Museum Guide for Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis is the home of many outstanding, one-of-a-kind museums. You may be surprised to find some of these in this corn-surrounded capital. Here is a guide to four unique museums in Indianapolis. You won't find anything like this outside of Indy.

Children's Museum of Indianapolis

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is the largest museum of its kind in the world. Created in 1925, it moved to its current location on 3000 North Meridian Street in 1946. Its mission is to create extraordinary learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families, and it does that and more! Thousands of square feet of interactive gallery spiral upwards from the central lobby up to the carousel on the top floor, which is still in operation and used daily. However, with greatness comes great price. I can remember going to this museum as a kid for whatever donation my parents happened to put in the boxes on the way in. Today, it is an expensive trip for a whole family. Adult tickets are $15.50, children ages 2-17 are $10.50, and seniors are $14.50. Members get a dollar off those prices. The Children's Museum does schedule some free days: Admission to the museum is free on Christmas Eve (from 10am -2pm), Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President's Day, and El Dia de Los Niños. Target also sponsors Free Family Nights on the first Thursday of each month from 4pm - 8pm. These free events are likely to be extremely crowded, so if you can afford it, I recommend paying for admission during a normal day. Just go early. There is so much to see and do in this museum that you can easily spend all day there and still not get to everything. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is open from 10am - 5pm daily from March 1 - Labor Day, and Tuesday - Sunday from Labor Day to February 28. Parking is free in the garage across Illinois Street.

Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Arts

Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art is the only museum of its kind in the Midwest and one of only two east of the Mississippi. The building and surrounding grounds themselves evoke a southwestern ambiance. Lower galleries contain a breathtaking tribute to western art, featuring artists such as T.C. Cannon, N. C. Wyeth, Andy Warhol, Georgia O'Keeffe, Allan Houser, Frederic Remington, Charles Russell and Kay WalkingStick. The top floor displays the history of the American Indians. However, this is primarily an art museum; it's historical presentation suffers somewhat.

My recommendation is to spend all of your time amongst the paintings and sculptures. If your feet become too tired of standing and walking, take advantage of the Sky City Café. The café itself warrants a trip to this part of Indianapolis. The menu is inspired by the Southwest and Native American culture, and one which I encourage full exploration of! Diners can enjoy the contemporary indoor décor, or sit on the terrace for a view of the canal and neighboring Military Park. Also, those dining at the Sky City Café enjoy free parking in the underground parking garage.

The Eiteljorg Museum is located along the canal that runs through downtown Indianapolis, at the corner of West Washington and West Streets. It is open Monday - Saturday from 10am - 5pm and Sunday from 12pm - 5pm. Public tours are offered at 1pm Saturday and Sunday. Admission for adults is $8, senior citizens 65 and over is $7, children 5-17 and full-time students can get in for $5. Children under 4, members, and IUPUI students enjoy free admission. The Sky City Café is open Monday - Friday from 11am - 2:30pm, Saturday from 11am - 3:30pm, and Sunday from 12pm - 2:30pm.

Indiana State Museum

Next door to the Eiteljorg is theIndiana State Museum. This is the museum to go to if you want history, and they start out early with Indiana fossil records and geological formation on the first floor. People don't even come into play until level 2. Exhibits change from season to season, and there's almost always something special going on in the lobby, under the looming "Indiana" obelisk. The outer walls of the Indiana State Museum feature sculptures from each of Indiana's counties, and a genuine steam clock sings out the time by the canal with "Back Home Again in Indiana." This museum is also home to an IMAX theater. Nature nerds, history buffs, and all manner of Hoosiers find something to enjoy in this Indianapolis Museum. I recommend finding the floor that interests you most, whether it be rocks, Indians, movies, or the mysterious future, and immersing yourself. Just don't eat there. The Sky City Café next door at the Eiteljorg offers a better menu at better prices and will validate your parking!

The Indiana State Museum is located on West Washington Street near West Street. It is open Tuesday - Saturday 9am - 5pm and Sunday 11am - 5pm. Adult admission is $7, seniors 60 and older $6.50, children ages 3-12 $4, and of course free for members. You can also combine admission into the museum and IMAX tickets for a special price.

Indianapolis Museum of Art

The Indianapolis Museum of Art has the audacity to offer free admission, free parking, and even free Wi-Fi! The residents of Indianapolis truly have no excuse to not take advantage of this exceptional museum, which won the 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art combine strategic landscaping and nature bordering the White River. Sculptures, fountains, and gardens line walking paths, on which you'll find many welcomed patrons of the four-legged variety. The interior is floor after floor of paintings and sculptures organized by time and place of the artists. Being a Hoosier, I particularly enjoy the small Indiana artist section, including a wall-sized rendering of a very early downtown Indianapolis.

Come to this Indianapolis museum for free Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday from 11am - 5pm, Thursday and Friday from 11am - 9pm, and Sunday from 12pm - 5pm. The Lilly House is open Tuesday - Saturday from 11am - 5pm and Sunday from 12pm - 5pm. The gardens and grounds are open every day from dawn to dusk. The Indianapolis Museum of Art is located at 4000 Michigan Road.