Location: Indianapolis
Top Things to do in Indianapolis
What to do and see in Indianapolis, Indiana (IN): The Best History Museums
High-speed, history and good old Hoosier hospitality are a few reasons to put Indianapolis on your list of great getaways. Sports is another. From the legendary Indianapolis 500 to the Pacers and the Colts, the city offers ample opportunities to view professional and amateur sporting events, take part in athletic events and visit sports museums. At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Hall Of Fame Museum you can tour the famous track (try to reserve tickets if there is a race in town) or visit the museum dedicated to automobiles and auto racing. Other sporty museums include the NCAA Hall of Champions. To get in on some of the action, head to SportZone which features six acres of indoor athletic facilities the whole family will enjoy. Those less interested in sports, or with kids in tow, can still find tons to do in and around the city. History, art and other cultural attractions abound. Visit the Children's Museum or checkout the zoo. Stroll along cobblestone streets past 19th-century buildings in the Lockerbie Square District or visit any number of historic landmarks. Known as the "Crossroads of America," more interstate highways bisect Indianapolis than any other city in the country, making it an exciting and easily accessible destination.
Restaurants in Indianapolis
1. Indianapolis Firefighters Museum
2. Indy's Teeny Statue Of Liberty Museum
3. Museum Of 20th Century Warfare
4. 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!
5. Oldfields-Lilly House and Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 140 reviews
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
My wife and I love to visit old homes, especially antebellum mansions in the Old South. So we were pleasantly surprised to discover Oldfields, better known today as the Lilly House and Gardens, in Indianapolis. Located at 4000 Michigan Road in the Newfields campus, adjacent to the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art and Nature Park, it is a 26-acre historic estate and house museum, an extraordinary example of the American country house movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Built between 1909 and 1913 by architect Lewis Ketcham Davis for the family of Hugh McKennan Landon, it was sold in 1932 to Josiah K. Lilly Jr., the late Indianapolis businessman, collector and philanthropist, who renovated and expanded the estate throughout the 1930s and 1940s. Today, the 22-room mansion is open to the public. It reflects the 1930s era when the Lilly family occupied the house. It includes a service wing, pavilions on the east and west sides with access to balconies from the second floor and a large terrace atop a garage and service area. Today, the house features eight furnished historic rooms on the main level, including the stair hall, great hall, game room, library, drawing room, loggia, dining room and kitchen. Nearly 90 percent of the furnishings and objects are original to the house and were used by the Lilly family. The upper level features historical and interactive exhibits detailing the American Country Place era, the development of a country estate and Indianapolis in the early 20th century. It also includes a sampling of Lilly's collections of books, gold coins, military miniatures and nautical items. The gardens and grounds, which featured a tennis court and greenhouse, are rare examples of a preserved estate landscape designed by Percival Gallagher. The estate was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 2003.
6. Indiana State Police Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 4 reviews
The Indiana State Police Museum is located just off of I-70 near the intersection of 21st Street and Post Road. The museum houses a collection of police cars, uniforms, weapons, and other Indiana State Police related items. Tours can be arranged for groups of 10 or more with advanced notice. Note: We are open the third Saturday of each month from 12pm to 4pm.
