Location: Downtown Indianapolis
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The 10 Best Specialty Museums in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana (IN)
High-speed, history and good old Hoosier hospitality are a few reasons to put Indianapolis on your list of great getaways. Sports is another. From the legendary Indianapolis 500 to the Pacers and the Colts, the city offers ample opportunities to view professional and amateur sporting events, take part in athletic events and visit sports museums. At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Hall Of Fame Museum you can tour the famous track (try to reserve tickets if there is a race in town) or visit the museum dedicated to automobiles and auto racing. Other sporty museums include the NCAA Hall of Champions. To get in on some of the action, head to SportZone which features six acres of indoor athletic facilities the whole family will enjoy. Those less interested in sports, or with kids in tow, can still find tons to do in and around the city. History, art and other cultural attractions abound. Visit the Children's Museum or checkout the zoo. Stroll along cobblestone streets past 19th-century buildings in the Lockerbie Square District or visit any number of historic landmarks. Known as the "Crossroads of America," more interstate highways bisect Indianapolis than any other city in the country, making it an exciting and easily accessible destination.
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1. The National Art Museum of Sport
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
The nation's largest collection of sport related art hangs in the lobbies and corridors of University Place on the campus of Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis.
2. Indianapolis Firefighters Museum
3. The Eiteljorg Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 843 reviews
The museum houses Indian artifacts, as well as works by famous Western artists.
Reviewed By juliev593 - Auburn, United States
First of all, we were happy to park so close in the underground parking garage, and it was even better that they validated the parking ticket ay the museum entrance so we didn't have to pay. We expected to see Remingtons and Russels, which we did, but there was so much more. We loved the huge Grand Canyon murals and finding a hidden treasure around every corner. We spent about 3 hours there, which included a visit to the cafe (food was good and generously portioned). We happened to catch the Jingle Rails exhibit and it was outstanding. The galleries would be less interesting for younger children, but for anyone interested in the American West or history, there is a lot to see and explore.
4. Rhythm! Discovery Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 164 reviews
The Rhythm! Discovery Center is the world's foremost interactive drum and percussion museum providing innovative programs; interactive, standards-based educational exhibits and artist performances. Drawing upon cultures from around the world, the Center offers a unique, engaging experience to explore the universality of rhythm and percussion and its role in shaping communication, music, art, performance and society. Walking through the visually captivating exhibit rooms and performance venue, guests are invited to fulfill their dreams of being a percussionist.
Reviewed By oakleaf-delphi - Delphi, United States
What a unique museum, a museum that is dedicated to percussion instruments. The displays are most informative and attractive. Some percussion instruments are display only but there is a variety of hands-on experiences with actual instruments and not just drums, but, for example, chimes and marimba. The museum features sound controlled booths for playing their drum sets with the ability to vary the sound. Plus there are displays of drum sets that belonged to famous drummers. You can enhance your learning and stretch your imagination right in the heart of downtown Indy. I suggest parking at Circle Center Mall parking garage.
5. James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 40 reviews
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
The first thing you should know about the James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home in Indianapolis, Indiana, is that it really isn't the home of the American writer, poet and best-selling author who was known as the "Hoosier Poet" and "Children's Poet" and "poet of the common people." Built in 1872 by John R. Nickum, an Indianapolis baker, it was occupied by Nickum's daughter and her husband, Charles Holstein, a lawyer, when they invited Riley to live with them in 1893. Riley had a bedroom on the second floor for 23 years. Located at 528 Lockerbie Street, the two-story brick house is considered an excellent example of Italianate and Late Victorian architecture typical of the neighborhood's homes built in the 1860s and 1870s. After Riley and the Holsteins died, ownership of the house was transferred to the James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association. Most of the household items of Riley's day, except for the kitchen, remain on display. Noted items are the wicker chair which Riley frequently used after his stroke in 1911 and the bed on which he died on July 22, 1916. Other features include a bust of Riley by Myra Reynolds Richards, a central tower with oval-glazed paired doors and masonry crowns atop tall narrow windows and inverted U-shaped windows on the highest floor. Interestingly, water pumps took water from the well to tanks within the attic that could supply water to different rooms in the house. The interior woodwork is all hand-carved solid hardwoods. And note the speaking tubes that were installed so the staff could receive orders in the kitchen from other parts of the house. The house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.
