Experience Indianapolis the local way and discover the appeal and lifestyle of Indy's attractions and iconic experiences.
Overview
ADMISSION
$17-$23
The Indiana State Museum, located in White River State Park, brings the best of the museum world to Indiana. Spanning three floors of permanent and changing galleries, the museum tells the story of the Hoosier state, and features a year-round calendar of exhibits, events and educational programs for all ages. Here you can engage with the past and connect it to the present, carrying your newfound knowledge and experiences with you long after you leave. In addition to exhibits, the museum houses an IMAX movie theater, the Indiana Store, The Farmers Market Café, and the L.S. Ayres Tea Room, open to the public during the holiday season and available for private dining throughout the year.
Permanent galleries include:
- Frozen Reign: A State of Change
Feel the tooth of a saber tooth cat, explore a subglacial ice tunnel, and wind your way through replicas of caves that house the bones of many now-extinct animals that previously roamed Indiana, including jaguars, dire wolves and more. Plus, see a parade of the Ice Age giants, with skeletons of mammoths, mastodons and other larger animals. Learn about environmental change and how it continues to affect us today, and about the ongoing work that museum staff do out in the field. Frozen Reign covers the timeframe from about 5 million years ago up to about 12,000 years ago. - The R.B. Annis Naturalist’s Lab
R.B. Annis Naturalist’s Lab invites you to explore Indiana’s natural history through your senses. Touch artifacts and specimens like rocks and minerals, animals and plants. Use the tools of a naturalist and engage with on-staff scientists and historical Hoosiers, as well as from other experts in the state, to discover the world around you. This is a place for hands-on exploration of different sciences, including paleobiology, archaeology, geology and more. - First Nations: The Story of Indiana's Founding People
You’ll discover how Pre-Columbian Native Americans developed successful, strong communities. View artifacts from the museum’s archaeology collection including a Clovis point from 10,000 years ago, 2,000-year-old ceramic pottery, jewelry and more. Hear a Potawatomi storyteller share about the bear that lost its tail, telling the story of the constellation Ursa Major, and see how the Potawatomi used stars for navigation. Touch a 3D-printed mud daub and feel where the hands of these native people once were, view a life-size projection of Native Americans using ordinary objects like chunky stones and ceramic pots in their daily lives, and participate in an interactive station featuring hands-on activities for families. First Nations covers history that occurred from approximately 12,000 years ago up to 300 years ago.
Amenities
- Mastercard
- Visa
Map
Hours
Open Weds.-Sun., 10 am-5 pm. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Meeting Spaces
Board Room or ISMF Conference Room
| Configuration | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Reception | 20 |
Canal Overlook Bridge
| Configuration | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| BanquetRounds | 60 |
| Reception | 200 |
Dean and Barbara White Auditorium
| Configuration | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Theater | 240 |
Earl A. Goode Education Center
| Configuration | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Classroom | 100 |
Farmers Market Cafe and Terrace
| Configuration | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| BanquetRounds | 100 |
| Reception | 150 |
Governor Frank O'Bannon Great Hall & Ball Family Terrace
- Height: 100 feet
| Configuration | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| BanquetRounds | 300 |
| Reception | 500 |
L.S. Ayres Tea Room
| Configuration | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| BanquetRounds | 64 |
| Reception | 100 |
Multipurpose Room
| Configuration | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Reception | 120 |
Museum Buyout
| Configuration | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Reception | 2500 |
Museum Conference Room
| Configuration | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Reception | 90 |
Rapp Reception Hall
| Configuration | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| BanquetRounds | 80 |
| Reception | 250 |
Oct 23 to Oct 26
Downtown
Indiana art by Indiana artists.Explore stunning artworks from Indiana’s top artists during the 102nd annual Hoosier Art Salon. Celebrate the Hoosier…
This event is currently underway
Oct 23
Downtown
A family-friendly night of mystery and intrigue!The candy for our Halloween party has been stolen! Work together as you wander the…
Oct 28
Downtown
A spooky night of the museum in the dark!Delve into Indiana’s dark side during a ghoulish nighttime tour of the galleries…
Oct 30
Downtown
A spooky night of the museum in the dark!Delve into Indiana’s dark side during a ghoulish nighttime tour of the galleries…
Nov 8
Downtown
We personally invite all veterans and their families to join the Indiana State Museum as we honor Hoosier veterans who have…
Nov 27 to Jan 3, 2027
Downtown
Merriment throughout the holiday season!Indiana State Museum’s Celebration Crossing (November 28-January 4) opens in grand style with Santa’s arrival by helicopter…
Nov 27 to Jan 3, 2027
Downtown
Nostalgic holiday lunches are returning at the L.S. Ayres Tea Room at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. Tea Room reservations…
Nov 27
Downtown
Kick Off the Holiday Season!Every year, Santa gets the fun started at the museum with his grand helicopter entrance. Be a…
Nov 28
Downtown
Enjoy a Delicious and Festive Breakfast with Santa!Experience the magic and nostalgia of the holidays in the L.S. Ayres Tea Room…
Nov 29
Downtown
Enjoy a Delicious and Festive Breakfast with Santa!Enjoy a deliciously festive buffet breakfast in the heart of Celebration Crossing, complete with…
Dec 2
Downtown
Enjoy the sounds of the season in a spectacular holiday atmosphere of Celebration Crossing as local school and community choirs, bands…
Dec 4
Downtown
Enjoy the sounds of the season in a spectacular holiday atmosphere of Celebration Crossing as local school and community choirs, bands…
