The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is at 3000 N Meridian St, on the north side of the city near downtown. It is the world's biggest museum for children, and the hands-on exhibits are built for adults to join in too. Dinosaurs push out through the building's outer wall before you reach the door. Inside are the Dinosphere, a 43-foot Chihuly glass sculpture, a rideable antique carousel and the Power of Children exhibit. Behind the building, an outdoor park lets families try a dozen sports. Plan for at least a few hours, since many families stay all day.
Dinosaurs, glass and a carousel
The visit starts outside. Life-sized dinosaurs break through the museum's outer shell, and a Brachiosaurus about 50 feet tall appears to climb the wall of the building.
Inside, the Dinosphere is the best known gallery. It holds adult and juvenile dinosaur fossils, and it shows Baby Louie, the only known articulated dinosaur embryo. A dig area lets children excavate bones themselves, and daily programs in the gallery put visitors in front of working scientists' methods.
The atrium is dominated by Fireworks of Glass, a Dale Chihuly sculpture 43 feet tall that hangs down through the building. It is made of more than 3,200 pieces of blown glass. Stand on the bottom floor and look straight up into it for the best view and for photographs. On the top floor, a historic carousel from the White City Amusement Park era still carries riders.
The Power of Children
This exhibit is about young people whose actions changed the world. Its subjects include Ruby Bridges and Anne Frank, and it has a section on the activist Malala Yousafzai. A classroom themed around the civil rights movement is part of the same area and gives younger visitors a way into the history.
The museum also marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day with free admission and a program. It has included a storyteller speaking about courageous children of the Civil Rights Movement, a vocal performance by the Singing Troupe of Freetown Village, and traditional West African drumming by the Griot Drum Ensemble.
Cultures, space and science
Several galleries take visitors to other places and times. Take Me There recreates modern Greece, with sidewalk cafes, and another gallery shows the life of a child in modern China. Other areas cover ancient Egypt, a sunken pirate shipwreck, archaeology and toys from earlier generations.
Space has its own section, with a replica of the International Space Station and the SpaceQuest Planetarium. ScienceWorks is aimed at school-age children and has six hands-on experiences that range from engineering to biology.
Exhibits rotate. Past ones have been built around Paw Patrol and the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and a Winterfaire event runs in the colder months. The museum also has a theater with live performances, and shows and programs take place in several galleries during the day. For adults only, a February event for guests 21 and over raises money for the Children's Museum Fund, which helps families visit regardless of income.
For the youngest visitors
Playscape is designed for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Children can get wet at the indoor pond and learn cause and effect at the Reaction Contraction. A separate toddler play area gives small children a place to run when the exhibits become too much. Exhibits elsewhere in the museum suit children from about age 2, and most work at several skill levels so that older children and adults can join in.
The building has a nursing room, changing tables and family restrooms. Children under 2 are admitted free.
Sports Legends Experience
Behind the museum, a 7.5-acre outdoor park lets visitors try 12 sports. Families can play on a miniature Colts football field, race pedal-powered Indy 500 cars and play miniature golf. There are also hockey, tennis, soccer and basketball. Games are grouped by age and skill level.
The Avenue of Champions honors people who made their mark on sports history, and three educational exhibits cover sports history and the value of physical fitness. The park is outdoors and is not open in winter.
The park was a major expansion, announced as a $38.5 million sports-themed addition.
From 1925 to the present building
Mary Stewart Carey first conceived the museum in 1925. She wanted to create something like the Brooklyn Children's Museum, and civic leaders helped her found it. The current site was chosen in 1946.
In 1973 the museum moved into a newly built home with a theater, classrooms and floors of exhibit space. It grew again in the 1990s, when the CineDome was added and the Welcome Center was expanded. The CineDome is now the Dinosphere.
Getting around
The museum is spread over several floors, with elevators and wide ramps in place of stairs. The entrance, restrooms, elevators and parking are wheelchair accessible, and the building has wheelchair seating, a hearing loop and assisted listening devices.
The museum has a cafe, a restaurant and a gift shop. Free parking is available in a lot and a garage, and there is free street parking nearby, as well as paid options.
FAQ
Is there an entry fee at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis?
Yes, admission is charged, and buying tickets in advance online is recommended. Children under 2 are free, and the museum offers free admission on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
How long do you need at the museum?
Allow at least two to three hours. Many families spend the whole day, because each floor has many exhibits and there are live shows and programs.
Is parking free?
Yes, there is a free parking lot and garage with easy access to the museum. Free street parking is nearby, and paid lots and street parking are available as well.
What ages is the museum for?
The exhibits suit children from about age 2 and up, and Playscape is made for children under 5. Adults and teenagers will also find plenty to do, from the Dinosphere to the Power of Children exhibit.
Is the outdoor sports park open in winter?
No. The Sports Legends Experience is outdoors and does not open in winter, so visit in warmer months if you want to play there.
