Experience the best of Indiana, all over the state, by participating in our events and programs. Choose a category or date to find something specific or browse the calendar to encounter something new.
Every day, find new and exciting ways to explore the world around you through hands-on activities at the Indiana State Museum. Here's what you'll uncover today:
Fluorescing Minerals 15-minute activity Did you know that some minerals appear to glow under a black light? Find out why in this 15 minute demonstration. 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.
Presidential Hats and Beards 15-minute activity Celebrate President’s Day by creating a hat or beard inside the Cardboard Engineering gallery, then put on the finishing touches in the creativity studio! 11:30 & 2:30 p.m.
Flextangles 15-minute activity What is a flexagon? Design and create a seriously cool paper puzzle with intricate colors and patterns. Noon & 2 p.m.
Small Wonders is a monthly program that invites parents, grandparents and caregivers to bring their little ones to learn, play and discover in the museum. This month, children will explore color through various STEAM-based stations. From color mixing with water colors and paints to creating with different fabrics and textures, children will be inspired by colors. There will also be an interactive story telling time and collaborative project.
This program is for 3- to 5-year-olds and an adult.
Price: $9 members/$12 non-members
Register The registration deadline for paid programs is 3 days prior to the start date. Members can register online here, and nonmembers can register online here. Or, call us at 317.232.1637 to register by phone.
Other Program Dates This program is offered Wednesday, February 20 and Saturday, February 23.
Adults are invited to engage in conversations with local experts and academics on a variety of topics in this program series that takes place at breweries around Indianapolis.
This month, learn how costume design intersects with storytelling in the realm of superheroes. Join special guest speaker Michael Costello, President of Downtown Comics to discuss how costume design can enhance storytelling of superheroes, reflecting on the early costume design of several well-known characters.
This event is free, but donations are encouraged.
Girl Scout troops are invited to experience the Interpretive Center and a guided tour of the Coffin home. Special activities hosted by site staff will also take place.
Price: $5/scouts and their family members Registration: Please register by Feb. 16 by contacting Kate Weidener at Girl Scouts of Central Indiana at 317.924.6834. Questions? Call us at 765.847.1691 or email LeviCoffinCenter@indianamuseum.org.
Drop off your child at a class to encourage creativity, exploration and independence in an environment that fosters curiosity and imagination. This month, children will study the air around them through wind power, air-based art and more. After an interactive story telling time, children will be able to create wind power simple machines, air-based art, and more STEAM based activities. Children will also explore a museum experience.
This program is for 4- to 6-year-olds to attend on their own.
Price: $10 members/$13 non-members
Visitors will enjoy a themed period dinner using delicious recipes pulled from historical sources. This multi-course meal also includes a special program tied to the theme.
Price: $20/members, $25/non-members Tickets: Registration is required by Feb. 18 by calling 812.738.4890. Questions? Call us at 812.738.4890 or email corydoncapitolshs@indianamuseum.org.
Join the staff of Indiana’s smallest radio station during WWII as they struggle to program a live radio show, complete with skits, commercials, live music and more.
Shows happen at 1, 2 and 3 p.m.
This event is included with museum general admission. Buy museum tickets online and save $1 per ticket. Get tickets >>
Get your fix of science talk and craft brews at Books, Booze and Brains! Meet at Ash & Elm Cider Co. each month to talk about a popular science-themed book with facilitator Krista Hoffmann-Longtin and an expert scientist guest. All geeks 21 and older are welcome! This month's book and discussion: Book: "Lab Girl" by Hope Jahren Guests:
Bring your child to experience a day all about literacy, including interactive read-alongs in the galleries, story-telling performances and hands-on STEAM activities.
These activities are for families with children age 6 and younger. Story times in Spanish and ASL will be offered as well.
Cost: Included with museum general admission. Get Tickets: Buy museum tickets online and save $1 per ticket. Get tickets >>
Dive into a world of investigation and discovery during these two-hour classes designed to stimulate a child’s interest in science, art, history and culture. Classes occur on the first Tuesday of the month, and adults join their learners for an interactive family experience.
This month, learn about insect life science and the role of pollinators.
Ages: 6 through 13 Price: $8/members, $10/non-members, Museum admission not included, but can be purchased for discounted group rate. Tickets: Members can purchase tickets online here, and nonmembers can purchase tickets online here. Or, call us at 317.232.1637 to purchase tickets by phone. The deadline to purchase tickets is three days before the program.
Little Learners offers different STEAM-based, hands-on experiences like station explorations, story time, and collaborative projects for 3- to 5-year-olds. The last 30 minutes will be comprised of free-choice play, allowing the child to build creativity, foster decision-making skills and independence. Homeschool families can bring their littlest learners to this class created just for them.
This program is offered concurrent with Homeschool Tuesdays to accommodate families with the littlest learners. While the big kids enjoy STEAM-based activities and explore, so will their youngest siblings in this companion program.
Children must be accompanied by an adult; younger siblings are welcome.
Price: $8/members, $10/non-members, free for children younger than age 3 Tickets: Members can purchase tickets online here, and nonmembers can purchase tickets online here. Or, call us at 317.232.1637 to purchase tickets by phone. The deadline to purchase tickets is three days before the program.
