Best museums in Indianapolis: find options near you

It’s an amazing experience from start to finish. Be sure and take the golf cart tour. Jason was personable and made the tour awesome! The museum is amazing! So many important cars and the building itself is a work of art. The only negative is they need more refreshments due to the amount of time a visitor may spend there. Be sure and talk to the different staff around the museum, they make the visit more informative and some of them have great stories. I highly recommend visiting here whether you e ever watched a race or not.

Excellent recommended museum for auto enthusiasts and anyone that enjoys historic racing collectibles. This classic museum just had a $65 million facelift and it is definitely worth checking out. $23 Senior tickets. No line to purchase tickets. Easy parking.

This was the first time I have been to this museum. It was great for adults and kids. The flow through the museum was easy with different exhibitions on three floors with additional exhibitions within the larger areas. Be sure to go up to the cars on gasoline alley and stand on the indicators to start the videos to learn some history. There was a cool video that played on a screen on the back wall and wrapped up the ceiling. They had a variety of makes, models, and years of vehicles to look at. There was an interactive room for adults and older kids and a craft room for the younger kiddos. When we were there was some cars on the track. Maybe a test and tune for ISMA. My husband grew up going to this museum. This was the first time he has been in years. They had since done a remodel. My husband said it is so much “cooler” now.

They have done a really nice remodel of this place. When you walk in and see the different styles of cars in the different styles of garage it’s really cool. The amount of different cars that are in this museum would blow your mind. There is a lot to see. The walk in theater that you get to go in and see their new show about the opening ceremony makes you feel like you are seeing it live. I really enjoyed all the new exhibits they have built inside. It’s definitely worth a visit. You can see our videos about this on tiktok and YouTube. Just search Can We Go There Next.

We had a great tour with Howard. He was very polite and knowledgeable. You can tell that he has a passion for the history of the Speedway and Indy Car at large. We toured the entire grounds and went into the Pagoda, went into the winner circle and kissed the bricks. We were surprised at the level of access. We had the opportunity to go into the race control room and see all the monitors for the on track cameras.

All in all it was a great experience. As a race fan, it was nice to get to be up close with the track and hear stories and experiences from a person who has a passion for it. If you’re in Indy and have some time, we highly recommend the experience.

Visited on 6.16.2025. The museum and track tour are Spectacular, and this is a must see for any type of auto racing fan. Standing on the race course at the finish line and touching the infamous bricks with the names of the elite drivers that have won 4 Indy 500 racing titles was very thrilling. Highly Recommend!!

I have never been here so I don’t know what the old museum looked like. This updated version is amazing. If you love racing of any kind you will enjoy it! It’s great for all ages. I upgraded and did a golf cart tour. Totally worth it!! You get driven around to all the cool places you normally wouldn’t get to see. It is recommended to book at least 2 weeks in advance. I did that and it was super easy to do it!

Such a cool “attraction” in Indianapolis. However, the sole reason for going was the upstairs space with the flag and the soldiers monument. It was closed for maintenance. I was not happy about that, but just bad luck on our part. It is free to visit and I recommend doing so. Poignant section on 9/11 with Hoosiers who lost their lives, and an entire section on the U.S.S. Indianapolis.

This is a really cool monument with a free museum. If you like beautiful buildings you need to see this one. Highly recommend

Excellent history of the US military, from the French-Indian War to the present, told from the point of view of Indiana.

Huge collection of artifacts augmented with videos, dioramas, models, and more. I loved the display comparing the shoes and boots worn by competing armies in WWI, for example.

Nothing really hands-on for kids, though.

Some of the mannequins were worn, with cracks running all over their faces. But most things looked well maintained.

I was impressed with how well the museum showed Black and women involvement in military history, including in the state of Indiana.

Beyond the historical displays, there was a stunning auditorium.

The upstairs was closed when we were there. (They were in the process of repairing a leaking roof.) So we missed seeing what is supposed to be a spectacular shrine up there.

There was no cost to enter, but we left a donation.