6. Indiana State Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 508 reviews
Take a journey through Indiana's history, from the age of mastodons and mammoths to 21st century science, art and culture. Families can enjoy hands-on science in our Naturalist's Lab, wind their way through cave replicas in "Frozen Reign," learn real stories about historic Hoosiers in our cultural galleries, and more. The museum features two floors of permanent experiences and one floor of changing galleries. The Indiana State Museum is part of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, a statewide museum system with 12 locations.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
I'm a history buff so it follows that my wife and I always make it a point to visit the history and art museums in all of the major cities that we visit from coast to coast to accumulate knowledge about the people and the area. In Indianapolis, the Indiana State Museum, which was founded in 1869, offers more than 40,000 square feet of exhibit space and more than 500,000 artifacts that cover the history of the natural world, Native Americans, cultural history and the future of Indiana. There are exhibits on the science, art, culture and history of the state from prehistoric times to the present day. It also is the site of the state's largest IMAX screen. Located at 650 West Washington Street, on the Indiana Central Canal within the White River State Park, this magnificent, glass-enclosed $105 million structure opened in 2002. Start with the "Back Home Again" steam clock outside the front entrance. Learn that Indiana is more than basketball and the Indianapolis 500. The journey begins with mastodons and Native Americans and continues with early settlements, farming, schooling and manufacturing. Meet inventors, statesmen, businessmen and other famous Hoosiers, all profiled in the American Originals exhibit. Also view the exhibits that highlight Indiana, including the 19th State, The Hoosier Way, the Crossroads of America, Enterprise Indiana and Global Indiana.
7. Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16 reviews
The James A. Allison Exhibition is a collection of + 20 Allison and Rolls-Royce aircraft and other engines from 1915 and WWI to the most modern F-35 Joint Strike Fighter LiftSystem, with lots of Jets, Turboprops, Helicopter and VTOL engines in-between. The Exhibition features electronic touch screen displays that help explain how they work, and how they are used. Each display has large scale models of the aircraft they power. The Exhibition opened on January 24, 2017 and will continue to grow with new exhibits on a regular basis. Group Tours by prior scheduling
8. Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 68 reviews
Renowned author Kurt Vonnegut took an unflinching look at the world, tempered with a satirical eye and sardonic sense of humor. In honor of his wit and wisdom, the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library champions the literary, artistic and cultural contributions of the late writer, artist, teacher and Indianapolis native Kurt Vonnegut. The library and museum serves as a cultural and educational resource unique to the nation.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
I have a library filled with hundreds of books. No fiction. So why did I choose to visit the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library in Indianapolis? Well, I haven't read much of William Faulkner's work but I visited his Rowan Oak estate in Oxford, Mississippi. So why not Kurt Vonnegut? I was curious. Located at 543 Indiana Avenue, it was opened to the public last November. Originally, it opened in 2011 in the Emelie Building at 340 North Senate Avenue. It is dedicated to championing the literary, artistic and cultural contributions of Vonnegut, an Indianapolis native who died in 2007. The building includes a library, museum, art gallery and reading room. I haven't read Slaughterhouse Five or Slapstick or Galapagos. But he was a fascinating character/writer/activist who wrote about many issues that affect our lives. The museum features rare remnants from his life, including the author's Purple Heart medal awarded for his service in Germany in World War II, his Smith-Corona typewriter, an unopened box of his favorite Pall Mall cigarettes discovered by his children behind a bookcase following his death, an unopened letter sent overseas during WW II to the author from his father, a series of rejection letters sent to the author by magazines and a complete replica of his writing studio. On the wall of the reading room that includes a selection of his books is a quote by the author: "We are what we pretend to be so we must be careful what we pretend to be." The visit is well worthwhile.
9. NCAA Hall of Champions
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 266 reviews
The NCAA Hall of Champions has something for the entire family. It boasts two levels of interactive experiences that create a true-to-life understanding of what it takes to make the grade in collegiate athletics. Our exhibits give visitors an opportunity to shoot hoops in a 1930s’ replica gymnasium, kick a soccer goal in a sports simulator, compete in a game of NCAA trivia, watch video highlights on one or all of the 24 NCAA sports kiosks and more. Please note: Due to current issues surrounding the spread of COVID-19 in the United States, the NCAA Hall of Champions will be closed until further notice. We appreciate your interest in the NCAA and the student-athlete experience and we look forward to seeing you in the future. Please check back for future updates. Thank you.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
The NCAA Hall of Champions in Indianapolis may not be what some visitors expect. It isn't the College Basketball Hall of Fame or the College Football Hall of Fame. Located at 700 West Washington Street or 1 NCAA Plaza, in the White River State Park, adjacent to the national office of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), it is a museum, exhibition center and conference center that highlights all of the NCAA's 24 sports and offers many interactive sports for kids and even adults. Designed by architect Michael Graves, the building features two levels. On the first level, all 24 NCAA sports are represented and include trivia challenges, current team rankings, video highlights and artifacts donated by colleges around the country. The second level is a fully interactive area for visitors to compete and hands-on through sports simulators, a 1930s retro gymnasium and ski simulator. Perhaps most interesting of all is the current exhibit, Making an Impact: Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which extends through March 30. Learn the history of sports at black colleges such as Grambling and Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State Bethune-Cookman and appreciate the accomplishments of black athletes and coaches from Bob Hayes to Jerry Rice to Eddie Robinson. And did you see the spot where a freshman from North Carolina named Michael Jordan took his game-winning shot to win the NCAA championship?
10. Crispus Attucks Museum
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