The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

From the second you see the gigantic dinosaur cracking the building open from the car, it is an amazing experience. Every floor is absolutely packed with amazing exhibits. Things for children and parents, nostalgia at its best. On top of the amazing and beautiful exhibits, they have so many things for little children to do. The playscape is a life saver for kids who need to get some energy out. The staff is so friendly and helpful. They are so open to nursing mothers and mothers with small babies in general when it comes to feeding, relaxing, changing. 100/10 recommend. I'd go even if I didn't have kids with me.

Wonderful adventure! First, I was kind of shocked at the cost of admission. As an IN resident on a Monday, it was $98 for me and my 2 children to get in. Once inside, I was much more understanding! I'll be applying our admission today towards a membership! 5 levels (LL, and 1-4) plus the 7+ acres of outdoor fun! The take-a-break room was fantastic for us when we got sensory overload from the lights and noise and people, specifically after lunch. Speaking of which... cost me $52 for 2 slices of pizza ($6.75 each), 2 breadsticks ($5.50), a salad ($16!), and 3 fountain drinks ($16.85). I expected some fairly high prices but the $16 for a salad and the same price for 3 fountain drinks threw me for a loop. Next time, we'll head out for lunch and come back. 😅 Overall, though, the kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves and are worn out. If you're planning to do all of it in 1 day... don't. We arrived at 11:30 am and at 4:41 pm. We really rushed through after lunch when we realized we still had 2 levels and the outdoor area to still get to. They do offer "second day" passes for cheaper than general admission, but that would've still been another $50 for the 3 of us. With the bottom-tier family membership at $225, 2 visits and it's basically paid for itself!

My family has always wanted to try this museum but the timing never worked out until yesterday! We went on a summer weekday when some Indiana schools were already in session. We went with 4 adults and three kids ages 4, 9 & 11. We bought tickets in advance and parked in the free covered lot. Entry was a breeze and my kids immediately found activities to interest them. We ate at the museum and the food was good (better than many other museums) and very good choices. Prices seemed fine. We were busy from 11-3 and then had to leave but missed two floors! I think my 11yo might be aging out but anyone into sports or solving mysteries would still love it! I would go back! The special Peru exhibit was our favorite, followed by the sports area and the Rube Goldberg Machine.

The Children’s museum is listed as one of the best in the nation. Some aspects of that claim I could definitely agree with. Other aspects left me wondering how they got the recognition. With that being said, the outdoor area is phenomenal. The dinosaur area, pretty fantastic. It felt like certain areas of the building were afterthoughts. Our kids had a great time and that’s the most important part. If you are familiar with the Denver Children’s museum or Portland’s Children’s Museum, those are better in my opinion. I do recommend that if you’re in the area that you check it out if you have the time, but I don’t think I’d make it a must see place in Indy.

Largest Children's museum in the world! Just celebrating their 100th anniversary. 3 levels inside and large outdoor arena with basketball, soccer, a cool tree house and more. I particularly enjoyed the Peru exhibit. The only downside was their food court had 1 cashier and this was on Saturday, so I waited about 20 minutes to get a soda.

If I was rating just the outside area I would give it 5 stars, the outdoor sports area is incredible! Some of the exhibits inside are really nice but many or extremely screen heavy. I have been to tons of children's museums all over the country and most have more stuff the kids can play with and more around. This had lots of kiosks and decor. The parking was free and the place is big so those are a plus. Indiana residents get $3 off per ticket.

My boys ages 7 and 5 absolutely love going here. We can spend all day here from open to close. There's something for both of them no matter what their interest is at the time. The children's museum is always updating its exhibits so there's always something new when we go. It's clean, and the staff is very friendly. It's educational and keeps there attention which is such a big win! 10/10 Great way to get the littles up and moving. My boys sleep so well after we tackle all 4 floors!! Will be returning!!

Best childrens museum I have ever been to. The outdoor sports arena was the coolest! However I think children not being allowed to go around from game to game playing just because they aren't 16...I think that's a little old given the circumstances and how it's set up. The awesome statues of famous athletes is a nice touch! Free parking is a huge plus and a convenient walk accross the Skywalk. Having to scan your tickets multiple times everything you want to play sports is a big annoying. Great for the price though. Awesome hands on activities. I will say the surrounding area around the museum isn't ideal for some people it is definitely run down. I would return to Indianapolis just for the museum....for more disturbing news....I found it interesting that there's signs up everywhere about how many thousands of homeless children there are in Indy but I noticed some HUGE international schools for children...I can't help but to think....why are you inviting more children into your community that do not even live in this country if you already have thousands displaced every night? Maybe take care of the people that live in your own community before inviting others to be morters for your propaganda. Just my personal observations.

Great place to take kids of any age, lots to do! They have several exhibits that appeal to all ages. Young at heart will love this place! They do have food available but it can be pricey-good news tho-bring your own!

Honestly surprised this museum scores as high as it does. While it's large and has a cool facade with its dinosaur models, the inside is rather blah and definitely not worth the high prices. I paid $104 to visit with two kids. The layout is a bit confusing with exhibits on both the left and right sides of the museum. You are required to show and scan your tickets each time you cross between sides. It's a minor inconvenience but seems like a poor design. The dinosaur exhibit is ok if you have a kid who is really into dinosaurs, otherwise it's nothing special. The current special exhibit is Mickey Mouse's Clubhouse. It was fun, but best suited for kids under 5. A lot of the exhibits are less hands-on than typical children's museums. Many were just not exciting--a working library is cool, I guess, but not what we pay to see in a children's museum. The sports area gets raves online, but we found the inside dull (a balance beam on the floor is an exhibit). The outside is a glorified public park with local sports team branding. Tennis courts, basketball hoops, track, etc. I did notice a lot of adults using equipment meant for kids (football goal kick) without intervention from employees. We were especially interested in the Indy 500 racetrack because it felt uniquely Indy, but it was inexplicably closed. We were told by one employee, it was due to the heat (it was 85 degrees outside), but another guest said it's closed more often than it's open. In hindsight, I would not have visited. There are much better children's museums out there.

This museum literally took all day and was more than I could have ever imagined. Its not titled the world's biggest museum for nothing. The exhibits were very interactive and surprisingly had things that appeal to adults as well. I learned much being there. Everything is well organized and all staff members were friendly and engaging with the kids. There was every mainstream sport available to play on full sized fields/courts. The food court had a good variety of food options, including allergy friendly choices, but were overpriced.

This is honestly one of the best children's museums in the country, and I've been quite a few. I did grow up here and I brought my children here for years, but now live out of state, but return home to visit the kids and grandkids. My kids have a membership here that included our admission so that was really nice. What was super impressive is what all they have done to the outside facilities, which are open in the summer. When they first tried this concept, I remember it just being based on basketball and boy what an amazing expansion they've done. Not only do they now have a Ferris wheel, but there is a wonderful treehouse, there are all sorts of sports activities around basketball, football, Hockey and soccer. The kids can also pretend they're in the Indy 500 with pedal car racing. Everything appeared to be included except the Ferris wheel, which was six dollars a person for members. If you go towards the back of the park, they have some of the most amazing mini golf you've ever seen. Mini set ups of world class golf holes around the world. There are many duplicates, such as one of the Kiawah Island, courses, etc. You can see the different horses, there are three of them on the picture of the mat. There is a smaller one that is meant for toddlers, but the rest are pretty serious and you could have some great fun out here While there is food available in the museum. There's also concessions out here with tacos and dip and docs and other stuff. One of the great things about this museum as well as you can bring your own food, which is extremely helpful when so many people have dietary issues. There are water filling stations as well, so bring your water bottles This is absolutely worth a visit on a nice day, it's pretty busy on the weekend so if you could swing it during the week, I would definitely give that a try. Staff are super friendly and helpful as well

Finally able to check out the ever famous Indianapolis children's museum. I took my 16 month old and she had so much fun! It was cool to check out the temporary Mickey Mouse exhibit, especially for my daughter who loves Minnie. We also didn't go explore the under 5 kids area but this had to be a favorite of hers. She could have stayed for hours at the water table. We were only able to stay a few hours due to nap schedules but we could have been there all day! The sports exhibit is awesome and I feel this will be something even more fun as my daughter ages. We needed more time to check out more but did get some time to hit a few tennis balls Of note, there is a large free parking garage across and connected to the museum.

We had a great time at the Children's Museum! We spent a day here with our daughter and her two children (ages 5 yrs and 7 months). My daughter bought the tickets online ahead of time which does speed up the process of entering. She had also narrowed down the sections she wanted to visit. We enjoyed the Playscape area with art and music studios, plus huge water and sand areas, as well as block-building and ball areas. Each area is amazing! There is also an area for kiddos 2 and under which was nice. We also enjoyed the Peru exhibit. What a wonderful, interactive experience to learn about a country! Last, we went to the Micky Mouse Clubhouse. My granddaughter got to participate in an animal obstacle course. Children go behind the scenes to select a stuffed animal and practice taking them through the course. Then they come out one by one to show off their animal going through the course. She had a lot of fun doing this! These three areas were plenty for one day at the museum.

It's no wonder this place has the rep that it does. Fantastic all the way around. Oh and free garage parking to boot!

We went on an impromptu trip to Indianapolis to visit the Children's Museum. We arrived early right after opening and were able to get a parking spot on the level of the bridge. We bought tickets ahead of time and were able to check in easily. We casually worked our way through every level of the museum and ended up spending the entire day there since there is so much to see. I wish we would have packed lunch the options were not great in their cafeteria. I also wish we went outside earlier to experience the sports complex and treehouse with more time before closing. It's a fantastic feature!