There are multiple levels. I did notice lifts for wheelchairs by some of the stairs.

There was plenty of paid on-street parking available nearby.

This is great museum! I learned information about the 9/11 attack on New York, I learned about the soldiers that were underground they have a proper name and I do apologize for not remembering. If someone knows what they’re called please let me know. These soldiers were underground in narrow, dark, labyrinths. They even had to be able to load their guns in complete darkness because they only had a flashlight to use. I learned about the meaning as-salaamu alaykum this means “peace be upon you”. There’s so much to see here and it’s free admission. The lady who works at the front desk was very polite, and friendly. Overall I enjoyed the museum I learned about so much and I would definitely come again.

The Indiana War Memorial is a powerful and moving tribute to the state’s veterans, set in a beautifully designed neoclassical building. With its impressive architecture, peaceful plaza, and immersive museum inside, it’s a must-visit for history lovers. The memorial honors sacrifice with dignity and offers a quiet, reflective space right in the heart of the city.

Indianapolis, Indiana, has the largest acreage dedicated to war memorials in the U.S., with 25 acres in the Indiana War Memorial Plaza Historic District, honoring veterans from various wars. This district is a historic landmark that features multiple parks, fountains, and various monuments, including the Indiana War Memorial and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument.

The museum is by donation only. There’s no entrance fee. The tower is closed for repairs. They are hoping to open again by the end of this year. It’s a large museum with lots of information specific to Indiana war history and the residents that fought in them. The building is art deco, just gorgeous! It’s definitely worth going to see.

85 Christmas Trees in one place!
If you love Christmas tree, you must come and check it out during November and December. They even hid several pickles in the trees for the kids to find them out.
For the regular exhibit, the kids would learn how to preserve the artifacts. There is even a VR game area for learning more about basketball presented by Chuck Taylor.

Irish music and Scottish music that came alive. Beautiful instruments a must go to see concert series at the early music historical museum on ogio street

We really enjoyed visiting the Indiana Historical Society this year. The Christmas tree celebration display was beautiful! Definitely want to return next year too!

Very interesting museum. The museum is larger and the exhibition halls are spaced far apart in a large building. Very spacious with interesting history i didn’t know about Indianas history.
Resist, is an incredible exhibit. Had no idea.

A little gem, I never paid attention to. This place is so cute & elegant. I enjoyed a play performed over the weekend & enjoyed every minute of it. The building has an amazing view from the canal at night. Can’t wait to go back for more events.

Wonderful exhibits. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. I purchased tickets online for a small discount. The toughest part was getting out of the parking lot. The box just needs some directions. They do validate.

We love the Festival of Trees! We went on a Tuesday evening when you can view the trees in the low lights. It was just gorgeous. Our favorite was the LS Ayres tree. I also loved the DAR tree. Every year it is a new spectacular experience!

Superbe parc, paisible, avec beaucoup de diversité.
Très belle maison
Magnifique plan d’eau avec ses jets
Prévoir la journée
Gratuit le 1er jeudi de chaque mois
A ne pas manquer

Siamo stati per lo spettacolo delle luminarie prima di Natale ed è stato meraviglioso!
Una serata perfetta. Tutto organizzato benissimo, con un percorso chiaro e ben segnalato.
La Villa sempre bella era ancora più magica con ogni stanza decorata a festa e a tema.
Una bellissima esperienza per tutta la famiglia!

Beautiful gardens. Thoroughly enjoyed the walk around the grounds and ended with a giant pretzel and 2 glasses of cider! Perfect day spent with my wife!

Orchids and other verdant denizens populate this delightful greenhouse. It’s not spacious, but if you enjoy plants and colorful life in any capacity (since you’re visiting Newfields, I assume you are), it’s 100% worth the detour. Unlike some public gardens, it doesn’t seek to achieve lusciousness and color by being overly ordered and sanitized – instead, there is an air of walk-ability that really does provide a “lived-in” sense, and it is all the more welcoming for it.

