Top Things to do in Indiana
Top Hotels in Indiana
- 1. Hampton Inn Indianapolis Downtown Across from Circle Centre
- 2. West Baden Springs Hotel
- 3. Bottleworks Hotel
- 4. Indianapolis Marriott East
- 5. The Inn at Saint Mary's
- 6. Drury Inn & Suites Terre Haute
- 7. Hyatt Place Indianapolis Downtown
- 8. Ironworks Hotel Indy
- 9. JW Marriott Indianapolis
- 10. Drury Plaza Hotel Indianapolis Carmel
10 History Museums in Indiana That You Shouldn't Miss
With beaches, boating, and salmon fishing in Michigan City and Gary bordering Lake Michigan, there is more to Indiana than might appear at first glance. The agricultural heartland even has cross country skiing and snowmobiling to go with the Cornball Express. Southwest Indiana near Evansville is renowned for the well-preserved Native American Angel Mounds State Historic Site. The largest city and state capital is famous worldwide for its Indianapolis 500 race. Even locals living in the suburbs often overlook the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Eiteljorg Museum, NCAA Hall of Champions, the old Union Station museum cluster, and downtown Canal Walk, to name but a few landmarks. South Bend is synonymous with the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.
Forested Nashville’s art colony fame dates to the early 1900s when Impressionist Theodore Clement Steele overwintered in The House of the Singing Winds. It is now the T.C. Steele State Historic Site. View paintings and sculpture at the I.M. Pei-designed Indiana University Museum of Art. Attend an IU sports event or an opera, ballet, concert, or theater performance. Treat the family to The Little Nashville Opry or The Bill Monroe Bluegrass Park. For healing mineral springs, head south to Orange County, Indiana’s spa resort center.
Enjoy golf, fishing, boating, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and ice skating in the nation’s agricultural heartland. Monticello and Rensselaer are west of Logansport and north of Lafayette. Take the family on the Cornball Express and Hoosier Hurricane at the Indiana Beach Amusement Resort in Monticello. Play boardwalk carnival games, or let the kids loose on the go-carts. Pile the family into their vehicles for an old-fashioned movie experience at Monticello’s Lake Shore Drive-In. Indulge in a weekend dinner boat cruise to hot band sounds as the Madam Carroll plies Lake Freeman.
Restaurants in Indiana
1. Candles Holocaust Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 142 reviews
Reviewed By IllinoisMrsZ
This was my second visit. Such a wonderful display of reading material about a survivor's story. Very somber to read about the accounts the Jews and others endured. Very educational! The talking hologram of Eva's interviews that allowed one to ask a question for her to answer was very innovative. The new computer kiosk that allowed you to hear interviews with other Mengela twins and their personal experiences was haunting! I hope all students in the area get the opportunity to visit this museum on a field trip!
2. Veterans Memorial Museum of Terre Haute
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 61 reviews
Reviewed By stephenfK3952NS
This museum is a great asset to Terre Haute. From World War 1 to the present time there are displays from local veterans. The uniform and equipment displays are well thought out and labeled. All branches of the service are represented. I just can't say enough nice nice things about Brian and what he has accomplished.
3. Virgil I. Gus Grissom Memorial Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 96 reviews
Reviewed By ChicagOPeteChicago - Chicago, United States
One of the best small museums I've experienced in a long time, containing mementoes from astronaut Gus Grissom, who grew up in nearby Mitchell. Even if you're not a huge fan of the space program (which I am; hence my visit), this is definitely worth a stop. Kudos to the State of Indiana for providing the space and staff for this great tribute.
4. Vigo County Historical Society & Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14 reviews
The Vigo County Historical Museum is located on the National Road in downtown Terre Haute...the Crossroads of America. The 34,000 square foot facility offers you a 21st century experience while you learn the stories of Vigo County from the last 200 years. The Museum is operated by the Vigo County Historical Society, which was formed in 1922. A group of dedicated staff and volunteers want to make your visit a fun and informative experience. With exhibits that change throughout the year, our goal is to entice you to come back again and again. The Society also operates and maintains the Paul Dresser Birthplace located in Fairbanks Park. The Museum is fully accessible for all to enjoy. There are over 200 street parking spaces within 3 blocks of the Museum, as well as 2 parking garages 3-4 blocks away. The Apgar Soda Shop and the Main Street Gifts & Gallery are open to visitors without paying admission to the Museum.
Reviewed By Porthos7 - West Chester, United States
Wow! What a place! Start with the GIANT wall-billboard outside, and then head into one of the most diverse, eclectic and interesting museums I've ever experienced! SO much to see, and plenty of beautiful, historical and one of a kind items in the collection! Handicap accessible-including an elevator, and you'll need about 2 hours (yes, there's that much to see!). Race to this place...it's incredible!
