Why Anderson High School Wigwam
The Anderson High School Wigwam is a famous indoor sports arena situated in Anderson, Indiana. Known for its historical significance in American basketball, the facility has hosted numerous high school, minor league, and professional teams throughout its existence. While the venue experienced a period of closure, efforts to redevelop the complex have preserved the main gymnasium, which earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018 as it prepares to reopen.
The original venue opened in 1937 behind the city's former high school building, bordered by West 13th Street, West 14th Street, and a nearby railroad line. After that structure was destroyed by fire in 1958, the replacement arena opened in November 1961. The current complex's footprint sits near the original site, with much of the former ground now serving as parking area. Designed with an impressive seating capacity of 8,996, the building historically ranked among the very largest high school basketball gymnasiums in the entire United States.
Over the decades, the venue served as the home court for the Anderson High School Indians, as well as minor league franchises including the Indiana Alley Cats of the Continental Basketball Association and the Anderson Champions of the American Basketball Association. An earlier venue on the site hosted the Anderson Packers, a founding team of the National Basketball Association, between 1946 and 1950. The current arena also accommodated the Indiana Pacers for several games, including four victorious playoff contests in 1969, 1971, and 1972. Beyond athletics, the facility hosted major public gatherings, such as a televised political address by Hillary Clinton in March 2008.
Following a school board decision to close the facility in 2011 to reduce district expenses, a redevelopment plan was later established to preserve the historical arena for future generations. Current visitors to the site will find part of the complex repurposed for community use, including the Jane Pauley Community Health Center–Wigwam, a non-profit medical clinic providing primary and behavioral care. As ongoing restoration work continues, the local school district retains rights to utilize the renovated court for practices and scheduled events.
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