I wonder what the estate grounds look like at night – does it flip towards an eerie Hounds of Baskerville? Or is it even more romantic than it is during the day? Either way, a stroll through it feels like a storybook.

By comparison, the inside of the house was much more of a historical site – excellent primary experience of an era gone by in this country. Still very much worth seeing, with an audio tour and a much needed, air conditioned reprieve if you’re visiting during the summer months.

Bliss escape from the main city area. A lovely experience here which is peaceful. The gardens are well maintained and nice pathways to have an enjoyable walk.

The property and greenhouse of this estate are beautiful. I recommend making sure you have time to see the greenhouse because it is jam packed with plants and tons of orchids. I have never seen this many orchids in my life. I believe the greenhouse itself is from the 1930s, so also cool just to see the building itself.

First and foremost, I highly recommend visiting the Lilly house during their holiday festivities. I have included photos from the Halloween events but the house is also used for Christmas activities. It’s clever, interesting, and well-worth the money.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Lilly House and Gardens at Newfields, and it was truly an enchanting experience. The meticulously maintained gardens were a breathtaking sight, with an array of vibrant flowers and lush greenery that created a serene and picturesque atmosphere. Walking through the garden pathways felt like stepping into a tranquil oasis away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

The Lilly House itself is a stunning historic gem, exuding elegance and charm. The carefully preserved interiors provide a glimpse into the past, showcasing the rich history and cultural heritage of the region. The knowledgeable staff added to the experience, offering insightful information about the house and its former residents, creating a deeper connection to the space.

What truly stood out to me was the seamless blend of art, nature, and history that the Lilly House and Gardens offer. It’s a perfect destination for art enthusiasts, history buffs, and nature lovers alike. Whether you’re exploring the beautifully curated art collections within the house or simply enjoying a leisurely stroll through the gardens, the Lilly House and Gardens at Newfields is a must-visit destination that leaves a lasting impression of beauty and tranquility.

I’ll start by saying you NEED TO BOOK A GUIDED TOUR IN ADVANCE! I knew this ahead of time, but some people may not, so I’m putting it here first! All tours are guided because the museum and building are almost entirely original and not reconstructions!!! It is somewhat of a morbid story- you can view cross-sections of brains with conditions and tumors, accompanied by stories of the people they were removed from, their symptoms, and how each individual was admitted to central state. The tour guides and employees are very friendly and helpful!!

Beautiful museum and the guide was very knowledgeable. I definitely recommend buying tickets in advance as the tour groups are kept small due to space. Photography is allowed, but no video or audio. Also, they won’t let you in until just before your tour time starts, so don’t get there too early.

This is an amazing piece of history and I’m so glad it has been preserved for us to visit. There are so many interesting things there and the guide had so many interesting stories. I only wish there was more time to look around at things and read all the information on our own.

This is an amazing piece of Indiana Medical history began to advance treatment diagnosis of mental illness from actual medical causes and to treat to heal vs. containing the mentally ill in asylums. Extremely advanced. I highly recommend.

Tours on the hour. Best to book in advance

Medical Herb Garden outside has a plethora of native plants used for medicinal purposes

Plants In individual gardens …one for breathing and the lungs,.another cardiovascular..I stayed in the gardens researched plants for 45 min!

An amazingly preserved building with so many original artifacts. I liked sitting in the teaching theater, reading the stories behind each of the brain specimens, peering around the autopsy room, and marveling at the beautiful wood and tile cabinets. Great guided tour – I just wished for more time to look around before going onto the next room. You get to go into almost every single room upstairs and downstairs!

This place was absolutely fascinating. Apparently, it’s quite the hidden gem since no one that I talked to who lives in Indianapolis even knew it existed. I’m thankful that Google local guides gave it such glowing reviews. I’m going to add my glowing review as well.

The tour guide I had was truly knowledgeable. He took extra time and was really great at answering questions.

So much history has been remarkably well preserved. The architecture was very functional and they explain all of that to you. Some of it is pretty macabre, but my wife is a trauma nurse and said she could’ve spent another 10 to 20 hours in there, and way more if they’d actually let you read the books.

