The Ultimate Indianapolis Museum Guide
The museums in Indianapolis have a little something for everyone and every age
Schedule some time during your vacation to learn about Indiana's history, gain a better appreciation of fine art, shoot some hoops—and even put the pedal to the metal in a race car. Indianapolis has it all.
1. Indianapolis Museum of Art
With more than 54,000 works of art, the Indianapolis Museum of Art brims with inspiration for all. Take a docent tour for the inside scoop about the collections or peruse the exhibits at your own pace. The museum showcases works from all over the world from the past 5,000 years, including African, American, Asian and European ancient and contemporary art and artifacts. View paintings, sculptures, drawings, photos and textiles. The museum actually encourages you to tweet about your experiences on your phone—but take calls outside, please. Let the kids play at the outdoor nature park to burn off a little energy, then grab a bite at the IMA Cafe.
2. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
At the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis the kids will be so busy frolicking in this specially designed space they won’t realize they’re also learning. Let your littlest ones explore—and get wet—at the indoor pond and learn the principles of cause-and-effect at the Reaction Contraction in PlayScape, designed for toddlers and preschool-aged kids. ScienceWorks is for school-aged kids, who'll enjoy six hands-on experiences that teach everything from engineering to biology. At the SpaceQuest Planetarium, the whole family can gaze at the stars and engage in hands-on learning about history in the Treasures of the Earth exhibit, featuring Terra Cotta Warriors, Egyptian mummies, shipwrecks and more. Allow an entire day to explore the museum; your kids will thank you.
3. NCAA Hall of Champions
If you’re a college sports fan, this is the museum for you. The two-story NCAA Hall of Champions is designed to provide you with a dual experience—both on and off court. Wander through a display hall followed by interactions with special exhibits. On the first floor, you’ll find tons of memorabilia and photos recanting the history of the NCAA. Challenge yourself with NCAA trivia—can you name all 23 NCAA sports? Upstairs, challenge your friends to a virtual sports game or play a little basketball of your own on the 1930s vintage court. Before you go, don't forget to watch some NCAA footage in the media room.
4. Dallara Indycar Factory
Just a third of a mile from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Dallara IndyCar Factory plays host to the world-famous Indianapolis 500. Take a ride on the speedway in the street-legal two-seater or get your thrills virtually in one of the full-car simulators; you’ll feel like you’re actually driving a real sports car. Hang out in the Interactive Zone to watch a movie in the Dallara IndyCar Factory Theater or discover the engineering secrets behind assembling race cars. Build and race your own car with your clan in the Kids Zone. The Interactive exhibit aims to entertain while teaching complicated subjects, such as computational fluid dynamics, in an easy-to-understand way.
5. The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
Immerse yourself in times and cultures past at the Eiteljorg Museum. Discover Native American artifacts from all over the U.S. and Canada in the museum’s Native American Collection. View traditional clothing, textiles, baskets, weapons, carvings and more. The Western Art Collection includes artwork spanning from the 1820s to the late 1920s. Peruse this comprehensive collection that includes everything from bronze statues by Frederic Remington to paintings by Georgia O’Keefe. Reflect on the diversity of today’s artistic community in the Eiteljorg’s Contemporary Collection, which covers a broad range of genres and mediums; you’ll find photographs, paintings, beadwork, paper art and installations created from canvas. Take a break to enjoy a snack or a sandwich and salad at the museum’s cafe.
6. Indiana State Museum
Check out the Indiana State Museum, where you’ll learn about the history of The Hoosier State, from ancient mastodons to contemporary art by local artists. You’ll find the museum in downtown Indianapolis at the White River State Park. Look at dinosaur bones, fossils and other prehistoric artifacts on the main level of the museum, which also includes exhibits of Native American history and heritage. Watch a film in the Legacy Theater before heading upstairs, where you’ll find more contemporary history on the state, including inventions of Indiana residents and Indiana’s role in the Civil War.
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