When A 22 Million Pound Building Was Moved

In 1930, the Indiana Bell building, a massive 22-million-pound structure, was rotated 90 degrees over the course of a month in one of the most astonishing engineering feats of the time. Moving at a slow but steady pace of 15 inches per hour, the relocation was so seamless that the building’s 600 employees continued working inside without interruption to essential services like gas, electricity, water, sewage, or even the telephone operations they provided. The remarkable process, captured in archival footage, showcases the precision and ingenuity behind the move, highlighting how the entire structure was shifted without a single crack in the walls or a hitch in daily business.

WATCH:

In 1930, Indiana Bell building was rotated 90 degrees. Over a month, 22-million-pound structure was moved 15 in /hr, while 600 employees still worked there with no interruption to gas, heat, electricity, water, sewage, or telephone service they provided. pic.twitter.com/mp2JQwRc9F

— Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) March 14, 2025