5. Evansville African American Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By Doublej317 - Indianapolis, United States
I found this little gem of history while I had 4 hours until game time. It was a great little piece of history and so many facts that I did not know- and I live in IN. The tour was great & the items on display were amazing to see! Well worth Free parking & $5 entry fee & took about 1 1/2 hours!
6. Museum of Madison Country History
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
A way of life preserved for all to see, treasure, and enjoy. Learn stories about the earliest pioneers seeking new homes and better farmland along the White River. An historic photo gallery featuring new topics each month and over 6000 Madison Country photographs in rotation! There's a story hiding behind every block of this county, and we want to share it with you.
7. Indiana Historical Society
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 172 reviews
History should be more than read or viewed – it should be experienced. Immerse yourself by planning your visit to the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center. Located along the Central Canal in downtown Indianapolis, the History Center invites you to experience Indiana’s past in new and exciting ways. We do history.
Reviewed By EagleTravel29 - Indianapolis, United States
We really enjoyed the Christmas trees decorated by various institutions throughout the museum. We also really enjoyed the Madam Walker exhibit. Definitely makes us want to read more about her life and career. Well done!
8. The History Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 150 reviews
A stately Victorian mansion with original furnishings and stunning woodwork is the highlight of this museum complex, which also includes a children's museum, a gallery of Notre Dame history and an exhibit that chronicles the history of the St. Joseph River Valley. Our museum is also physically connected to the Studebaker National Museum. You can now visit two museums in one place!
Reviewed By lovesleisure2013 - Davison, United States
This home was beautiful and our tour guide very knowlegable. Beautiful wood work, marble and furnishings. Interesting family history also.
9. Studebaker National Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 581 reviews
Experience over a century on wheels at the Studebaker National Museum, from the Studebaker family’s c. 1835 Conestoga Wagon to the last car to roll off the Studebaker assembly line in 1966. Learn how the world-famous Studebaker Corporation made the transition from being one of the foremost wagon makers to crafting the automobiles of the modern era — the only company to do so successfully. While you are here, be sure to also check out the world’s largest collection of Presidential Carriages. We hope to see you soon!
Reviewed By calm_weather - Woodstown, United States
I'm not a big carhead. I enjoy history. This museum is mazing in the offerings it has to chronicle the history of manufactured transportation from 1840 to 1960. The number of cars it has, apparently provided by many antique car enthusiasts is, literally, unbelievable. With three floors, the museum appears to cover every aspect of the history of Studebaker and a few other automakers. The first floor goes from 1840 to the mid-1930s or so. This is clearly the heart of their focus. The wall readings explain the progress of the Studebaker family and the automakers. Some reading, not a lot. But you can't take your eyes off the immaculately maintained cars in the room. The sequence walks you through the years with a couple songs that become earworms after a while. The second floor expands the history to additional automakers with a spectacular Delage at the outset, a wonderful Pierce Silver Arrow, and a Scarab that once belonged to the Wrigleys as the first three highlights in the room that continue through other cars you just have to see. The basement floor, the 3rd in the sequence, offers some military production from Studebaker and a coupe other makers, and some additional Studebakers on and below lifts. They appear to be there in storage, but available for view. One 1920s car is still in its original worn condition which gives you a comparison for the work that had to go into reclaiming the cars on the first two floors you saw. If it was the old days, I would have gone through 11 rolls of film and nearly 200 light bulbs. In the digital age, it amounted to a little under a gb of photographs that will keep these beauties available to me forever. I can't encourage you enough to take about 2 hours to take in this museum.
10. Tippecanoe Battlefield Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 100 reviews
The Tippecanoe Battlefield Museum and adjacent memorial commemorate the nationally significant Battle of Tippecanoe, November 7, 1811. The Museum focuses on the Battle, early settlement and nineteenth century Native American life styles. The Park includes a Nature Center, picnic shelter and other picnic areas, and the trailhead for the Heritage Trail, a 13-mile long linear trail that runs through Lafayette and West Lafayette. The Museum Store includes items such as books, clothing, historic patterns and souvenirs. The Museum and Museum Store are open year around. Please call or check the website for hours.
Reviewed By ogkaren
While driving, we discovered this museum. Parking was marked clearly. Bathrooms were in a building. Main museum/gift shop was very nice. The employees were counting the number of people entering, it was clean, and the passes they give you when you enter were being sanitized. The guy in the front handing out the passes was very nice. The plaques were informational and easy to read. They even had an app to download on your phone that gave you an audio tour if you wanted! The statue was clean and has plaques on the sides describing the war. Graves of the soldiers in the war were located by the statue. Overall experience: Learned about the war and had a great time while meeting friendly people.
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