Established in 1925, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis houses 13 permanent exhibits, features 130,000 artifacts, and sees 1.2 million people walk through the door each year. With 472,900 square feet of space found on five floors, the museum is the largest children’s museum in the world. Keep reading to learn about five fun activities that you can experience at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
Be One with the Dinosaurs
Found on the lower level, the interactive Dinosphere exhibit transports you to a time more than 65 million years ago. You can dig for dinosaur bones, see dinosaur skeletons up close, and touch an authentic Tyrannosaurus Rex bone belonging to a dinosaur named Bucky. Bucky is the sixth most complete T. Rex found and the first teenage T. Rex put on display in a museum.
Check Out the Playscape
When the Playscape area first opened in 1981, it was the first such area designed exclusively for preschoolers. With a motto of “play is a child’s work,” the exhibit features water and sand play stations, a spot to try musical instruments, and a dress-up spot. Geared for children under the age of 5, space underwent a massive renovation in 2013, and now families can enjoy additional interactive elements and creative activities.
Get Active
A recent addition to the museum is a 7.5-acre outdoor health and fitness area that encourages activity. The Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience has space for golf, baseball, tennis, basketball, football, soccer, football, and pedal car racing. It also includes the National Art Museum of Sport as well as the World of Sport and History of Hoops.
Take a Spin on the Carousel
As one of the favorites at the museum, the carousel features hand-painted animals. The original ride dates back to 1917 when it was used in Board Ripple Park in Indianapolis. Rides are free for members and children under the age of 2, while non-members must pay $1 per ride.
Visit the All Aboard! Exhibit
An 1868 locomotive that operated on a steep hill outside the southern Indiana town of Madison takes up residence in the center of a gallery dedicated to railroads. The 35-foot-long, 55-ton locomotive became part of the museum’s collection in 1968. The gallery also features a simulated train station where you can send a telegraph message and design your own railroad via a computer application. You and your family can also sit in a tool car and pretend like you’re really riding the rails.
Open daily from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. March through Labor Day, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is closed on Mondays Labor Day through March. Tickets for adults cost $19.75, while youth age 2 through 16 are $16, and children 2 years of age or younger are free. Seniors age 60 and older pay $19. Members and donors receive a 10-percent discount on tickets, and if you order tickets up to two weeks in advance, you can save up to 25 percent off. Stop in today, and experience these activities for yourself.
Image via Pixabay
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