the memorial foundation purchased the poet's lockerbie home in indianapolis, and it is now maintained as a museum. the james whitcomb riley museum home is the only late-victorian home in indiana that is open to the public. it is the united states' only late-victorian preservation, featuring authentic furniture and decor from that era. his birthplace and boyhood home, now the james whitcomb riley house, is preserved as a historical site. a liberty ship commissioned april 23, 1942, was christened the "ss james whitcomb riley". it served with the united states maritime commission until being scrapped in 1971.