas the area had to offer. So much so, he purchased the property and built a home there in 1906. The T. C. Steele State Historic site is located 4220 T. C. Steele Road, about 10 miles west of Nashville, Indiana off of state road 45
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| T. C. Steele Visitor Center |
The T. C. Steele historic site has gone through a significant transformation over the last five years. Such as the addition of a 2.2 million 4600 square-foot visitors center in 2019, garden restoration, and other updates. The visitors center provides enough space to educate visitors about the life of Theodore Clement Steele and his contribution to the impressionist movement in Indiana.
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| T. C. Steele House |
T. C. Steele built his home and studio in the hills of Brown County, Indiana, in 1907 and brought his new bride Selma to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding landscape and views across the valley. Selma dubbed her home "The House of the Singing Winds" due to the singing sound the window screens made when the winds blew up from the valley below.
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| T. C. Steele House - "House of the Singing Winds" |
Steele added on to his original house in 1908, adding additional rooms to use as a studio along with a summer porch where Steele and his wife Selma would sleep during the hot summer months. Early on, the Steeles utilized the property as a summer house, returning to their home in Indianapolis during the winter. By 1912 the property had expanded to 212 acres and saw the addition of several outbuildings and a small studio. It was during this year that the Steeles moved permanently to their home in Brown County.
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| T. C. Steele Large Studio |
Steele built his dream studio next to his house in 1916 that provided an ample gallery space and an area to receive the constant flow of visitors to his home. There was a loft area for Selma to display some of the prized paisley shawls she had collected over the years. An artist studio could not be without lots of light, so he installed a large north-facing window.
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| Inside the Large Studio |
Visitors can tour the large studio and view many of Steele's paintings, studio furniture, and other artifacts.
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| Selma's Garden |
Selma Steele loved flowers and loved to garden, while "the painter" as Selma affectionately called her husband, was out painting every day by sunrise, she oversaw improvements to the property. She set out to turn the landscape around the house and property into a beautiful garden, a garden for her own pleasure, and an unlimited supply of painting subjets for Steele.
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| T. C. Steele Arbor |
Steele created several paintings depicting the view through the arbor and across the valley. In his time, the view was unobstructed due to the clear-cutting of trees for lumber and farmland.
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| T. C. Steele grave marker |
Theodore, Selma, and other members of his family are buried at the historic site. Etched on Steele's marker are the words "Beauty outlives everything." Steele dedicated his life to creating art for others to enjoy, and Indiana is lucky to have such a dedicated artist and one who contributed to the growth of art and the midwest.
Other Relevant Post
Theodore Clement Steele:
T. C Steele State Historic Site May 15, 2010, Festival of Flowers Paintout
T. C. Steele Studio Centennial Party
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