If it weren't for James Dean, there would not be anything left in Fairmount, Indiana. We rolled…read moreinto town at 9am and saw the large "open" sign on the front porch of an old mansion. There is no charge for admission and this place is stuffed with James Dean memorabilia, down to pages from his grammar school notebook. A 20-minute video showing clips from Dean's early television work is shown in an alcove of the gallery. The back of the gallery contains more general mid-century paperback books and ephemera for sale, along with shirts made by one of the owners. The owners live in the upstairs of the house and have a fascinating personal history that they will share with you, along with tips on everything you can possibly do in Fairmount. The warmth and enthusiasm of the owners is endearing. We didn't even buy anything and they could not have been nicer. We returned the following morning and purchased their memoir, which is being made into a documentary film. The James Dean Gallery is open seven days a week, unlike the James Dean Museum, which was closed the day we were in town (at the height of tourist season).

If you want to know anything about James Dean, please stop at the James Dean Gallery! The owners…read moreare there to answer questions and are very helpful. They have a vintage shop in back of the Gallery that has shirts that a make on site. The people that own the Gallery are very friendly, and very easy to talk to. They make you feel very welcome.

Don't overlook the Muncie Children's Museum--we played for over 3 hours and still weren't ready to…read moreleave! Think less traditional museum and more imaginative, hands-on pretend play. A massive upstairs train room A giant bird's nest to climb into A water table with three unique play features An entire pretend-play town with everything from a veterinary office to a marsh A dedicated toddler area An ant maze ...and so much more! Admission: $8 per person (ages 1-100) Hours: * Wednesday-Saturday: 10 AM-5 PM * Sunday: 1 PM-5 PM The museum participates in the Access for All program, offering reduced admission and discounted memberships for qualifying families enrolled in programs like SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, and HIP. Bonus savings: * Find a $1 off general admission coupon online (valid for up to 4 people; cannot be combined with other offers). * Kids who complete the coloring page available at admission can redeem it for a free sand jar from the gift shop. A few things to know: * The building is older, but they're continuing to add new exhibits and experiences. * Only parts of the museum are stroller and wheelchair accessible. Before or after your visit, walk just two blocks to The Caffinery--one of my favorite kid-friendly coffee shops, complete with a play area for little ones.

This place is fine. It isn't an Indianapolis, or an Ogden Utah Children's Museum but this one was…read morefine, especially for a small community and for the price of entry. If it's raining outside or your kids are bored, give it a go.

An absolute must for fans of Jimmy! Dorothy was an amazing tour guide. I cannot recommend it enough!read more

If you're a James Dean fan or if you don't know much about him but you're curious to learn more,…read moreyou need to make this excursion and visit this incredible museum. James died tragically young and he had a very short career, but his talent left a lasting impression and created a legacy that's unmatched. His talent in the arts and in racing were incredible, and if you want to learn about either/both, they have tons of info and real memorabilia from James' family's personal collection here that touch on those themes, as well as lots of info from his childhood into high school, and some from his personal life before his death. Our docent was passionate about Jimmy and spoke of him like he was an old friend, which gave the tour a nice touch. The admission fee of $5 was extremely reasonable, too.

I stumbled across the Elwood Haynes Museum while traveling on my recent Tenderness Tour in the…read moreKokomo area. While I'd heard about the museum before, I knew very little about it and I can honestly say that visiting it wasn't on my itinerary for my Kokomo visit until we happened to drive by it while searching for our evening dining location. The Elwood Haynes Museum is located in the mansion owned by Elwood Haynes, a Kokomo-based inventor credited with multiple firsts including being the first to produce cars commercially back in 1894. He lived in Kokomo until his death in 1925. Haynes also invented stainless steel. Seriously. Being that the Elwood Haynes Museum was actually a residence, you might guess that wheelchair access is kind of an issue. It definitely is kind of an issue, though kudos must be given for efforts to make the mansion as accessible as possible. You go up a rather narrow, somewhat steep driveway and park in the back of the house. If you have a high vehicle or an RV type vehicle, the odds you're going to achieve this are slim to none. There's only a few parking spots, a likely indicator that visits to the museum tend to be in smaller groups. The guide who was present for our visit acknowledged that the vast majority of visitors are out of towners rather than locals, though they do host local student groups. They've concocted a rather large, wooden ramp designed to provide wheelchair access. It likely meets ADA requirements in terms of grade, though be aware the wood itself feels a little flimsy. For those with limited range of motion or upper body strength, it may be advised to have a companion or assistant with you. You then enter via a side door that leads to your standard residential hallway. As this was a turn of the 19th century house, you can easily guess that hallways are rather narrow. I had zero issues moving into each room on the first floor - a bathroom on the first floor is largely wheelchair friendly with appropriate rails. The second floor would not be accessible to a wheelchair user, while the third floor, a small area, is not open to the public. They also have a basement area that is not open to the public. There's also an attached carriage house that had three of Haynes's vehicles within it along with a safe that had been created from the materials he invented. The Elwood Haynes Museum really is rather fascinating, though it's a rather quick view with a maximum of 1-2 hours needed to enjoy the entire museum. Admission is free, though donations are welcomed and somewhat encouraged in a low pressure sort of way. The exhibit, in addition to the vehicles, includes a wealth of photos, documents, inventions and other items related to Haynes, a figure who contributed greatly to modern motoring yet remains relatively unknown when compared to many others. The volunteer who was present was friendly and knowledgeable about Haynes's history and worked at a comfortable pace in explaining the museum. This was definitely an unexpected gem during my time in Kokomo.

