Take a Trip Around the State
Welcome to the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites—a statewide museum network with 12 locations across Indiana. Here, we use our collection of artifacts (everything from mastodon bones to T.C. Steele paintings) and our state’s most culturally significant sites to tell larger stories around bigger themes. Whether you’re interested in art, architecture, history or science, we’ve got you covered. Come out and enjoy wide open spaces at our historic sites, explore three floors of fun at our downtown Indianapolis museum, and discover engaging online activities.
Explore Our Exhibits
-
Nov 27, 2020 - Jan 3, 2021
Celebration Crossing
Experience the magic of the holidays during this redesigned celebration.
Learn More -
Thru Nov 27, 2020
Historic Indiana En Plein Air Art Show
Artwork by members of the Indiana Plein Air Painters Association (IPAPA) showcase views of the state.
Learn More -
Thru Jan 3, 2021
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood
Based on the award-winning PBS KIDS television series that follows the adventures of Daniel Tiger and his friends.
Learn More -
Thru Aug 1, 2021
FIX: Heartbreak and Hope Inside Our Opioid Crisis
Unravel the opioid crisis one step at a time in this interactive exhibit.
Learn More
Wander Our Galleries
-
The Evolution of Our Planet
Birth of the Earth
Set 12 to 20 billion years ago, Birth of the Earth traces our state’s history from a geological perspective.
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.
REOPENING SOON -
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
Visit Our Historic Sites
-
Evansville, Indiana
Angel Mounds
A thousand years ago, southwest Indiana was home to a thriving community of Native Americans.
Learn More -
Corydon, Indiana
Corydon Capitol
From Corydon’s colorful beginnings, Hoosier statesmen carefully built the foundations for the state we know today.
Learn More -
New Albany, Indiana
Culbertson Mansion
The Culbertson Mansion reflects the affluence of a man once considered to be the wealthiest in Indiana.
Learn More -
Rome City, Indiana
Gene Stratton-Porter
Explore the home of a beloved author, photographer, naturalist and entrepreneur.
Learn More -
Madison, Indiana
Lanier Mansion
The perfect opportunity to encounter, explore and experience life as it was in the 1840s.
Learn More -
Fountain City, Indiana
Levi & Catharine Coffin House
As conductors for the Underground Railroad, the Coffins helped more than 1,000 freedom seekers to safety.
Learn More -
Geneva, Indiana
Limberlost
The Limberlost Swamp was the perfect laboratory for author Gene Stratton-Porter to study nature.
Learn More -
New Harmony, Indiana
New Harmony
Explore the birthplace of two 19th-century utopian communities
Learn More -
Nashville, Indiana
T.C. Steele
Hoosier painter T.C. Steele and his wife Selma built their home in 1907 amongst these rolling hills.
Learn More -
Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes
Explore Indiana’s oldest city, where territory officials made decisions that changed the future of the entire Midwest.
Learn More -
Metamora, Indiana
Whitewater Canal
Discover how this 1840s feat of engineering changed Indiana from a pioneer outpost to the “Crossroads of America."
Learn More
Programs
-
Nov 25, 2020 10:00 am - 4:00 pmGene Stratton-Porter
A Dream of Beauty
-
Nov 27, 2020 10:00 am - 4:00 pmGene Stratton-Porter
A Dream of Beauty
-
Nov 27, 2020 10:00 am - 5:00 pmIndiana State Museum
Celebration Crossing Opening Day
-
Nov 27, 2020 12:00 pm - 9:00 pmWhitewater Canal
Metamora Old Fashioned Christmas Walk
-
Nov 28, 2020 10:00 am - 4:00 pmGene Stratton-Porter
A Dream of Beauty
-
Nov 28, 2020 12:00 pm - 9:00 pmWhitewater Canal
Metamora Old Fashioned Christmas Walk
Latest BLog Posts
-
Posted November 23, 2020
Thanksgiving: A tradition centuries in the making
But do you know where this tradition came from, or when the national holiday actually came to be?
Read More -
Posted November 23, 2020
Say Yes to the Dress?
Victorian fashions were neither comfortable nor practical. Discuss.
Read More -
Posted November 20, 2020
We're missing the fun as much as you are
We plan for our gaming expo to return when it’s safe to do so. Until then, learn about our exhibitors!
Read More -
Posted November 18, 2020
GUEST BLOG: Gaming during the pandemic
Learn how the pandemic has changed the way gaming groups stay connected.
Read More -
Posted November 18, 2020
GUEST BLOG: Developing games during a pandemic
Learn how the pandemic has changed game development.
Read More -
Posted November 6, 2020
Thank You for Your Service
Indiana State Museum walking tour highlights many kinds of sacrifices
Read More -
Posted October 29, 2020
Spookiest items from the museum’s collection
The history of Indiana isn’t always cheerful. Sometimes, it’s downright spooky.
Read More -
Posted September 1, 2020
Guest blog: United Women Create Action
It is important to remember how women, united in other social causes, gained valuable skills later used in the fight for suffrage.
Read More -
Posted September 1, 2020
How to create a cockade
Celebrate the Women's Suffrage Centennial by learning this new skill
Read More
Our Mission
To serve as a catalyst for informal lifelong learning that connects the stories of real people, places and things.
Our Vision
Be the leader in informal lifelong learning that is recognized, sought-after and celebrated regionally, nationally and globally.
