Best Children’s Museums – The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

While Indianapolis might conjure thoughts of exhaust fumes, the titanic growl of the engine, and the 12-second pit stop, there’s actually a lot more to this city than watching a bunch of overstuffed billboards drive in a circle. Indianapolis is packed with loads of history, beautiful parks and top-notch family entertainment. In particular, several laudable Indianapolis museums delight and educate millions of visitors every year. For families, there’s none better than the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, which is simply one of the best children’s museums in the nation.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is one of the oldest and, by its own claim, the largest children’s museum in the world. Established in 1925, the museum has undergone tireless renovation and expansion, and today there is nearly 500,000 square feet of science, history, culture and old-fashioned entertainment to explore with your kids. In fact, now is better than ever, with the museum still glowing from its gargantuan $21 million expansion in 2009.

The format is standard children’s museum – primarily a science and natural history museum with the interactivity turned up to eleven. But, just because the format is classic, it doesn’t mean that the exhibits at all are. If your children are even half as hyperactive as the ones I know, you’ll find hours (or days) of fascination roaming from gallery to gallery. Here’s a few highlight exhibits:

• Fireworks of Glass – famed blown glass artist Dale Chihuly fashioned this remarkable 43-foot tower. See right.
• All Aboard! – this gallery dedicated to steam power and a famous 1868 steam engine is particularly successful on the “All Ages” front. As we know, men of any age have a thing for trains.
• Dinosphere – the museum’s signature attraction, Dinosphere boasts a startling display of real dinosaur fossils and skeletons as well as several high-quality casts. Plus, they have the only existing skull (with cast body) of the newly discovered and named Dracorex Hogwartsia. Seriously.
• The Power of Children – the museum version of a human interest story, this exhibit shares the lives of three children, possibly the same age as yours, and shows the profound effect that courage and tenacity can have. The trio include Anne Frank, Ruby Bridges and Ryan Smith.
• Playscape – a safe playground and activity center for the very young, ages 5 and younger.
• SpaceQuest® Planetarium – a 130-seat planetarium with a variety of shows that manage to keep your child’s rapt attention (and provide you with a nice chance to rest your feet).

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is open year-round, daily during the summer, Tuesday-Sunday during the school season. General admission is $15.50 for adults, $10.50 for young’ns ages 2-17. Parking is free and plentiful. Learn more about the museum here.

University Place Hotel

850 W. Michigan Street

Indianapolis, IN 46202

Phone: 317-269-9000

Website: http://www.universityplace.iupui.edu/

This family-friendly hotel offers superb hotel rooms in downtown Indianapolis at surprisingly competitive rates. Amenities like free wireless high-speed Internet, three on-site dining options, a free shuttle through downtown and location on the beautiful IUPUI campus give you a lot of reasons to stay. This hotel recently received its 5^th consecutive AAA Four-Diamond award.

Have fun at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

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