For history buffs, or car buffs, or fans of invention, this is a "must stop" place to visit while…read morein Kokomo. The home of Elwood Haynes is partly a time capsule showing the Haynes residence and all those wonderful antiques you might expect. The other part of the building is the museum tribute to Mr Haynes and some of the other famous inventors/inventions of Kokomo. I hadn't done any research before going, so I was surprised to learn how many incredible inventions were created/discovered by Haynes. What is most commonly related to is that Haynes designed, funded the building of, and drove the first commercially built auto in the country! Local inventors (The Apperson Brothers) owned a shop and were paid by Haynes to build the frame and moving parts of the first auto after Haynes had bought a one horsepower engine that ran on gasoline. At that time, gasoline was considered a waste product from natural gas production and it was another of Haynes' inventions that made gasoline more usable as a fuel. On July 4, 1994, Haynes successfully drove his vehicle for an hour, covering about six miles. But that was just some of what this man accomplished. He discovered a means for making brass at the age of 15. He also invented the small thermostat that is used to regulate home temperature. He also created numerous alloys, including stainless steel and Stellite (used in blading small turbines and numerous other tools/equipment that should not rust.) The museum shows photos throughout the building from Haynes' life. Upstairs, the rooms are not maintained as living spaces, but rather, as tributes to the other inventors and "firsts" that Kokomo is known for. You will see exhibits about the Appersons, the first pneumatic rubber tire, first carburetor, lots of Delco radio inventions, and even some canning innovations. And of course, there are lots of exhibits about alloys and their uses. The staff is friendly and goes the extra mile to make sure you have all the information you desire. Note: Although the garage is off limits, you can still see three of the first cars produced in Kokomo through the windows. Review #2486

I love a good hidden gem. The David Owsley Museum of Art is hidden in plain sight, though, because…read moreit's located on the campus of Ball State University, one of the biggest universities in Indiana. So, I guess, if you know, you know. But if you don't know? Then, in the words of the late Biggie Smalls, aka the Notorious B.I.G. (RIP): If you don't know, now you know. Either way, you'll find this surprisingly large art museum in Ball State's Old Quad. Parking is kind of a pain: You'll need to park in one of the metered lots. Make sure you pay! Those campus parking attendants don't play and are always out in full force. The museum houses works of art from all around the world. I saw everything from African masks to Greek statues. It's kind of amazing to me the amount of art this place holds. There are two stories of things to see. I forgot that I was on a college campus -- it really is a real-deal art museum. Best of all: This museum is free! Just stroll right in and peruse at your leisure. Just don't plan to visit on a Sunday or Monday, because it's closed on those days.

Museums are homes to pictures each worth a thousand words. Thank you, David Owsley Museum of Art at…read moreBall State University. I appreciate your being free, accessible, and a place to catch one's breath and feel artful.

A very nice, pretty small museum. Bell grew up in Mentone, and when he died, he donated his…read morememorabilia there. Photographs, models, etc. It doesn't really cover the whole history of Bell Helicopters, just from his birth to his death. They do have a Huey, and two Bell 47s, one of which is restored as his personal helicopter, very plush and shiny. They are only open on Sundays, but the rest of the time you can call and make an appointment for a tour. I had seen the sign from the highway many times, I never had a chance to stop in, but this time I did, so I did. Things are nicely arranged. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. There's a short movie about his life, and then you can walk around and look at the displays. There's a small gift shop. The local history museum is attached, and the Bell museum used to be in that building. There's also a memorial marker to him around the corner. We'll worth checking out if you are into aviation history and are anywhere nearby.

Found this place on Groupon which k always check when I'm in a new place. It was $14 for two people…read moreso why not? I will say if you are a big science lover this one is not for you. There are a lot of kid activities but unless it gets updated one visit will be enough. I think it has potential to be great but there are about half of the items that were broken or stuff out that shouldn't be out, areas not closed off. There were a few cool things but i definitely wouldn't go back unless it was updated.

My kids love this place. There are a lot of things to do and explore. They enjoyed the slides,…read moremotion dancing theater.

