Indiana State Museum

The Indiana State Museum offers visitors a chance to engage with Indiana’s past and present, and connect to the stories of real people, places and things.

General Info and Tips:

Whether interested in art or architecture, history or science, there’s something for all ages and interests. The museum is located in the White River State Park, in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, and features three floors of permanent and changing galleries.

A year-round calendar of exhibits, events and educational programs is available. The IMAX Theater is housed inside the museum and features academy award-winning IMAX technology and a six-story screen. IMAX offers audiences both 2D and 3D IMAX films, as well as contemporary Hollywood movies. Admission to the museum does not include IMAX Theater admission.

Top Exhibits

Gallery One

In the evolving 5,500-square-foot Gallery One, you’ll discover unique opportunities to interact with objects in provocative, and even playful ways—finding inspiration in the most unexpected spaces.

Ancient Seas

Imagine the Indiana that existed millions of years in the past! In this newly reimagined Ancient Seas, fascinating fossils of organisms that lived in ancient forests and shallow seas tell stories about dramatic changes in our state’s ecosystems. Plus, multimedia features and interactive experiences will bring you face to face with creatures that disappeared from our planet long ago — from predatory eurypterids to swimming nautiloids.

The R.B. Annis Naturalist’s Lab

Explore Indiana’s natural history through your senses. The Naturalist’s Lab is a place for hands-on exploration of different sciences, including paleobiology, archaeology, geology and more.

Frozen Reign

Long before humans arrived, glaciers advanced and retreated across the landscape, creating jungle habitat for jaguars and rhinos. When the glaciers returned, mammoths and mastodons thrived in the harsh climate. Here, you’ll explore an ice tunnel, a jaguar’s den and a frozen lake to see all kinds of Ice Age animals that once called Indiana home.

Natural Regions

Discover Indiana’s diverse and dramatic landscapes as early European explorers would have seen them in Natural Regions. Learn about the large animals that once roamed through our towering forests and the birds that flocked to our extensive wetlands. Travel through time to understand the changes in biodiversity that our land and animals have undergone.

First Nations

Through interactive elements, you’ll better understand how ancestors of today’s Native Americans built vibrant communities focused around many aspects that still cement cultures today: games, food and traditions passed down through generations. First Nations tells the story of these founding people as ancestors who remain a part of living Native American communities today.

Tips for Visiting:

Tickets for the Indiana State Museum can be purchased online (save $1 per ticket) or at the museum ticket counter. Tickets are $17 for adults, $12 for youth ages 3-17, $16 for seniors ages 60+, and free for children younger than age 3. College students with a valid ID from an Indiana college or university enter for $5. Museum hours are Wed., Fri., Sat., and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and (NEW!) Late Night Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. where you can visit the entire museum or attend special programs. Combine and save on Indy’s top attractions with a 1-day or 3-day Indy Attraction Pass. Visitor services is available to help to make the most of your visit. Learn more on our Accessible Indy guide. Be sure to visit the Farmers Market Café for a mid-day refreshments retreat.

Facility Rentals:

Make it an event to remember! From the great hall and the L.S. Ayres tea room, to the spacious auditorium and variety of meeting rooms, the Indiana State Museum has the perfect venue for any event. Find all details here.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

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