T.C. Steele and his Indiana Home
Theodore Clement “T.C.” Steele (1847-1926), noted Indiana artist and member of the Hoosier Group of Impressionist Painters, was inspired by the picturesque scenes that he encountered in Brown County. T.C. was at the forefront of the state’s art movement and remains one of Indiana’s most honored artists.
In 1907, T.C. and his second wife, Selma Neubacher Steele, purchased property in Brown County and began construction of their home, which they named the House of the Singing Winds. They built the Large Studio in 1916 to accommodate T.C.’s work. Selma created several acres of gardens around the home and landscaped the surrounding hillsides to enhance the beauty of their property.
As T.C.’s popularity grew, an increasing number of visitors came to Brown County to meet the artist and to see his work and estate. Steele’s appreciation of nature, combined with his intelligence and capacity for concentrated study, raised his works to an extraordinary level.
Purchase tickets
Timed, indoor tours are available Wednesday through Sunday at 10:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Self-guided tours of the formal garden, hiking trails and site grounds are available all day.
Use of paranormal equipment of any kind is not permitted on tours.
Walk up tour tickets are subject to availability. Purchasing online or by calling the site is recommended to ensure tour registration especially when visiting on a free day or when schools are in session.
Purchase TicketsOperating Hours
Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Holidays
Easter – Closed
Memorial Day – Open for preregistered tours only
July 4th – Open
Labor Day – Open for preregistered tours only
Thanksgiving – Closed
Christmas Eve – Closed
Christmas Day – Closed
New Year’s Eve – Closed
New Year’s Day – Limited hours with preregistered tours only
Free Days
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 20)
Presidents Day (Feb. 17)
Juneteenth Celebration (date tbd)
Programs & Events
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Dec 15, 2024 11:15 am - 12:00 pmT.C. Steele
Special Tour: Edith Neubacher (ages 18+)
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Jan 4, 2025 11:15 am - 12:00 pmT.C. Steele
Children's Tours of Historic Buildings (ages 4-14)
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Jan 5, 2025 11:15 am - 12:00 pmT.C. Steele
Children's Tours of Historic Buildings (ages 4-14)
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Jan 20, 2025 10:00 am - 5:00 pmMultiple Locations
FREE DAY: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
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Jan 25, 2025 11:15 am - 12:00 pmT.C. Steele
Special Tour: 1920s Tech
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Jan 26, 2025 11:15 am - 12:00 pmT.C. Steele
Special Tour: Staff Favorites in the Steele Library
A look around the grounds
Hoosier painter T.C. Steele and his wife Selma built their home in 1907 amongst rolling hills, scenic vistas and majestic trees in Brown County, Indiana. Now known as T.C. Steele State Historic Site, you can visit the house and grounds that inspired the noted Indiana artist’s beautiful impressionist paintings.
Our Visitor Center
Begin your journey at the Singing Winds Visitor Center, where you’ll start a tour of the site with an orientation video about the history of the location and find out why – like you – so many people have been drawn to the Steeles’ hilltop home for decades. Here, you’ll also find classroom space, restrooms, the gift shop and other amenities.
The House of the Singing Winds
The home that the Steeles built in 1907 and expanded in 1908 featured high ceilings and screened porches, in contrast to the simple log homes of the area. Selma decorated the home with an eclectic mix of furnishings, arts and crafts. The home’s vernacular architecture features a pyramidal roof with a central fireplace. The Steeles’ friend and artist Gustave Baumann engraved the words, “Every morning I take off my hat to the beauty of the world,” below the mantel. Today, you can experience the home much like T.C. and Selma’s visitors did when the couple lived there.
His Mobile Studio
Prior to living on their Brown County property, Steele used a horse-drawn wagon as a studio to travel around the state to paint. T.C. brought this wagon with him to his Brown County home, but it eventually was destroyed in a barn fire in 1913. A modern version of this wagon and outdoor studio space has been recreated using verbal and newspaper descriptions. Visitors can tour this handicap-accessible area, create sketches of the surroundings, work “en plein air” (or outdoors) as T.C. did, and play games while discovering more about his art and life.
The Little Studio
When not traveling, T.C. used what is now the living room of his home as studio space. In 1908, the Steeles added the west wing, which served as his studio for seven years. They then built what they called the “Little Studio,” which he used until 1916. The original structure is now used as a working studio for artists-in-residence. The artists live in “La Casita,” a small cottage next to the Little Studio the Steeles created by joining two small outbuildings for a secondary guest cottage.
