The Back Story: I came to Indianapolis for a couple days work and had not been here before so I did some quick research to see if there was anything I needed to see and had time for. I had a vague recollection that Madam C.J. Walker had something to do with this town. A cursory search easily revealed that downtown Indianapolis is home to the Madame Walker Theatre Center (MWTC). I was thrilled to realise that I would be in the same town, on Women Owned Business Wednesday, as the home of the empire of Madam C.J. Walker, the ultimate business woman. I did not get off until 4:00 so I knew I could not schedule a tour, or even go inside the building, but at least I could go see the spot, to which I was now feeling drawn like a pilgrim to Mecca.
My pre-visit research led me to the official site of Madam C.J. Walker where my eye was drawn immediately to a picture of a woman who looked very familiar to me. I was pleasantly surprised to see her picture as we are connected on a social 
networking site. A’Lelia Bundles has written extensively on the life of Madam Walker to include the book On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker (Scribner, 2001). What I did not realize, until just then (I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit), was that A’Lelia is the great-great granddaughter of Madam C.J. Walker. On the off chance that she might respond, I dropped Ms. Bundles a quick note to tell her of my intended visit to the MWTC and to inquire about any other cool spots I should visit while in the area. To my delight she responded. She did not know too many spots to hang in other than the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians but assured me that the folks at the center would be able to direct me after the tour she assumed I had scheduled. (I had not yet explained to her that I would be going in off hours and only hoped to see the exterior of the building.) Either way, no matter as I had my destination in mind. What ever was to come after the MWTC would reveal itself once I was there.
At about 5:00 armed with directions from mapquest and my rented GPS I headed for 617 Indiana Ave. in downtown Indianapolis. The day was sunny and very pleasant and it felt good to be free and heading out on an adventure into 
unknown territory. I had my mission and the orders were simple; find the Madame C.J. Walker Theatre building, see as much as you can, take pictures, then decide what to do next.
Exiting the highway to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. quickly brought me to the MWTC, a flat-iron shape, four-story, block-long building originally planned to house the corporate headquarters and factory of Madam Walker’s manufacturing company. I parked, got out and walked to the front of the building where I could see the awnings and two large posters advertising the movie about Madam Walkers life; Living the Legacy, that you can see when visiting the center. I took shots of the building’s facade and other details then I walked across the street to try and get a shot including the huge marquee that sits atop the building advertising that this is home to the “Walker Theatre” I was coming back toward the front door to head to my car when I saw a woman standing near the locked front door. I briefly hoped she worked there and might be going in and that I could at least have a quick word and take a peek.
It turned out she was waiting for someone to let her in so I decided to wait and see if I could have a quick word with her friend. I still had no idea where to go after this so I figured I could at least get some recommendations from someone familiar with the neighborhood. It seemed like forever standing there with a woman I did not know and who was probably wondering who I was and what I was doing. When her friend; Sheri, finally came she let us both in. I did not want her to feel that she had accidentally let a stranger into the building so I quickly told her my story; that I was from out of town and that Ms. Bundles had suggested that they might be able to direct me. She apologized about me not being able to take a tour but I assured her that I understood and was happy to just see the building and even be in the lobby. She and her friend gave me some recommendations and directions to get to the canal area where I wanted to go afterward and have dinner. Somehow during the course of our brief chat this kind woman realized that I would be leaving the next day and would not have another chance perhaps to see the inside of the building. “Oh we will just have to give you a quick tour.” I have to admit my heart leapt and I realized that this is really what I had envisioned and hoped would happen if I showed up.
Sheri led me to the doors of the theatre and asked me to wait as she entered the darkened space so she could turn on some lights. I suddenly felt like Alice going through the looking glass! I had set off on this adventure not knowing what to expect and now I was being ushered into a sacred space from which you could feel the energy and legacy from the past emanating. I was in awe as I entered the beautiful old theatre. I walked past the red plush velvet seats almost without a sound on the carpet down the center aisle. I was even more thrilled when Sheri ascended the steps to the stage and beckoned for me to follow. I climbed the stairs and turned around to face the “empty” house which it turned out wasn’t empty at all. I could feel the life that had been lived in this place, almost see the people and hear the music and laughter that has coursed through this space since it opened its doors the day after Christmas in 1927! Sheri pointed out several cool things about the theatre, like the African touches; sentinels atop the proscenium arch and shared some historical facts with me.
After this we went out into the main lobby and took several pictures. I looked around hungrily, taking in as many details as I could, aware of the short time I had and the awesome opportunity I was getting. I was already thrilled by 
the fact that I was being allowed to see this much when I heard Sheri say she would “just quickly” take me upstairs to see the Grand Casino Ballroom and the corporate offices. I was floating by now, so while I’m pretty sure we took the elevator to the fourth floor, it feels as if we could have just as easily been transported there by some magical means. The doors where locked so I saw the ballroom through the little windows in its doors. Peering in the windows I could just imagine all of the events that had taken place here over the years, dances, coming out parties, weddings and even Walker Beauty School graduations.
After the ballroom Sheri led me to the doors of the corporate offices, stopping off to gather some material for me to take with me; a brochure, another leaflet and even a DVD telling the history of the place and about the life of Madame Walker. At this point I actually felt as if I was dreaming. By the time Sheri led me into the board room I thought I would explode. I’m sure she thought I was pretty crazy as I prattled on a mile a minute about how thrilling the whole experience was and how lucky I felt and how awesome it was that I could write about this for Women Owned Business Wednesday, all the while, by the way, snapping and posing for pics and directing Sheri as I conscripted her into being my official un-official photographer. (I am very grateful for her patience and generosity.)
Being in the boardroom felt like being in the inner sanctum of Mecca (if there is such a thing). I had to pause and just try and imagine what sorts of things Ms. Walker and her daughter A’Lelia must have gone through while building and running this empire; the hurdles they must have overcome, the fears they had to battle, the people who tried to stand in their way. I drew strength from this as I brought it to bear on my, what now seemed like puny, struggles that I face as a woman in business for herself. I was keenly aware of the gifts I was receiving in this moment, the strength, the inspiration from her story. A woman that had lived so long before my time whose spirit was so large and is so strong as to be able to still transmute her strength and power today to me, this one little person. If the waves of her spirit could do this for me so far away across the ocean of time, what must she have done for those around her while living?
I sat in a chair at the head of the large wooden oblong table and took in as much as I could. The pictures on the wall of Madam Walker and her lineage, the poster to commemorate the postage stamp bearing her name and countenance, the art deco chandelier on the ceiling. I took it all in committing it to memory, tucking it away to return to this place when I need to. I also was given a clear directive; learn more, there is so much more in this story for you and others. It was as if I had just been handed a magic tome and had only seen the beautiful jewel encrusted cover and skimmed some of the illuminated pages. While this was awesome in itself the book glowed before me with the promise of a story of such richness and complexity that it would take much more time and research to take even half of it in.
I was so happy when I left the Madame Walker Theatre Center. I almost could not believe my luck and the 
synchronicity that had led to this visit. My instincts told me to go there and that I would be given direction as to where to go next. I had received inspiration and other intel to help me along my journey and handed a sacred text that holds even more riches. The book I’m writing will contain stories of women who are living their visions of success. I learn the most from other’s stories and here I was being directed to a story that I had previously left unexplored! I look forward with great anticipation to where this exploration will take me and to the treasures I will find.
I look forward to sharing them with you,
Nicole
View more pics and info at Women Owned Business Wednesdays!
Crossing of the First Threshold:
