I had a great time exploring the State Museum today. The staff were so friendly and knowledgeable…read more The exhibits have plenty of interactives along with in depth history of Indiana. The cafe has delicious food!

I enjoyed this museum but I have a couple bones to pick…read more 1. It's a confusing setup and no one hands you a map or says start here. 2. There's an imax theater and it smells like popcorn. 3. The bone collection is legitimately world class and that environment cave thing is super cool. 4. There's two types of museums honest ones like the Underground Railroad in cinncinati and then dishonest ones like the Indiana state one. 400k klan members is mentioned but not the overall population and they gloss over post civil war stuff pretty egregiously. 5. The old cars are pretty awesome. They have some really cherry old cars and tractors super cool. So idk it's a mixed bag but those bones and recreations are worth seeing

What a cool place! My boyfriend and I visited Newfields right when it opened at 10 a.m., and we…read morewere amazed by how much there was to explore. Admission to the gardens, Lilly House, and Newfields Art Museum was about $50, which I thought was reasonable given everything included. We ended up spending four hours there and never once felt bored! We started by walking through Oldfields-Lilly House and the surrounding gardens, which was my favorite part of the visit. The gardens made me feel like I had stepped into another world. There were paved trails, but also sections where you could wander directly through the grass and greenery. The grounds seemed to stretch on forever, with beautiful plants, fountains, statues, and nature-inspired architecture around every corner. It was incredibly peaceful and immersive, and I could have spent hours exploring the gardens alone. While walking through the grounds, we stumbled upon Lilly House and decided to go inside. Since we visited during spooky season, the entire mansion was decorated for Halloween, with each room featuring its own dramatic and elaborate theme. I have never seen anything quite like it! The decorations were incredibly detailed, and the mansion itself was stunning both inside and out. I would especially recommend visiting Newfields during the fall to experience these seasonal displays. Outside the house, the gardens featured enormous pumpkins and fun walk-through tunnels. The backyard also offered beautiful views of the Indianapolis Canal and a large pond near the famous Funky Bones sculpture. After exploring the grounds, we headed into the main art museum. The museum spans four floors, and we made our way through each one. I was pleasantly surprised by how interactive the exhibits were. In addition to learning about different artists and art forms, visitors could create their own art. There were LEGOs to build with, a station where you could design a dress on a miniature mannequin, and an area for drawing and coloring. These hands-on activities made the experience engaging, even for someone who doesn't typically gravitate toward art museums. The fourth floor requires an additional admission fee of about $6 and features Giants, Alicia Keys' art collection. The exhibit showcases a diverse range of work by nearly 40 prominent Black American, African, and African diasporic artists. It was a unique and enjoyable collection to explore, and I thought it was well worth checking out. After exploring the museum, we stopped at the on-site café for a bite to eat. I ordered the chicken salad croissant and was not disappointed! It was delicious, and the customer service was great. Our food came out in about 15 minutes, making it a convenient and enjoyable way to take a break before heading out. Overall, Newfields is a place where you could easily spend an entire day without running out of things to see or do. We spent four hours exploring the gardens, mansion, museum, and café, and the experience never felt repetitive or boring. Even though I wouldn't consider myself particularly interested in art or history, I genuinely enjoyed the visit. Between the beautiful grounds, historic architecture, seasonal Halloween displays, interactive exhibits, and café, there was something for everyone. I would absolutely recommend Newfields, even if museums aren't usually your thing. I went in with no particular expectations and left with a new appreciation for everything the museum and its grounds have to offer!

I spent last Sunday at Newfields and really enjoyed the visit. The space is a combination of art…read moremuseum, historical home and extension gardens. The ticket price was $25 for adult. I did not pay to see the special exhibit, Giants, which is another $6 I think. The space was very friendly with free parking, plenty of clean bathrooms and free lockers to store your bags. The art museum had a small selection of everything from Asian arts, modern art, mixed media, fashion and a sculpture garden. Not sure if it was luck, but I got a sneak peek at their Mischief Manornwhich transformed their historical home Lilly House into their nighttime haunted house. It is only the main floor with the upstairs only open for special events. I was able to get a gist of the historical house and enjoyed the haunted displays. I did wish someone provided some guidance on what to look for or see. I had to double back to ask if I missed anything since the house was all decorated and I couldn't tell if I saw everything or missed a room.

The Eiteljorg packs a punch way above its weight in all areas of regional indigenous art. It may…read morealso be the only museum in the region without any full reciprocal pass privileges with any museum reciprocity program. (They don't do ROAM, NARM, MAPI, ATSC, etc, and Time Travelers gets you a $5 discount). That being said, it is completely worth the cost. The special exhibits are unique and well curated. Plan on spending half a day here to take it in.

I've wanted to visit the Eiteljorg for a while now so I'm glad I got to visit on MLK Free Day!…read more I won't give away too much of what's inside but there's a lot of artwork by artists who are Native to the North American landmass, inclusive of Inuit art. I liked the Jingle Rails special holiday exhibit which featured recreations of many landmarks across the United States with electric train sets moving throughout the exhibit. I shared a few of my favorite sights with this review. There is also a nice cafe that has a pretty full service menu. Since we already had lunch, we only stopped by for a soft drink. You can actually visit the cafe without visiting the full museum, and receipts to the cafe can actually validate the underground parking at the White River State Park!

I cannot get over the customer service from the upper management here! We have been long time…read moremembers, because of the fun and educational aspects that fit the different ages of all of our children. my last visit I came in to do some work and enjoy a drink from the cafe, I was sitting tasting my drink and it was a little off from what I'm use to. Emily, (stood up from a meeting with other suits) approached me and asked if I needed my drink remade. I was just in a corner of the cafe minding my business- I had been looking over at the cafe to decide if I should go ask to add some milk to my latte- and she, must have noticed! She got my drink remade and it was just right. Always clean, always safe and care for those visiting from all employess. So glad to be memebers.

I absolutely love the Children's Museum. I'm not an Indianapolis native, so whenever I'm here I…read morealways try to visit. It really is amazing, both inside and out. For other Midwestern natives, it's similar to The Science Center in St. Louis, MO. The museum has a beautiful exterior, which is obvious just by looking at it, but the inside is just as impressive with character statues, beautiful glasswork pieces, and a grand staircase. There are a ton of different areas and displays for those with different interests: space, archeology, and more. The target audience is obviously children, but as a college student, I always have fun going. They strike a great balance between readable information and interactive activities, and a great balance between physical activities (toys, costumes) and digital activities (touchscreens). The Children's Museum has so many special events, which are all easily viewable on their website. I expected them to all be for young kids, but there are actually 21+ events as well, which I wasn't expecting. There's a lot of Halloween-themed events right around now, so I have to assume they do other seasonal events well. I also know that exhibits are sometimes switched out, although I don't know how often they are. Years ago I believe there was a Barbie exhibit that I really enjoyed. In addition, for college students looking to save money, there's free entry on Martin Luther King Jr. Day! So if you want to go, this is a good excuse. I've had the good fortune to take a behind-the-scenes tour, and while I don't think this is accessible to the general public, (with the exception of events few and far between), it was fascinating. I got to see the massive amounts of collection and artifacts they have. Whatever you see on display, there are about ten times more objects in their collections! Switching out these items is how they keep the museum updated and fresh. One area that really stood out to me was a section that displayed all the taxidermy they have-I got to look into the process of how they go about stuffing the animals. It's clear that they put a lot of care and effort into creating the best-quality specimens for their museum. I love the Children's Museum, but if I had to offer one complaint, it would be the crowds. In my experience, the museum is usually pretty full of people. Of course, as a popular museum, that's to be expected, but people planning to attend should be aware. This was most apparent in the dining area, which always seems to be the most crowded. You'll very likely have to wait in line for food, and may even have trouble finding a place to sit. This is a very minor note and did not detract from my enjoyment of the experience at all. Overall, I love the museum, it's a great place to go, especially on a free day.

I highly recommend checking out the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum! And you don't have to be a…read moreracing or car enthusiast to enjoy it either! You know you've arrived when you spot the massive Indianapolis Motor Speedway track surrounding the museum. We got lucky and were able to watch some cars practicing on the track, which made the experience even more exciting! The museum itself is three floors filled with incredible history, cars, and memorabilia. Our favorite parts were seeing the evolution of the helmets and getting to look at all the different racing helmets and outfits up close! They also have an interactive area that makes the experience even more fun! Timed admission tickets were easy to purchase online through their website before our arrival, and we easily spent a good two hours here. Definitely a must see when visiting Indiana!

It had been decades since I last visited this museum. I understand that since that time it has…read morebeen majorly upgraded. We are not huge race fans but found this museum to be very interesting. The price of admission was typical for this type of attraction. We spent about 1.5 hour here. It was interesting to see all of the cars and how they and the technology have changed over the years. The temporary exhibit on Jeff Gordon and his cars was also cool. We didn't have alot of time to do some of the add-on tours. For the casual fan this is worth a stop to learn more about this piece of American sports history.

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

For what it is a self guided tour of a free museum in the basement of the towering war memorial…read morebased on the history of Indiana in the civil war, this place is pretty darn good, there is not much room for improvement. There is a video that loops when you 1st walk in though one can not be certain about when it it starts(how about a timer guys?). Some of the displays had a lack of detail attached to them so you weren't sure of what you looking at or its significance those negatives aside a truly stunning display of cannon rifles and other artifacts. The Museum takes donations and there is a gift shop above, even if your not up for watching a video biography I recommend at least looking at the exhibits, if you do not buy a item from the gift shop please make a small donation.

Went to Hook's during the State Fair and got to Chocolate Caramel Coffee float and loved it! It was…read moreperfectly sweet and had a great sweets to coffee ratio. The inside was old and historical. It was very cool and worth the trip.

The town I grew up in actually had a Hook's Pharmacy that we used to go to all the time. It's…read morereally neat to see that the Hook's Historic Drug Store is open during the fair. It's air conditioned which is a major plus and it feels so good! It opened in 1966 and as of August 2021 they've had 3 million visitors come through the doors! The inside is floor to ceiling with natural wood and takes you back in time. They have a lot of information about drugs they used backs then and it's a great way to learn and cool off at the same time. They just announced that this year for the 2022 Taste of the State Fair they will be offering a iced mocha coffee float! Sounds good! I always get one of those long licorice ropes and one of the great ice cream floats anytime I've been there. They sell New York egg creams which doesn't have eggs in them at all. It's soda water, ice cream and syrup. Basically if you're wanting some deliciousness and something cold pick one of the many floats they offer.

It's been a while since I've been to the Canal, but when I saw they were having a Full Moon Yoga…read moreParty, I knew I wanted to check it out and I'm so glad I did! The yoga was provided by The Hot Room Yoga, and I believe the event was in partnership with Indy Cultural Trail. There was also a local artist, Lily Groot, who was there creating free prints for at least 450 attendees. I got print 13. Honestly, it was such a great event! You could purchase items from Black vegan cafe food truck, while we hung out and watched the sunset. Then around 8:30 PM, we turned on the glow lights they provided and got ready to do yoga under the full moon. The yoga session was about an hour. It was definitely challenging as you really just had to listen on what to do, but it felt so good for my body, mind, and soul. There was something really special about doing yoga outside, surrounded by the Canal, with the sunset fading and the full moon coming out. It was a vibe. I'm really glad I got to experience this! There's another one coming up in September, so if you've never been, you should definitely give it a try, it was free! Such a fun and unique Indy experience!

The Canal Walk is one of the major attraction in downtown Indianapolis. It is a long walkway that…read moreis right along the water of the canal. Several parks, museums, hotels, and other attractions are situated along this walkway. While walking along the canal, I noticed several tourists and locals walking and running through the walkway. The walkway and surrounding public area was mostly clean and well maintained. In one corner there was a paddle swan boats for rental but it was closed for winter. Some of the canal had scaffolding for construction. Some of the signs around the canal provided historical insight about the canal.

The Twisted House is a whimsical, quirky sculpture in the ArtsPark. The house is the 2005 work of…read moreJohn McNaughton. McNaughton was a founding member of the Art Department of University of Southern Indiana. He passed away in 2022. The Twisted House is typical of his fun-loving approach to art. The wood sculpture has a storybook appearance. I can imagine that kids (and maybe even a few squirrels) would have fun visiting and playing in the structure with the crooked door and roof that curves over into the ground. The sculpture brought a smile to my face. The Twisted House worth a visit if you like art. There is no charge to walk through the quiet and serene park. There is free parking at the east side of the park.

It was a cold crisp day in late November when I visited the house. I knocked on the door but…read morenobody was home. Just kidding. It is a piece of artwork. It reminds me of the nursery rhyme about the old woman who lived in a shoe. It is just one piece of outdoor artwork and sculptures available on the grounds of the Indianapolis Art Center. I found plenty of parking available at the Center's parking lot. Then it is short walk from the lot.

The history here is pretty cool. Lots of ties to German doctors, which I found surprising. I have…read moredone the tour several times and learn something new every time. It just depends on the tour guide. Every time it is interesting and you discover something new. The furnishings, samples, anatomic oddities and such that you can find here are just fascinating. I do highly recommend visiting this place, especially if you have never been before.

First of all, I love that Indianapolis has such a unique museum experience for people to enjoy!…read moreMost museums I've looked up in other states are always similar to one another, so it was nice to be able to experience something out of the ordinary. I had the chance to explore this place while traveling to the area and it was really interesting to learn about the history of medicine and medical research that took place in the early 20th century. I love how everything in the museum is exactly the same as it was back in the 1940s so I felt like I was able to get a taste of what really happened back then. The tour guide was knowledgeable about all of the various rooms, equipment, and displays. I took a self-guided tour of their medicinal garden on the side of the building and it was really cool to learn about the ways that these herbs have been and are currently being used for holistic treatments.