Students will connect to the museum on a deeper level as they interact with hands-on, minds-on activities throughout the museum on these special STEAM Days. The galleries will have 8-10 activities spread throughout all three floors to tinker and discover Indiana’s connections to science, technology, engineering, art and math. Look for a special bonus in the Education Center for a design challenge that will complement our Cardboard Engineering experience. Students will have a real-world challenge to try to solve using low cost/recycled materials.
There is limited space so register early! Contact Krystle Mangan at 317.509.7679 or kmangan@indianamuseum.org to schedule a STEAM Day field trip.
Cost: $6 per student/$2 per chaperone, free for teachers.
Sci-Fi movies take us on adventures through space and time and have unique influence upon human culture. Join the Indiana State Museum and The daVinci Pursuit as we travel through time and explore some of these impacts. Each movie explores a time travelling adventure from a different decade beginning in the 1960s. Grab some popcorn and candy from IMAX and join in the conversation with local experts as we explore the movie’s impact and then sit back and enjoy the show.
Ages: 21+ Price: $10/member, $15/non-member Register: Members can register online here, and nonmembers can register online here. Or, call us at 317.232.1637 to register by phone. Full series schedule:
What common objects do you use every day that makes your life easier? Find out how these items are created with you in mind. Come to the Indiana State Museum to create, innovate and problem solve as you design, make and iterate your own inventions.
Options:
Cost: $12/girl, $1/adult
Register: Register for either session online here. Or, call the Central Indiana Girl Scouts office at (317) 924.6811.
Stories are the backbone of any culture. These stories and legends pass down truths to future generations and inform children about their ancestors. Bring your little one ages 3 - 5 to learn some of the stories told by Native Americans and enjoy a story telling craft.
Price: $3/members, $5/non-members Register: Registration is required by the Wednesday prior to the program and can be made by emailing ebostelman@indianamuseum.org. Questions? Call us at 812.853.3956 or email angelmoundsshs@indianamuseum.org.
Celebrate Women’s History Month during this tea party all about 1816 fashion. Watch a demonstration of dressing in historical clothing and enjoy a presentation about the style at that time while enjoying tea and snacks.
Price: $15/members, $20/non-members Tickets: Registration is required by March 4 by calling 812.738.4890. Questions? Call us at 812.738.4890 or email corydoncapitolshs@indianamuseum.org.
Children will become the storytellers during this month’s program! From participating in an interactive storytelling, children and grownups will explore the art of storytelling. We will explore favorite stories through STEAM based activities and even get the chance to make our own stories with puppets.
Small Wonders invites parents, grandparents, and caregivers and their 3- to 5-year-olds to learn, play and discover in the museum. Our monthly program builds your child’s sense of wonder and playfulness as he or she engages in storytelling, hands-on activities, music, movement, art and gallery exploration.
Price: $9 members/$12 non-members Tickets: Members can purchase tickets online here, and nonmembers can purchase tickets online here. Or, call us at 317.232.1637 to purchase tickets by phone. The deadline to purchase tickets is three days before the program.
Other Program Dates This program is offered Wednesday, March 13 and Saturday, March 16.
You don’t have to be a mathematician to love Pi – a number that keeps our universe operating correctly and was discovered almost 4,000 years ago. Join us for a day of Pi-related fun as we explore this useful number – and celebrate Albert Einstein’s birthday! Help us celebrate at 3 p.m. with some, of course, pie.
Do you have mad engineering or design skills? Then pull together a team of your best DIY friends and put your skills to the test competing for the ultimate bragging rights. Your challenge will be to design, engineer and build a Santa-inspired cardboard creation.
Drinks and snacks will be available for purchase.
Ages: 21+ Price: $10/member, $15/non-member Register: Members can register online here, and nonmembers can register online here. Or, call us at 317.232.1637 to register by phone.
Grab your gloves and digging tools and discover what stories Indiana’s rocks and minerals can tell us. Unearth the wonders of geology by exploring the Birth of the Earth gallery and learn how different rocks are connected through the rock cycle.
Session A: Saturday, March 16, 2019, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Geology Merit Badge, Ages 11-18 Session B: Saturday, March 16, 2019, 1 - 3 p.m., Earth Rocks: Adventure Badge, Ages 5-10
Price: $12/scouts, $1/adults Register: Registration is required two weeks prior to the event by calling 317.232.1637.
Drop off your child at a class to encourage creativity, exploration and independence in an environment that fosters curiosity and imagination. Children will become messy artists, scientists and engineers during this month’s program. After a messy storytelling time, children will be prepared for a mess as they explore various STEAM based activities. They will also explore one of the Indiana State Museum experiences.
Price: $10 members/$13 non-members Tickets: Members can purchase tickets online here, and nonmembers can purchase tickets online here. Or, call us at 317.232.1637 to purchase tickets by phone. The deadline to purchase tickets is three days before the program.
Adults are invited to engage in conversations with local experts and academics on a variety of topics in this program series that takes place at breweries around Indianapolis. This month, join a discussion on the art of fabric dyeing and clothing design.
Price: Free, donations accepted