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    Indiana State Museum

    4.3 (153 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Staci W.

    I love a museum! I was lucky to receive a family four pass so I was able to take the whole family to check it out. I use to come here a lot more as a kid so I haven't been in years. It was cool to see what has changed. My favorite area was the Natural History. Some of the other areas are not for me but very guided to kids such as Cats and Dogs. My son enjoyed the interactive areas. They do validate your parking in the garage. The staff were nice and helpful.

    My night with Elvis was "Epic"
    Gloria M.

    I had the best time at the Indiana State Museum IMAX theater last night. It's so clean and well laid out with the best part was getting to see Elvis and it seemed like it was live. The sound was great and there wasn't a seat in the house where you couldn't see everything in front of you. I actually need to go back and see the museum because a lot of kids were running around with construction hats on, so I wondered what that was all about, but I heard there might be some dinosaurs in the building!

    Adrienne M.

    What an awesome place to go and learn or just refresh yourself about this state. I enjoyed it here but children, kids, teens, and young adults would love this too. So much to see here . I would plan on spending at least an hour plus. I'll be back sooner than later as I did not spend enough time here. lol $20 per visit or you can grab a annual pass for the year.

    Isheka O.

    I visit the Indiana State Museum atleast once per year. I really enjoy exploring the temporary exhibits that they create each year. This is an ideal outing for families. There is so much to do all year round to keep children and adults entertained. Aside from the exhibits there are multiple craft stations, events, and other interactive activities for all ages. If you are a Indiana student, it is $5 to enter. There are also other discounts depending on the day.

    Stormtrooper and Darth Vader!!
    Brenda J.

    Here with a 12-year old friend and I loved it as much as he did. I love that the exhibits are SO interactive. The exhibits make history accessible to children and adults. There are lots of characters for the kids! There's also an area specifically for younger children.

    A really enjoyable experience overall! The Indiana State Museum has a great mix of exhibits that cover state history, culture, science, and art, all presented in a clean, modern space. Everything is well laid out, and it's easy to spend a couple of hours exploring without feeling rushed. The staff were friendly and helpful, and I appreciated how organized everything felt -- it's exactly what you'd hope for in a good state museum. I also love that they offer student discounts, which is always a nice bonus! Plus, the location is perfect, sitting right off the Canal Walk, which makes it easy to combine a museum visit with a relaxing stroll afterward. Nothing flashy or over the top, but it delivers exactly what it should -- a solid, informative, and enjoyable visit.

    Sue B.

    Interesting and well designed. I have been here twice during the Christmas season. Both times the Santa Claus has been very authentic and friendly. The museum has nice, historical exhibits representing the counties and history of the early settlers of Indiana and the products and creations Indiana is known for. The group I was with have been lucky enough to see a children's choir perform Christmas music while there. There are many interactive exhibits to enjoy also.

    Laura M.

    I always enjoy going to the museum but this week we were looking for something to entertain a 4 year old. ISM is perfect. Plenty of exhibits and events the whole family will love. Check their event's schedule ahead of time as they always have something fun for kids. This time they had easels set up so the kids could draw whatever they wanted. They also had an area where the kids could crate their own wind spinners. All the staff were great with the kids and kept them interested. We had lunch at the Farmers Market Cafe and I was pleasantly surprised by how good it is. Good basics for kids and nice choices for adults. Salads, sandwiches, wraps and desserts. I can recommend the Farmers Salad with Brie as well as the Club Sandwich which was huge. The PB&J was a hit too. Add a walk along the canal outside and everyone will leave happy.

    Christina B.

    The Indiana State museum is a great museum for the whole family to visit. This trip, there were a ton of families visiting in addition to a class on a field trip. There were also a couple groups of older ladies who looked like they were meeting for a holiday party. While I didn't tour the exhibits this time, I did dine at the L.S. Ayres tea room recreation that is open November and December. I actually used to be an intern at the museum several years ago so it's been on my list for a while to go to the tea room. It was a really unique experience. Parking is quick and easy in the shared underground garage for White River State Park. The garage leads right into the museum.

    Laura S.

    Took the kids to ride the holiday train. There were little play stations in the middle of the room where you wait in line for train. What a brilliant idea. The kids get to play while the grown up waits and the line circles the play area so you can see the kids the whole time. We enjoyed riding the little train, 3 times in fact. Then we visited the second and first floor briefly. There are stations for the kids to play at or do activities like look at the rocks through microscope. We arrived too late to see the short films at the IMAX. Those show quite early if you're interested. Please note the parking is pretty expensive. You will probably pay at leat $15 to $20.

    Glenn C.

    We didn't have time to see the entire museum.We enjoyed our over 2 hours traversing the corridors. Indiana was the leader in cars. I thought it was Detroit. They had a Lincoln exhibit and lots of Indiana history. The ice age and ancient animal bones were cool. If you have extra time, go to the Imax and have some popcorn. They had the new Indiana jones playing. 20 dollars to get in. 18 for seniors 60+ and 1 dollar less for AAA

    PB & j with fruit

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    Lots of nice exhibits. Not too crowded for a weekend with an event outside. Plenty of parking.

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    Review Highlights - Indiana State Museum

    Very much worth the drive and you can even make more out of it as you step outside right on to the canal!

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    Newfields: A Place for Nature and the Arts - In Art Museum at Newfields

    Newfields: A Place for Nature and the Arts

    4.5(462 reviews)
    4.2 mi

    We drove 2.5 hours for Newfield's Winterlights and it did not disappoint! Parking was easy and…read moreclose to the entrance. When we first arrived right at opening, it was really crowded and people were packed in so we went to Lilly House for a drink and by the time we got back out, people had spread out more. I really enjoyed the variety of light installations and there were plenty of great photo op areas. The shop had some very nice choices and was not packed like I expected. There was one person in front of us at the checkout but two employees, one doing the check out and the other wrapping up items and bagging them, made it a quick and efficient process. We enjoyed our trip so much that we're now looking into what other events are available throughout the year.

    My husband and I had a great time at Newfields: A Place for Nature and the Arts. Newfields is a…read morecombination of the Lily House and gardens as well and the Indianapolis Museum of Art. This is in one facility and is all included for one admission price. We started in the gardens. There is a large area to walk and enjoy nature. Make sure that you visit the Lily House and the surrounding grounds. The Indianapolis Museum of Art takes up the second and third floors of the building. There is lots to see here. Each area could take an entire day to properly experience. There is also a gift shop and cafe to check out. I highly recommend Newfields: A Place for Nature and the Arts!

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    Newfields: A Place for Nature and the Arts - In Art Museum at Newfields

    In Art Museum at Newfields

    Newfields: A Place for Nature and the Arts - In Art Museum at Newfields

    In Art Museum at Newfields

    Newfields: A Place for Nature and the Arts - In Art Museum at Newfields

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    The Children's Museum - Greece at Children's Museum of Indianapolis

    The Children's Museum

    4.5(577 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    The The Children's Museum of Indianapolis absolutely lives up to the hype. We arrived right when it…read moreopened and stayed as long as we could before naptime, but honestly we could have spent the entire day there. The parking is extremely easy and you are also able to rent a stroller pretty cheaply there which is a plus. Our kids especially loved the space exhibit and the exhibit (on the top floor I believe) that showcases a lot of the nature surrounding Indiana. There's so much to explore and everything feels thoughtfully designed for kids to really interact and play, not just look. Even moving through with little ones felt manageable because there are so many engaging areas to stop and explore. If you have young kids and are in Indianapolis, this is an easy five-star outing. We're already looking forward to going back.

    One of largest children's museum. Many floors and sections to explore. It has Dinosphere,…read morespace/earth, power of children (Ann Frank, Malala etc), Egyptian discovery and more. Carousel is on the top floor (separated tix). It's a Historic Landmark originally located at White City Amusement Park (Broad Ripple Park) from the segregation era. Strong history going behind that wheel. You can easily spend a whole day there. Many hands on activities. Benches around for adults. Bathroom is clean. I definitely have a great time as well as my kid. Free parking lot. Highly recommend to get the tix online (extra $1 fee). Highly recommend to stop by if you are in the area.

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    The Children's Museum - Dino

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    Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum - LeRoy Neiman's artwork

    Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum

    4.3(141 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    Indy and Indycar go hand in hand, each one improving each other. Their story is documented in the…read moreIMS museum. Located in the heart of the racetrack, you can find a hundred years worth of racing gear, cars, and photos that document the evolution of the sport. The museum has been newly renovated in the past couple years and the experiences help you feel connected to the racing culture in the city. If NASCAR is more your speed (because they're not as fast as Indycars), they have a wing for that as well. Admission is around $20 per person, but students enter for $7 with ID. You can walk around at your own pace. I think I spent about 2-2.5 hours here and I am one to read about 2/3 of plaques at museums. One really cool thing worth doing if you have the time is to do a track tour. There is an extra cost, but you can drive around the oval and learn about the construction of the track and the surrounding areas within the Speedway. I went on one that stopped at the Brickyard, a stretch of 3 feet that still has the original bricks on display at the Tag Heuer pagoda. You can even kiss the bricks if you want! This review is a little out of date, but that just means I'm closer to my next visit!

    Enjoyed my first visit to renovated IMS Museum. I have only seen the museum in pictures prior to…read morethe renovations, and the updates modernized the facility and upgraded the user experience quite a bit. When you first enter the museum, you stroll through a mock-up of the garages in gasoline alley. There are racecars from every era. The next stop is an open space with a surround video of the Indy500 experience. This would be a nice recap to anyone who has never been to the race. Finally you enter the main museum with three levels of exhibits. There are of course racecars, but also trophies, helmets, and other memorabilia related to the race and the track. I think race fans and non-fans alike would enjoy a visit to the IMS Museum. There is plenty to see and many things to look at with historical significance. It is also a good place to host events, especially for out-of-towners.

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    Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum - The racetrack diagram

    The racetrack diagram

    Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum - Museum 2025

    Museum 2025

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    Col. Eli Lilly Civil War Museum - New location inside the World War Memorial

    Col. Eli Lilly Civil War Museum

    4.5(11 reviews)
    0.7 miMile Square

    For those looking for the Museum at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument (middle of Monument Circle)…read moreto find this museum, you are looking in the wrong place. Back in 2018, the collection was moved to the Indiana World War Monument (431 N Meridian) to provide more display space and to do repair work under the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. As of the time of this review, the collection has been moved for over a year and my thoughts are part of the review listed on that location. According to the staff working in the Soldiers and Sailors gift shop (located on the south side of the monument at the top of the steps), something new will occupy the space under the monument once repairs have been completed. It has not been released what will go in the space. Review #2581

    How are there not more reviews of this place? Do you not know it is here? Read my review and then…read moreget your butt over there! This is a FREE MUSEUM, so that alone bumped up the stars to at least four. Add in the fact that the museum is Indiana-centric, in the basement of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, is dark and super creepy, has really cool artifacts including a chunk of tree trunk with a cannon ball stuck in it that soldiers cut from Gettysburg and brought back here, how could I not give it five stars?!?! - It's free, but don't be a jerk - donate a couple bucks. - You won't need much time. If you only skim the exhibits, you will be out in five minutes. Read every card and you might be there an hour. - Did I mention, please donate to this lovely free museum? - Read the medical treatment cards and be so grateful we live in a time of modern medicine. - Can't figure out where to get in? The entrance is on the southwest side of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument (Monument Circle).

