Best museums in Indianapolis: find options near you

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is truly a wonderful place to spend quality family time. We have three little girls — one-year-old twins and a five-year-old — and it’s an incredibly fun and educational environment where the whole family can enjoy together. The kids learn so much while playing, exploring, and interacting with every exhibit. This was our second visit and we absolutely love it — the themes, the creative spaces, and how everything is designed to bring animated worlds to life so children can connect, play, and imagine. This time we visited the Paw Patrol experience and it was amazing to see how excited they were enjoying every moment. We will definitely keep coming back. Highly recommended for families with kids!

One of largest children’s museum. Many floors and sections to explore. It has Dinosphere, space/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.

It’s a huge place with over 4 floors activities for children. They have free parking for guests. Tickets are $32 for adults and slightly cheaper for kids. They have carousel rides for kids as well, $2 per ride. The dino section is the largest one in the facility. There are several dino skeletons on display, a small bone digging area for kids and also window view of staff members actually extracting dino bones in a lab. Some of the other nice areas were the ISS and space program, the pop art hall and the Peru small town setup. There’s a food court and store museum as well. Multiple restrooms available at every level. Families can easily spend more than half a day here exploring nature, science and also doing many hands on activities.

We have the best time as a family here. It started when they had the mickey mouse clubhouse exhibit and has continued through the winterfare on in to the paw patrol exhibit. There are rotating exhibits that keep it feeling fresh, we got the season pass and it pays for itself on the 2nd visit. I can not recommend this place enough! Best part of the experience is that our children always end up sleeping within 30 minutes of leaving the museum!

It was so much fun with the toddler to explore this museum. It was so well organized for the kids. Especially my kid enjoyed the paw patrol, winter wonderland and Peru themes. There were so things for the kids to pretend and play. Time well spent.

I came here for something to do while I was visiting a friend for a couple of days and even though I’m 23 and it says «childrens» museum I was very entertained! The power of children exhibit was heartbreaking, the blown glass exhibit was incredible to look at and overall I had a great time walking around and it was a good way to kill a few hours! If I wasnt on a time crunch for my trip I would have loved to spend a full day going through the museum!

Holy hell — this place is massive. Five full floors and somehow every single one is packed with something worth stopping for. You could spend an entire day here and still feel like you missed stuff. The Dinosaur Exhibit is next level. Not «kids museum cool» — legitimately impressive. Huge, immersive, and the kind of thing that makes adults slow down and geek out just as much as the kids. But my personal favorite? The pop culture exhibit. As a kid of the 80s who grew up in the 90s, this hit straight in the nostalgia. One of those «oh wow, I forgot about that» moments over and over again. It felt less like an exhibit and more like being dropped back into a really good chapter of life. Bottom line: If you’re anywhere near Indy, this museum is 100% worth it. Bring comfortable shoes, plan more time than you think you’ll need, and be ready to be impressed — whether you’re 6 or 46.

I visited the Newfields art museum in the wintertime, but it was still very impressive. Since I was there on a weekday, I had many of the exhibits to myself and was able to thoroughly enjoy them without dealing with crowds. They have a great and varied assortment of art, and it’s in a very nice space. I loved their Seurat painting, and their Asian art exhibit was delightful. I know they have some beautiful gardens and outdoors exhibits when the weather is nicer, so I’ll have to visit again in the summertime. This is quite an amazing asset for Indianapolis and is a destination for anyone interested in art.

We had an amazing time at Newfields Winterlights this season! ✨❄️ The light displays were absolutely magical — everywhere you looked felt bright, colorful, and full of holiday spirit. It truly created such a festive and joyful atmosphere that instantly put us in the seasonal mood 🎄🌟. While we were there, I grabbed a hot cider inside and it was so delicious and comforting 🍎☕ — perfect for walking around in the chilly weather. They also offer a wide variety of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy 🍷🥤. Parking was super convenient too. There were plenty of free spots available in the main lot, or you can pay $20 for a closer parking option if you prefer 🚗👍. Overall, it’s definitely a must-see event if you’re in Indiana during the holidays. Such a fun and memorable experience! 💖✨

The orchid displays inside the museum were gorgeous, perfect for a photo op! Opportunities to purchase orchids inside the gift shop, and many other beautiful gifts available. More orchids and other tropical and desert plants inside the greenhouses, such an amazing variety! These should not be missed while on display this time of year! Please note, the entrance to the greenhouses is a bit hidden, it’s back next to the Lilly House, in the area of the gardens that are under construction, looking as though the whole area is fenced off. Enjoy!