The autopsy table, the death room, the lecture hall, the chemical production room, so much stuff they did back then is still in use today, it’s just much easier to do now.

There are brains and pieces of brains in jars, with the tumors and such clearly described.

It was easy to get to, had plenty of parking, and even a garden of medicinal plants that have little tags by them explaining what they were used for.

Appointments are required. There is a flight of stairs, and they are old stairs with at least one 90 degree turn in them, so probably not wheelchair friendly.

This was definitely worth visiting and I’ll go again next time I’m in town if I have enough time to spare. So worth it.

First of all, you need to make an appointment to tour this place. David, our tour guide and board member, was wonderful. Made my husband’s and my experience exceptional. It was a very knowledgeable and one-of-a-kind experience. They also have a medicinal garden that explains what certain plants were used for back in the day.

The private tour was great! What’s even better is the fact that so many items in the house actually belonged to former president Harrison! It helps you to really step back in time! Our guide Gary was great with knowledge on everything! Would definitely recommend checking this out!

The tour is worth it for adults only. A chance to learn about a president that does not get mentioned very much. A beautiful home with plenty of items from his time in office. I did not know he dedicated the Washington monument.

Though originally from Ohio, Harrison moved to Indiana as an adult and lived here after his presidency. To see the house you join a tour, which is full of information, some well known and some less well known. At the end of the tour we learned his 2nd wife is the reason this house and much of his presidential memorabilia still exists.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Très belle visite ! La maison est superbe, pleine d’histoire, et les guides sont passionnants. Un lieu à voir absolument si vous passez par Indianapolis. Une belle immersion dans l’histoire américaine !

Always love learning about history! $16 per person entry but well worth it. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable. We threw lots of questions his way and he was a wealth of information. So interesting!

Worth the price: the guide gave a thorough introduction of the housing as well as the family structure of President Benjamin Harrison. I loved the interesting stories about Harrison’s children and his early career the most!

We enjoyed our tour. It was very detailed and full of information so be ready to spend close to two hours on site. The tour schedule is spread out so you definitely need to plan your day around a tour time. Parking is primarily on the street and there are a lot of one way streets in the area so map it ahead of time. The house is filled with the families belongings so it is easy to imagine the home as it was years ago.

Visiting the NCAA National Office in Indianapolis was an incredible experience! The building is beautifully designed and truly reflects the spirit and tradition of college athletics. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with professionalism and hospitality.

The staff are knowledgeable, respectful, and passionate about the NCAA’s mission. The offices are modern and impressive, with inspiring displays that showcase the achievements of student-athletes and the history of collegiate sports.

The location itself is easy to access, with well-maintained grounds and thoughtful security protocols that make you feel welcome and safe. Whether you’re here for a meeting, event, or just to admire the headquarters of college sports, it’s a must-visit for any NCAA fan or professional.

Proud to have such a prestigious national organization headquartered in Indianapolis!

You have to go if you go to Indy! Small & intimate but informative and fun! You will learn & laugh. It was definitely a great experience! My wife and I loved it!

We were in town for a highschool regionals tournament and needed something to do for the team to decompress a little. This was the perfect spot for just that. The venue is impressive with tons of history across all sports and many interactive things to do. Of course they were in the middle of all of it. We showed up with around 15 people and got right in with plenty of space to roam. Highly recommended for young and old athletic enthusiasts alike!

Spent some time with my family at the Hall of Champions.

This place isn’t for everyone. Being a former college athlete and sports nerd pushed me to see this place! The place could be bigger, but with the limited space, the displays were well done! The second floor was interactive and gave my children the opportunity to test out some of their skills in basketball and soccer. Plan to spend less than 2 hours here!

I first visited the NCAA Hall of Champions in 1991 when the NCAA HQ was still in the Kansas City area where I lived. On this visit I hoped to see what 30+ years and a larger venue would bring. Sadly, it feels like they’ve taken 2 steps backward. Some of the interactive exhibits on the second floor might appeal to children but how do you distill 100+ years of college football onto a 10’x10’ (estimate) panel?!?

