Powerful Stories on Every Level
At the Indiana State Museum, you'll discover stories unfolding in new and unexpected ways. Here, we preserve pop culture, excavate ginormous bones, and curate one-of-a-kind rarites with the power to reframe big discussions about the world you live in today — so you can shape your own ideas for a better tomorrow.
See The Museum in ActionOur Core Galleries
-
An Evolving Collection
Gallery One
Interact with our unique collection of objects in playful and unexpected ways.
Learn More -
The Animals that Shaped Indiana
Ancient Seas
Explore the marine life that once called Indiana home.
Learn More -
Explore Indiana's Natural History
R.B. Annis Naturalist’s Lab
Explore Indiana’s natural history through your senses.
Learn More -
A State of Change
Frozen Reign
Explore the Ice Age, beginning with a trip through an ice tunnel beneath a glacier.
Learn More -
Indiana's Founding People
First Nations
Discover how ancestors of today’s Native Americans built vibrant communities in Indiana.
Learn More -
Discover Diverse Landscapes
Natural Regions
Discover Indiana’s diverse and dramatic landscapes as early European explorers would have seen them.
Learn More -
Indiana's Journey to Statehood
Contested Territory
Learn how Indiana moved from territory to statehood.
Learn More -
Step into pioneer Indiana
19th State
Step into pioneer Indiana and learn why and how settlers made their homes in our state.
Learn More -
People Who Lived in Early Indiana
The Hoosier Way
Learn how Indiana forged its identity as it emerged from the Pioneer era.
Learn More -
Connecting Through Railroads
Crossroads of America
Learn how Hoosiers connected physically through railroads and shared messages through newspapers, books and music.
Learn More -
Contributions to U.S. Milestones
Enterprise Indiana
Experience American milestones through the lens of Indiana’s contributions.
Learn More -
Indiana's Influence on the World
Global Indiana
Demonstrating Indiana’s influence on a global scale.
Learn More -
Hoosiers who made an impact
American Originals
Visit a room filled with the faces of famous Hoosiers.
Learn More -
People Who Shaped Indiana
Legacy Theater
Providing a diverse cultural experience of Black heritage in Indiana.
Learn More