As an activist who is fairly well known around Indiana, I've often had the opportunity to really…read moreget to know Indiana's communities. One of my favorites is Peru, Indiana, a city of a little over 11,000 that has always been warm and hospitable to me and incredibly proactive in supporting its residents with disabilities. For years, Peru was the circus capital of the United States and was the winter headquarters for several famous circuses. While the circus's presence in Peru has slowed down, the city remains a strong presence, both literally and nostalgically, for anyone involved in or having a love of circuses. The International Circus Hall of Fame is a museum and hall of fame honoring many of the icons of the circus industry. It is located on the grounds of the former Wallace Circus and American Circus Corporation Winter Headquarters. These grounds are also a National Historic Landmark. Benjamin Wallace purchased the land in 1891 and its use as a headquarters for circuses flourished until 1944. In 1921, American Circus Corporation bought it all from Wallace and in 1929 American Circus was sold to John Ringling. You should know the name John Ringling. After 1944, the property reverted to agricultural use and, sadly, many of the buildings were altered or even destroyed. The circus industry was declining. Ringling Brothers had established their winter headquarters in Florida and the original incarnation of the International Circus Hall of Fame opened in Sarasota in 1956. It attracted 80,000 visitors annually even into the late 70s, though it became unprofitable and was closed in 1980. In 1981, a group of circus devotees from Peru - community leaders, businesses, etc. - learned of the closure and the availability of many of the Hall of Fame's items. They all united together and, essentially, the community bought the hall of fame and moved it to Peru where it remains to this day. Since acquiring the hall of fame, Peru's Hall of Fame has continued to grow including 16 historical wagons reconstructed in the Hall of Fame's wagon shop and the Peru Wagon Works Shop. Most years, the Hall of Fame inducts new members including familiar names like the Wallendas, John Ringling, Annie Oakley, Emmett Kelly, P.T. Barnum, and dozens of others. The Hall of Fame is over 9 acres of land and it's not uncommon to see displays around the community different times of the year. They have a gift shop that is also available online. The museum is filled with circus artifacts, costumes, circus posters, heralds, photographs, films, route cards, route books, and numerous circus wagons. Five of the original buildings house all of this and all five buildings are Historic Landmarks. The Hall of Fame also houses the Circus Model Builder's Museum and its Hall of Fame. Entry into the museum is affordable - $5 for adults; $2.50 for under 12; and free for military (Peru does have a military base). You can even camp at the hall of fame right on the Mississinewa River. Camping with electricity is only $25 a night; $12.50 for "primitive" camping. There is so much to love here and so much more to say but, alas, reviews have a word limit and I'd rather you experience the place for yourself. While the pandemic still influences things, they have a work week coming up in September and two festivals are on the books for 2022!

Don't keep your giant sign on the highway directing folks to visit your Hall of Fame when your Hall…read moreof Fame is closed, perhaps permanently, because the roof on your main building collapsed and you don't have the funds to repair it. I hope this museum is able to find another home for its artifacts but don't waste your time driving here to try to visit it. It is closed.

Doesn't the name Minnetrista make you think that you'll be visiting a place with puppets? Like…read moremarionettes, right? Well, I hate to disappoint you, but there are no puppets or marionettes here. But there is an exhibit dedicated to Ball jars. Fun fact: Minnetrista was created by the Ball family, who created Ball canning jars, which you can learn about here. They are also the "Ball" behind Ball State University, which is located in Muncie. I had no idea! You will learn interesting facts like these, and others about this area of Indiana, at Minnetrista. The main museum itself is a bit small, and part of it is conference and meeting rooms. But the museum is just one part of Minnetrista. This is actually a 40-acre campus with gardens and paved trails. As you stroll along the grounds, you'll come across some houses. Some of the houses are part of Minnetrista, and you are welcome to pop inside and check out what's going on. What's going on in one of them is an exhibit dedicated to Bob Ross, the painter. At the Bob Ross Experience, you can step inside the historic home where The Joy of Painting was filmed, and see some of the actual filming equipment and art supplies that were used to create the television show. It's sort of surreal that Bob was painting his happy little trees right here in humble Muncie. Some of the houses that you encounter are not a part of Minnetrista, but belong to IU Health or other entities. It's not really clearly marked on the houses which is which. I'm sure if you consulted a map, it might tell you! I consulted no such map, and I was just walking around blindly. I visited during the late fall, when it was cold and the gardens were dormant, for the most part. But I bet this place is amazing in the spring and summer, when everything is in bloom.

Minnetrista is an event center and museum that was built in 1988 by the five Ball brothers. The…read moremodern center is part of a complex of museums and gardens on the former Ball property that sits across from the White River in Muncie. There is an admission fee to visit the galleries of $15/adult and $12/child, but the ticket grants admission to the other museums and garden as well. During our visit, we saw the Narwhal exhibit, which is a small exhibit dedicated to narwhals. A curator greeted us at the entrance and was available to answer questions. My granddaughter is a narwhal fan enjoyed the interactive displays. We also visited a special children's exhibit called Good Night Forest. Again a curator welcomed us and invited us to build a backpack and enjoy the nighttime activities set up for the kids. My granddaughter loved the firer fly dance, wandering through the dark forest listening for animals and the shadow puppet show. There were fun and educational activities suitable for all ages. We also visited a permanent exhibit describing the Ball Store History. I liked seeing all the vintage items and describing them to my granddaughter. We also toured a display for a local artist competition. The staff is super friendly and engaging. The center is immaculate and accessible. There is plenty of parking in their dedicated lot. Minnetrista is a great legacy from the Ball family to the community. Exhibits change and can be found on their website. I highly recommend a visit if you like art and history.