We went to the Winterlights tonight and it was great. I was surprised at how much there was to see there. We were able to hang out for a long time, we even made and ate some s’mores. The lights were beautiful, and I’m glad that we went a little on the early side. Just be aware parking is difficult and you may have to park at the church across the street or even Butler. Other than that it was a fabulous experience.

Love this place. So much good art, fantastic experience, activities. Admission is fairly priced, the food and drinks are a bit marked up as is standard for places like this, but come prepared and you will always have a wonderful experience here. The Lume has ALWAYS been worth the money, highly recommend it as an add on to your trip.

Had such a fun time at the Newfields Winterlights! The lights were absolutely magical and the whole experience was super festive. Grabbed a hot cider inside it was delicious! They also have plenty of drink options, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Parking was easy: lots of spots in the free lot, or $20 if you prefer the closer lot. Definitely a must-see if you’re in Indiana this season!

I didn’t know what to expect and just really loved the museum. I can tell that they’ve made an admirable effort to include underrepresented artists. I also loved all of the pairings of different art pieces so that I could really think about the pieces and notice new things. This museum is also perfect for children! What an amazing job they’ve done at helping students cultivate an interest and connect with art. I also had lunch and visited the gift shop and would recommend both.

Wonderful museum! So much history included plus a hands-on area for children. The «kiss the bricks» tour is a must! A one loop bus ride around the track with a stop at the historic row of bricks. Tour guide was wonderful. Shared tons of information, stories and offered to take photos. Even if you don’t care for racing- this place is a must see!

What an amazing experience. The museum is top notch with many interactive exhibits. Really enjoyed the PIT STOP competition we had as a family and kissing those bricks is something we’ll never forget.

Wonderful facility that displays the rich history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Plenty of historical vehicles on display including a selection of Official Pace Cars. There is also an interactive zone where you can handle equipment in a mock-up pit stop. There are also simulators so you can test your skills driving around the circuit. There is also a wing dedicated to Penske Racing. This museum is well presented. Highly recommended.

We are a racing family with a lot of history in the sport and this did NOT disappoint. There’s not a single aspect that wasn’t covered well. Hands on activities were easily accessible and fun. The staff and docents were friendly and eager to help. Even the bathrooms were nice and very clean. Very great experience. We took our time and it took us about 3 hours to see it all.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is fantastic! One of the best museums I’ve really ever visited with lots of interactive exhibits and so much history to learn! Do not miss this gem in Indianapolis!

The remodel of this HISTORIC Indycar museum was AMAZING!! It’s one of the best things Indycar and the owners have done in a very long time. TOP NOTCH presentation and the amount of cars is kinda crazy. The 7 minute show with the front row cars is great. CON: 100 DOLLARS to get 4 people through the door. Absolute sticker shock and I probably won’t do it everytime I go. WAAAAY too expensive.

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.

This is a really nice museum! We live about 2 hours away and it is was worth the drive. We spent most of our time in the maze exhibit, which will be there until early April. Well kept museum, nice staff. Appreciate that parking garage is below the museum and that the museum validates your ticket so you only have to pay $4 for parking. Will be back! They have ASTC reciprocity

If you live in Indiana, this is a must-visit place to brush up on the history of the land you live on. The museum is huge, well design, and exceptionally clean. The displays are visually stunning and informative. The history goes all the way back to when this state was underwater, and through the ice age and the native inhabitants. They have a rich recent history of the last couple hundred years, and a large «special» place up on the 3rd floor for special displays. It’s pretty kid friendly, especially the animal bits. But I don’t think there’s much here for impatient or very young kids. Plan for about 2-3 hours and don’t forget to get your parking ticket approved for a discount.

Indianapolis State Museum & IMAX — Surprisingly Incredible Being from Colorado, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from a state museum in Indiana… but wow, they knocked it out of the park. The timeline-style exhibits were fun, engaging, and way more entertaining than I expected. You actually move through history in a way that feels interactive, not static. We also caught a film at the IMAX and oh my—that screen is no joke. The sound, the size, the whole experience was on another level. Totally worth it. If you’re visiting Indy, this place is absolutely worth the stop.