The Large Studio
T.C. built the “Large Studio” in 1916 to display his work in an atmosphere consistent with the surrounding landscape. The barn-like structure and wall of north-facing windows provide a fitting and spacious backdrop for T.C.’s paintings. He used this studio primarily to exhibit his work, as well as for sales and entertaining. Today, it is restored and updated to display a rotation of Steele’s original work. Through interactive activities, visitors learn about how plein air painters like Steele create their works.
The Selma N. Steele Nature Preserve
In keeping with Selma’s wish, this 92-acre “tribute to natural beauty” was dedicated in 1990. The topography supports a variety of trees and plants with deep ravines and seasonally flowing streams that cut through soft bedrock, as well as rich undergrowth that provides a wealth of wildflowers throughout the spring. Wildlife that call the preserve home include deer, squirrels, chipmunks, raptors, woodpeckers and other birds. Wildflower enthusiasts should be sure to look for Yellow Ladies’ Slippers and Showy Orchis. Visitors may access this natural area via two of the site’s hiking trails.
Become inspired by the scenery
The Artist-in-Residence program at T.C. Steele State Historic Site is available to emerging and established contemporary artists in a variety of media who would benefit from a respite to their everyday routine and gain inspiration in a serene, rural setting. Visual, musical, literary and conceptual artists are all welcome to apply.
Learn moreBOOK A FIELD TRIP
Help bring history, science, art and education to life for your students with a one-of-a-kind field trip experience. Students will see T.C. and Selma Steele’s home, artist studio, the grounds, visitor center, and T.C.’s Outdoor Studio. All state historic sites support Indiana Academic Standards, and feature a variety of academic topics. Call 812.988.2785 to schedule your visit to T.C. Steele.
Learn moreGo Behind-the-scenes
Get inspired to become a member today!
Our members love exploring the rolling hills of Brown County and finding inspiration in the paintings inside the home and studios. Nature, meet wonder. What will you see today?
Explore our Membership PlansSinging Winds: The Life and Works of T.C. Steele
WTIU recently premiered a new documentary — Singing Winds: The Life and Works of T.C. Steele — a film that looks at the life and works of the great Hoosier Impressionist – from his hardscrabble youth, to his journey through some of the major art centers of Europe, to his return to his native Indiana, where he captured the subtle beauty of the Midwestern landscapes.
Watch nowPlan Your Trip
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Admission
Timed, indoor tours are available Wednesday through Sunday at 10:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Self-guided tours of the formal garden, hiking trails and site grounds are available all day.
Use of paranormal equipment of any kind is not permitted on tours.
Walk up tour tickets are subject to availability. Purchasing online or by calling the site is recommended to ensure tour registration especially when visiting on a free day or when schools are in session.
Purchase Tickets -
Contact
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Group Rate
Discounted tickets are available for groups of 10 visitors or more. To receive group rates, please call the site in advance and purchase all tickets with one payment. Find prices below.
Adults – $10
Seniors* – $8
Youth* – $5
Children under 3 – FREE
*Seniors: Ages 60 and older, Youth: Ages 3 through 17For group transportation to a state historic site, contact our partners at CharterUP.
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Discounts
Special discounts are available for educators and education groups, military, Access Pass holders and more. View all discounts >>
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School Groups
Field trip admission is free for pre-scheduled, accredited schools and homeschool groups of 10 or more Indiana K-12 students. Members of the Indiana Association of Homeschool Educators receive free daily admission with proof of membership. Call 812.988.2785 to schedule your visit.
Academic topics covered include visual arts, early 20th-century culture, natural history, science and language arts.
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Girl Scouts
T.C. Steele State Historic Site has numerous opportunities for Girl Scouts throughout the year. We also offer a free, printable Badge Explorer Guide!
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Commercial Photography And Videography
If you are a photographer looking to book a shoot at T.C. Steele State Historic Site, please review our commercial photography policy and application process. Learn more >>
4220 T.C. Steele Rd., Nashville, IN 47448
Visit Today
Once you turn left on T.C. Steele Road in Nashville, you’ll see T.C. Steele State Historic Site on your right, about 1.5 miles up the road. Free parking is available on the site grounds, including spaces for buses and RVs.