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    Indiana State Museum

    4.3 (154 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Snowfall Express
    Kandice T.

    My husband and I had a lovely time today exploring the museum, its exhibits and the holiday-themed experiences. We spent over 2 hours there, but I wished that I'd allotted more time to this portion of our day. We barely scratched the surface in regard to viewing all of the exhibits and interactive experiences. Everything was beautifully decorated for the holidays and the "holiday cheer" was palpable. The staff were all extremely kind and helpful, except for the parking garage attendant. In all fairness, I did not realize that it was my responsibility to request a parking validation voucher. I just read on the website that a discount was given if you made a purchase at the Indiana Shop, which we did. I showed the attendant the receipt but was told that nothing could be done without the voucher. We look forward to returning again soon to explore more of the museum.

    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.

    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.

    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!

    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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    Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art - Cowboy Couture special exhibit

    Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art

    4.5(148 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    Wow! What a beautifully crafted museum with an impressive selection of work. I enjoyed the artwork…read morewith my grandpa and it will forever be a cherished memory of mine. Thank you for such a wonderful time.

    Spent Juneteenth enjoying the opportunities around the city and seeing as though I was just at…read moreNewfields 2 weeks ago I figured it would be awesome to come to Eiteljorg since it had been a while since we've been. We came in through The Indiana State museum and walked out on the canal and entered in the back way. We were greeted by the most wonderful volunteer, very helpful and enjoying herself. We entered to music playing and people exploring the grounds outside. Plenty of space to walk and enjoy outside. We walked up the steps to discover the play area and more steps going up to outdoor seating for the cafe. We entered the kids play area. I loved the creative play offered inside. The library and all of the resources provided. My grandson had the opportunity to play and explore for a while. Pose for a few pictures and then upstairs to the exhibit area where some vendors were set up. I always enjoy engaging with the vendors and finding out about their different offerings. I purchased and few things and then we made our way through the museum. It was a wonderful time. Something educational for my grandlove and outof the norm for us. They have made some upgrades ans changed some things since I was here last. Looking forward to our next opportunity to stop in and see whats in store.

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    4.3(152 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    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!

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    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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    Indianapolis Canal Walk

    Indianapolis Canal Walk

    4.5(207 reviews)
    0.2 miMile Square

    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!

    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!

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

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

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    Indiana State Museum - museums - Updated September 2026

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