This was my first experience with the ISM. We went to the IMAX show «Mesmerica». While waiting for entrance to the theater, we sat on comfortable soft benches. We arrived very early so, places to sit became an issue for others who arrived after us. The theater was standard. The advertising of this show seemed a little misleading. Honestly, we both felt rather disappointed. Dont get me wrong. The show was fun and all, but, what we thought would be ~other worldly~ actually seemed more like watching a 3D Screensaver play for an hour+. Some of the images even repeated. I used the restroom afterwards and overheard people saying the same sort things as we were saying. I also heard some people talking about how they purchased VIP tickets, and felt there was little to nothing different from regular tickets. They also upsell the higher priced concession items that offer free refills, only to be told there would be no re-entry if we left the theater (to refill them). By the time we exited the theater, employees were refusing refills with a sour attitude. They were fully aware no one would be able to take advantage of the refills they upsold. While in line, we were given parking validation passes. So, that was a plus! I would like to visit the museum some other time for a different exhibit. This one was a little disappointing.

Enjoyed the nice displays throughout the museum; parking in garage was only $4 after receiving coupon at front desk;

This place has amazing grounds. We came when they were closed so we walked around outside. They had at least 80 pieces of art on the outside of their building and around the property. You can easily spend a couple hours walking out the beautiful property. Overall if you want to kill some time with the family and see some beautiful art this is the place to check out.

A white washed history of Indiana, sadly. There’s a small note citing the why behind Manifest Destiny in a blink and you’ll miss it corner. While there is collections of civil rights, and a little native history here, it’s a museum. It is still weird to see things I used as a kid in a museum, but I’ve seen other museums display them better. The best thing there is the original IMAX. It’s still 7-stories tall with great audio. We saw a short documentary (a bit dated, as it showed Senator Kelly on the space station). The 3D glasses gave my kid a headache, but it was ok. Giving the museum 3 stars because they need more funding to do better things.

Beautiful free meausam, but they do have a small donation Box by the door, they have some great exhibits on the USS Indiana and USS Indianapolis

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.

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 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.

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 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.

First time going here but it is a really good museum. I did notice that the Korean War area was small compared to the other exhibits, and the Vietnam area was almost non-existent. It is free to enter, but they do accept donations to help keep the museum running. If I can upload all of the pictures that I took while inside, I will, as there are many interesting exhibits in this museum.

This was a wonderful place to visit, especially during the festival of trees! Every year they put out Christmas trees on display. Every company or organization decorate a tree with a theme of their choosing. This was a great, relaxing date night! I would highly recommend going as a date. We plan to go back each year.

Beautiful halls and welcoming staff! We came here for the Festival of Trees and were amazed by the beauty and effort put into this display. We had a lot of fun! We also love the woodpecker ornament.

Festival of Trees was amazing! Highly recommend, beautiful and exciting way to support your community and see some beautiful holiday decor.

We come every year to The Festival of Trees! Over 80 Trees decorated for the Holidays. We truly enjoyed the trees this year! One of the best years!

Our family visits every year for the festival of trees. Beautiful facility, easy parking.

We always love to visit here. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. We especially appreciate the validation of our parking so it is free. We enjoyed this visit during the Festival of the Trees.

I don’t go to Indianapolis often. The Indiana Historical Society is in an interesting location. It’s close to Indiana Avenue, and it’s right next to the canal. There is a free parking lot. During the winter season, they have an awesome Christmas tree selection and you can vote for your favorite tree. Personally, my favorite one is the Pacers themed tree. They have a bookstore about the history of Indiana, and with scheduled appointments they have an impressive amount of archives regarding the local history of the state. My favorite part about visiting this place (I’ve been here twice now) is the exhibits taking place. There is a show about Interurban Indiana and its history of local transport. Next is Resist! I was really moved by the brave people and college students of Notre dame that stood up against the KKK. I didn’t see this last exhibit, but I think the topic is about Vietnam. The ambience of the place (from my experience) is… warm. When I walk through the main lobby, I feel like I’m stepping back into history isolated in this white space. The people that work here are nice and accommodating- like, really accommodating. Regardless of whether you are new to Indianapolis or you come by here occasionally, this is a good spot to learn about Indiana history. There’s not only the historical society but you are close to a historical landmark, Indiana avenue. If you walk a bit from the museum, you will get a good view of CJ Walker Theatre, the Lucas Oil Stadium, and the Indiana Avenue jazz musician mural.

