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    Col. Eli Lilly Civil War Museum

    4.5 (11 reviews)
    Closed 10:30 am - 5:30 pm

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    Cool and creepy old mining corridor replica that leads to another exhibit. Was not expecting it!
    Kyrie S.

    This museum is a very cool (and free!) find along the base of the tower. It is small and quaint, but super informative, kid friendly, and interactive!The compact size and dimness of it makes it feel more intimate and calming when slowly walking around each interesting and packed exhibit. There aren't too many corridors, but there are enough different ones which correspond to the time periods. There is plenty to look at from the historic costumes to the real equipment the soldiers used. My favorite exhibits were the living spaces and everyday tools the soldiers habitated with as well as a preserved tree trunk with a cannonball still embedded in it! The bathrooms and drinking fountains are very clean accessible from the entrance, the gift shop was tiny but full of cool mementos and mini replicas of the tower and such, and the people running the museum were friendly and informative. A definite must-see when touring monument circle and need a break from the sun!

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    Review Highlights - Col. Eli Lilly Civil War Museum

    For those looking for the Museum at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument (middle of Monument Circle) to find this museum, you are looking in the wrong place.

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    Indiana State Museum

    Indiana State Museum

    4.3
    (153 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    What a fun place on a holiday with kids! It was crazy as it was free and a school holiday, but they…read morehad a ton of fun interactive events and booths for the kids. Our gang especially loved the rock painting and IMAX movie. We love that they also have a special reserved spot for eating or snacks. We brought our lunch so we're able to spend the whole day there and enjoy all the various activities. It is a big place so you can entertain lots of ages. We will be back!

    The Indiana State Museum is a fabulous venue that archives state treasures and educates the public…read moreabout State history and resources. I take my granddaughters a couple times a year to visit the mastodons and mammoths, Indiana fossils, and other exhibits. Today, we visited Santa's house and rode the Snowfall Express Christmas Train. The fun ride takes the kids through an imaginary winter wonderland. Before the ride, Kid's can play with hands-on puzzles. Santa and Mrs. Claus invited the kids into their home and talk about their wishes. Parents could take photos or purchase Museum generated photos. (I did both.) Afterward, the kids enjoyed an interactive area on the first floor of the museum. The kids managed a sound track, made shadows behind a light screen and much more. They played (and learned) for over an hour. We had lunch in the Cafe. We get a 10% discount with our Museum membership. The food is good and reasonably priced. The staff is super friendly. Indoor parking in the garage is discounted for members. We go to all of the Museum's special events. We never miss GeoFest in February.

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    Indiana State Museum
    Indiana State Museum
    Indiana State Museum

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    The Children's Museum

    The Children's Museum

    4.5
    (581 reviews)
    2.6 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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    Dino
    Dino
    The Children's Museum
    TRex Skeleton

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    TRex Skeleton
    Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum

    Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum

    4.3
    (145 reviews)
    4.2 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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    The racetrack diagram
    The racetrack diagram
    Museum 2025
    Museum 2025
    The Starting Line movie experience

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    The Starting Line movie experience
    Indianapolis Canal Walk

    Indianapolis Canal Walk

    4.5
    (206 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    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
    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 Allison

    4.9
    (11 reviews)
    5.6 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
    Welcome to the NEW James A. Allison Exhibition Center! Come on in!
    Welcome to the NEW James A. Allison Exhibition Center! Come on in!
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    Col. Eli Lilly Civil War Museum - museums - Updated July 2026

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