The Children's Museum in Indianapolis

The Children's Museum in Indianapolis offers a busy day of family fun for young and old. The Museum features many unique, cool areas and a lot to explore. Our family recently enjoyed exploring the display "DINOSPHERE! Now you are in their world!"

The Children's Museum in Indianapolis is located at 3000 N. Meridian St. in downtown Indianapolis. They are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is free parking located outside in the garage attached. From the outside, you see the most unique display of an outside museum you will ever see-a family of dinosaurs "breaking out" of the building-very cool to see coming down the street! This prepares you for the large display on the inside.

We started on the lower level, where the dinosaur/prehistoric area is. The long walk down into the area slowly darkens, preparing you for the change in environment. The entrance suddenly transports you into a prehistoric landscape, set 65 million years in the past, to the days when dinosaurs ruled the land we sit on today. There are many dinosaur skeletons with real dinosaur bones there to observe in the main area, the major display in the center being 2 T-Rex dinosaurs attacking a stegosaurus. The environment around you changes constantly from the day to night, clear weather to stormy and loud, setting up a very 360 degree experience to all who enter. There is a T-Rex skeleton there named Stan who has the most preserved and complete dinosaur skull ever found.

A dinosaur dig near the main exhibit offer kids a chance to grab "tools" and dig around in the sand, trying to uncover the bones hidden in the ground. This area is small, so overcrowding can occur pretty easy in this area, but the children seem to cycle in and out pretty quickly.

A functioning paleontology lab and a question lab are also located in this area, offering a chance to see the "real" end of exploration and digging for these bones. The paleontology lab offers a view of current pieces found out in the field, that are being cleaned or cared for to be put in display. The question lab has an employee right at the open window, working on cleaning a fossil or two and answering any questions regarding the exhibit or dinosaurs in general-a great stop for those little ones that can't stop asking.

The latest addition to this already amazing exhibit is the introduction of a Pachycephalosaur fossil, discovered in Sioux City, Iowa and donated in 2004. The name is Dracorex Hogwartsia, named for the Latin word Draco meaning dragon and the 2nd name for the fictional Hogwarts Academy in the Harry Potter book series. When submitted to the museum, it was in many parts and took them two years to assemble. The fossil, with its dragon shaped head, may have shed some light on how the "dragon" mythology may have come from ancient lore.

The final part of this amazing exhibit is the wonderful collection of dinosaur fine art in the upstairs area. The works are a variety of 2-D and 3-D pieces, and there are hands-on stations there that allow you to learn how to draw your own dinosaur and other prehistoric pictures.

I would strongly recommend checking out this exhibit, enjoy all there is to learn and see about dinosaurs and their world. The unique, one of a kind pieces are a sure crowd pleaser for all to enjoy!