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    Col. Eli Lilly Civil War Museum
    Col. Eli Lilly Civil War Museum
    Col. Eli Lilly Civil War Museum - New location inside the World War Memorial

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    New location inside the World War Memorial

    Indianapolis Canal Walk

    Indianapolis Canal Walk

    4.5(206 reviews)
    0.2 miMile Square

    Goodness, have I walked the canal about 50 times now?!…read more It's such a unique experience for Indy to have some water space in the middle of the city. This 3 mile loop will take you from 11th Street down to White River State Park to access the green space and extra trails down there. The canal water itself is not super cute, where there can be litter, and the water is rather opaque. They do drain the canal every so often to keep it from getting too uncute. The sidewalks are kept nicer, though a few spots in front of apartment buildings could use some TLC. There are also a few spots where the sidewalk is not level, so take caution if that is an issue. It's mostly stair access to the canal, but I *think* I've seen an elevator around the Ohio street basin. The canal has a few businesses along it for your merriment. Notably, there is Fresco on the Canal (I have a separate review for this) which is open March-October. Eiteljorg museum cafe is open daily around the lunch hours (11-3) and can be accessed through their patio gate. Entertainment wise, there is more going on. I've done the swan boat rentals, where you can pedal around on the canal. This is quite a workout! Rental of swan boats and kayaks is near the Ohio Street basin. There is also the gondolas, where your gondolier can sing, and they've always sounded marvelous. There's also a few stations for the Pacers Bikeshare around the canal, which is free for Marion County residents. Any time the weather is right, you can find me getting my steps in!

    Nice river walk nearby center city area. It's refreshing looking at the water flowing through…read more We saw some fishes so definitely clean water for the city. Love the greens, bridges, arts around it. It would better with warmer weather for sure. I couldn't walk far because of the cold. But overall I love the scenery.

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    Indianapolis Canal Walk
    Indianapolis Canal Walk
    Indianapolis Canal Walk - Look for this tall colorful mosaic to start your canal adventure!

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    Look for this tall colorful mosaic to start your canal adventure!

    Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Allison - Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Museum

    Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Allison

    4.9(11 reviews)
    4.9 mi

    One of the most interesting tours I have heard, and I knew little about engines before I went. The…read moretour was led by two gentlemen who worked for Rolls Royce. Their knowledge, great stories, and enthusiasm really made the tour. My dad and brother love engines and had lots of questions the guides happily answered. My mom and I know less, but the guides were great about taking the conversation up a level that made the presentation very understandable and fascinating to us. I enjoyed learning about the history of Rolls Royce and Allison, and the evolution of engineering the guides illustrated using engines they have collected and restored. This a great tour for anyone who loves to learn. If you enjoy engines (car or plane), don't miss it.

    Excellent little museum at the Rolls/Allison headquarters. Sign in at the front desk. I got there…read morejust before 9 so I had to wait a few minutes, but there are magazines and books in the lobby, comfy chairs, and a few aircraft models. There's a small company store, sadly closed on the day I went. The museum covers the history of Allison very well, and the later merger with RR. Mostly Allison engines on display, a few RR. Models on top of each engine depict the aircraft that used it. Some engines are cutaway; one or two are operable with the push of a button. A few artifacts from the factories, and information about the other products they've produced. Towards the back are spacecraft parts; I did not know Allison was involved with that. Of course, not being an Indy native, I didn't know about his connection to the Speedway, or Prestolite, etc. All well-organized, brightly lit, lovingly cared for. And free. If you are anywhere nearby, this is worth a visit. If you are an aviation buff, get yourself here however far away you are.

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    Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Allison
    Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Allison - Welcome to the NEW James A. Allison Exhibition Center! Come on in!

    Welcome to the NEW James A. Allison Exhibition Center! Come on in!

    Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Allison - Lift fan

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    Lift fan

    Indiana State Museum - museums - Updated May 2026

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