Nice place, situated in a lovely urban park. It’s not a hall of fame or anything of that sort, it recognizes all the different NCAA sports and has banners of the current national champion at each level. There is a Hall of Homor of recognition for select people by year. Small gift shop on site.

Parking was easy, we parked in the underground garage and got our parking validated at the admissions counter, it made our parking free. My husband and son loved it. They had evert sport and lots of interactive things to do and see. It took us about 1.5 hours to read exhibits and do all of the interactive things. I would definitely recommend.

Awesome experience. Got there at 4:00 didn’t realize they were closed. Google said they were open to 5. Cindy was a great sport. She gave us a tour anyway. She has alot of knowledge. Got dome great souvenirs as well.

Very impressive of the photos and fire fighter equipment that is displayed throughout the museum. We took some children to see and they were very excited.

You would think that someone could handle a bit of commentary about road improvements in Indianapolis without becoming a nut job in every thread. Either way, this isn’t professional conduct coming from FLU 416.

(I still stand by that I think firefighters will navigate two way streets on Michigan and New York just as well as any other two lane road in the city.)

Had an absolutely amazing time. No problem parking absolutely free to go and walk around not busy at all kind of like having a private Museum to yourself. Lots of fire hats and equipment and toys from the past. It is super educational and entertaining. With videos and lots of things to experience and enjoy.. highly recommend going if you are downtown Indy around Mass Avenue area

My teen son and I enjoyed the museum. There were a couple school groups there during our visit and it was great to see the young firefighters interaction with them on a treasure hunt.

This museum is a gem! We got a tour from a friendly and informative retired fireman. The museum is extensive with several old firetrucks and tons of artifacts to look at. Really fun place!

This is a free museum on the ground floor – left side of the elevator. I was a little confused because there wasn’t a reception or place to get a ticket, but this is a small walk in museum dedicated to the firefighters of Indy.

Totally recommend visiting if you’re in Mass Ave!

The ISP Museum is free to attend at the time of this review, and they have cool vehicles, old equipment, uniforms, and you can buy merchandise here as well. I would visit here again.

History of Indiana State Police Department. Very educational exhibits. Highly recommend visiting for young people in general. Historic cars and motorcycles that were used by our finest. Learning about all gadgets, tools, instruments, tactics used by detectives was very interesting.

A fun museum with many artifacts and history of the state police. Cool, quiet and clean. Highly recommend for anyone with an interest in state law enforcement.

It’s small but very pretty. I visited it specifically because they carry out inspections of all types of vehicles there, and for inspection of salvage cars.

Fun museum with some neat things!! We had a great time playing in the double police car!! The old classic police cars were super cool to see!

This little hidden gem would be interesting to people if all ages. Although I liked the immaculately restored police cruisers the most, I found the old lie detector and breathalyzer technology interesting as well. It also highlighted police activity you don’t normally consider, such as air and water rescue work and investigation. It’s free to visit although donations are welcome.

Very interesting how the Indiana State Police started and seeing how the patrol vehicles have changed over the years

Not really worth your time coming here unless you’re already in the park. Not so much a museum but a collection of various military artifacts. Spent about 15 min here, was ok.

This museum was very small, but the staff were nice and they had some very interesting items, including numerous models of tanks and war ships. They had a large USS Indianapolis (CA-35) model as well.

It’s small, but the exhibits are really close to you. They have some really cool pieces. All they ask is to not touch. Free to get in.

El paseo a caballo es ideal para los que quieren atreverse a una aventura en el bosque aún sin haber montado un caballo nunca, los caballos son muy mansos se que los niños van a disfrutar este paseo

Nice museum small but overall really nice. A cool little Ww1 trench walk threw Ww1-gulf war I think. nice USS Indianapolis ship a lot of cool things highly recommend it.

Self-guided museum most of the time. They do have people sometimes that can give you information.

Quite the collection! I was not expecting such a small building to have so much variety.