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 25, 2022 - Jan 1, 2023
Celebration Crossing
Visitors experience the magic of the holidays during this redesigned celebration.
Learn More -
Thru Oct 23
Hoosier Art Salon 98th Annual Exhibition
See artwork from Hoosier artists in this annual competition.
Learn More -
Thru Oct 30
Cardboard Engineering: Build a City
An interactive construction experience.
Learn More -
Thru Oct 23
Major Taylor: Fastest Cyclist in the World
Discover the life and career of champion bicycle racer and Indianapolis native Marshall “Major” Taylor.
Learn More
Wander Our 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
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
-
Sep 27, 2022 6:00 pm - 8:00 pmOnline
Critical Conversations on Race and Major Taylor
-
Sep 28, 2022 10:00 am - 11:00 amSold Out
Toddler Time: Create with Cardboard
-
Sep 29, 2022 10:00 am - 11:00 amSold Out
Toddler Time: Create with Cardboard
-
Sep 30, 2022 7:00 pm - 11:00 pmCulbertson Mansion
Literally, a Haunted House
-
Oct 1, 2022 9:00 am - 12:00 pmLimberlost
Guided Tour of Rainbow Bottom
-
Oct 1, 2022 10:00 am - 11:00 amLevi & Catharine Coffin
Life in an Early Indiana Home - Children's Tour
Latest BLog Posts
-
Posted September 16, 2022
How dedicated Mrs. Porter was to photography
The fervor Gene Stratton-Porter applied to the medium of photography is astonishing.
Read More -
Posted August 30, 2022
How He Made That Mural
Artur Silva’s mural in the Indiana State Museum’s new Gallery One, is brimming with so many ideas and images.
Read More -
Posted August 30, 2022
Hanging Pictures At An Exhibition
Learn about the artistry involved in hanging an exhibit to make it look as impressive as possible.
Read More -
Posted August 4, 2022
Here Come the Judges
Judging has begun and Dawn Whitelaw and David Mueller got their first in-person look at the 155 artworks selected for the show.
Read More -
Posted August 1, 2022
Celebrate National Book Lovers Day
Bibliophiles across the nation celebrate National Book Lovers Day on Aug. 9 by picking up a beloved novel – or by finding a new favorite.
Read More -
Posted July 22, 2022
Viewing Major Taylor From All Sides
Artist Walter Lobyn Hamilton designed the entry to our new exhibit “Major Taylor: Fastest Cyclist in the World"
Read More -
Posted June 30, 2022
Made of limestone, glass, and stories
92-County Walking Tour: 20th Anniversary Edition showcases the sculptures that are imbedded in the exterior walls of the museum building.
Read More -
Posted June 30, 2022
Celebrating Independence
Citizens of the United States will celebrate the Independence Day holiday this week, but did you know the Continental Congress actually voted in favor
Read More -
Posted June 13, 2022
Beauty in the Bones
Eight to 10 hours a week, Deborah Patrick and Susan Brutkiewicz can be found identifying microscopic bones.
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.