We came to see the Jingle Rails and were absolutely amazed! What a huge and incredible display! The galleries have a lot of breathtaking West paintings and sculptures, there is currently also an Inuit art display upstairs. We need to come back to see all the exhibitions. Wonderful people work here!

Definitely a great place to walk around. They have lots of sculptures and random art pieces around the property. Even without going inside this place has a lot to offer. Their grounds were clean with a peaceful atmosphere. Outback they had multiple sets of corn hole/bags which was a nice thing for the kids. Overall this is a nice place to see art and kill some time with the family.

Stopped in to visit the exgibits and walk through Jingle Rails. This place is a gem of artwork and information. Staff was very kind and friendly, museum is clean and well maintained. Jingle rails is always fun for kids and adults alike but there is quite a bit more to see here and it is more than worth the price of admissiion to spend the time to go through the whole museum. Great experienece, we’ll visit again.

An absolute gem of a museum. The classic Western art and contemporary Native American art exhibits were fantastic. Visiting nearer the Holidays, they had model railroad tracks setup in the back area that took over the entire place! It was quite an amazing site to see. I highly recommend checking it out because the models and landscape were incredible. If you get a chance to visit, you won’t be disappointed.

Beautiful animal surrealistic sculptures from the Inuit, teen loved it and wanted to take pictures of everything. Gorgeous art with natural materials, loved the contemporary art especially, and felt really serene afterwards. Will be back!

Boundless backward looking negativity. The museum invites the visitor to hand wring and self flagellate over the complicated history of people on earth. While some of the art was good it was almost exclusively chasing what was not what is or what could be. The artists have been paid to convince you of how you are responsible for things you had no hand in and there being no way forward. Skip. Lazy and unimpressive

Always worth a visit. Gorgeous art, architecture, and currently the Jingle Rails exhibit. Great parking near other downtown attractions. Parking validated with cafe purchase.

Very well maintained and manicured arts garden and museum . Very nice christmas light displays with sights and sound synced to music . Great for families , kids young and old . Gift shops available, food and drinks available, photo options available inside and outside . Plenty of free parking available also Valet parking available.

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.

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.

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.

I just left a glowing review for Newfields and then saw this as a separate option. The grounds and mansion are stunning. Not only could you spend an entire day without ever getting to the museum proper, you should probably plan a visit in each season before you can really say you have seen it all!

* The Lily House (Mansion) is gorgeous in its lighting and antique furnishings. * The Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse is charming, if crowded. * The Wood Formal Garden has a Victorian/neoclassical feel. Entry requires the same day’s ticket as for the Newfields Museum. Nothing vaguely resembling a weapon is permissable.

Beautiful place and garden. The beer garden was very nice! We had a pretzel and a couple drinks. One downside was that they were sold out on a Sunday afternoon and had a fairly long wait time when all we wanted was to walk in garden which was not all that busy at all.

Overall, the museum was very interesting and had excellent medical specimines and good history. The reason this doesn’t get a higher rating is because the tour was so RUSHED. You had one hour to visit and examine all the specimens. One hour would not have been enough time and just one of the exhibition rooms, specifically the museum of anatomy. Next the tour guide completely skipped an entire section of the tour for us because «our group was too large» despite the fact that they themselves decided not to split our group up into two sections to do the tour very disappointed in this as we drove over two hours to come to this museum.

This museum is so cool! The tour guide was so knowledgeable and great at answering questions. Even if you don’t know anything about the medical field this is a great place to go.

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!!

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.

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!

Cool little museum and a must see for all college sports fans. The exhibits are very interactive and give a good look into trading etc. which is a side that non athletes would not get to normally see. Each NCAA sport has its own display. Yes some could be bigger but overall it’s a great place and for the nominal entry fee it’s worth the visit.

A worthwhile experience for less than $8. Downstairs is your traditional museum, and upstairs is interactive, which was fun even for an adult.

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!

Fantastic if you’re a sports fan especially NCAA. See some of the greats as youngsters playing college sports. Wonderful history!

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!

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!

I’m not a sports person but the breadth of sports and great information made this interesting. Great food and amenities for our event also!