I have a lot of thoughts about this experience. Overall, it was fantastic and we'll return! We specifically came for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, which wasn't as we had expected. We also found it to be a let down as outer reviews had states. The dinosaur exhibit was incredible! As was the stem area for ages 5 and under. The spots area was super cool for older kids. I'm a bit confused by the pop culture exhibit as it's really just a museum. The carousel was beautiful. And my kiddo enjoyed the life size doll houses. Lots of people were playing the board games. I called ahead to inquire about the $6 Thursday night and the girl who answered was not helpful at all. We arrived during regular admission time and it was $29/adult and $23/kid. They don't honor reciprocity so that's pretty pricey. The carousel and Ferris wheel are additional costs. The food court wasn't completely open, but seemed to have solid food options. It was nice to have a mid day Starbucks pick me up, to then learn they cannot enter certain exhibits but people were taking them in anyways (just look for the folks barreling through with their strollers). Parking was in the deck across the road. It was free and there's a walkway. When we purchased tickets on site the man was very nice and explained what the girl on the phone wouldn't/couldn't. We'd definitely return and make it an all day activity, especially when our kiddo is older!

This Children's Museum is incredible! Ranked as one of the top Children's Museums in the country, we knew we had to take our 2.5-year-old--and it exceeded all expectations. First impressions: The museum is massive. Outside, life-sized dinosaur statues peer into the building, immediately sparking excitement. Upon entering, you're greeted by the Bumblebee movie prop in the lobby. At first, I assumed it was a replica, but it turns out to be the real deal! The museum spans four floors, each packed with amazing exhibits and fully accessible via ramps and elevators. Here's a breakdown of our experience from top to bottom: 4th Floor: This floor features Tiny Town and the carousel. My daughter, who is obsessed with carousels, was thrilled! The carousel, which is 100 years old, costs $2 for non-members. If you have a tap-to-pay card, you can pay at the carousel entrance; otherwise, pre-buy tickets at the main entrance. Tiny Town is an adorable play area with miniature houses and shops. My daughter loved pretending to serve me ice cream and even made a little friend. The ScienceWorks area allows kids to pretend to be geologists or farmers, make balanced meals, dig through pretend rocks, and explore a water table. There's also a display of miniature houses, which I found intricate and fascinating--perfect for anyone who enjoys dollhouse-sized designs. 3rd Floor: This floor is home to PlayScape, designed specifically for kids under 5. The sand and water exhibits are perfect for younger children, and my daughter had a blast. There's also a music room, but we couldn't try it because a class was in session. There's a climbing structure for kids and their adults, though it seemed a bit tight, so we skipped it. There are also building areas and other interactive activities. The Power of Children exhibit offers meaningful historical content. While my daughter is too young to appreciate it, I found it interesting and think it would be impactful for older children. 2nd Floor: Here, you'll find the entrance to the museum's iconic spiral slide, which takes you down to the main floor--such a fun feature! The American Pop! exhibit showcases nostalgic toys like Beanie Babies and poppers, plus a fashion area for creating outfits and plenty of movie memorabilia. My daughter loved playing with the toys while I browsed the displays. The Winterscape area includes interactive slides, pretend ice skating with socks, and skee ball. I think this exhibit is temporary though. 1st Floor: The dino exhibit was a hit! With towering dinosaur displays and fossil excavation activities, it's a perfect mix of education and fun. By this point, after four hours of exploring, my daughter was starting to tire, so we only scratched the surface of this floor. By this point my daughter was getting sleepy and we had already been there 4 hours. I think was just scratched 75% of the museum. There was definitely still more since we didn't see Treasures of the Earth and the Spaceship areas. This wasn't even including all the outdoor exhibits that weren't open since we went in Winter. Overall: This museum is fantastic and worth every penny. It's packed with activities for all ages, and there's more than enough to fill an entire day. Luckily, Indianapolis is a manageable day trip for us, so we can't wait to come back and explore even more. Highly recommend it to anyone with kids!

After spending 3 hours outside at the Legends Sports Experience, we clocked another 2+ hours going through the indoor exhibitions, which are quite diverse and brilliant ranging from the Dinosphere and Nat Geo's Treasures of the World recreations of Egyptian tombs and the Chinese Terra Cotta soldiers to a Victorian train and Spaceship Earth station. Our 9-year old was particulatly smitten with the interactive kinetic sculpture and the Water Clock, which is the largest of its kind in the country. Totally worth the 3 hour drive from Columbus.

What an amazing museum! It is geared towards children, so I brought my niece. I think we both loved it equally! So many hands-on activities and immersion is encouraged. I was floored by the paleontologists working on dinosaur bones! Speaking with them and learning/watching them work was so special. Getting to touch real dinosaur bones was SO COOL! The museum is set up well and you can easily spent half a day there. Parking is free! That makes the price even more well worth it. The museum is well organized and clean, too. Sometimes areas feel more busy when larger school groups arrive but it's easy enough to navigate to a less crowded space. Loved the insect area and learning with the staff about bees and pollinators! The cafe is pricey but pretty good. It feels a little like you don't have a choice but to pay the high prices if you're hungry and don't want to leave the museum -- that's my only complaint. Worth the drive to Indianapolis to visit the museum! I hope we can visit again because it's really a great experience!

I am obsessed with the children's museum and my kids love it too! We have the membership and have for about 3 years. If you plan on going more than a few times with a few people (kids) then this is the best bang for your buck. You could easily go every single time and see something different. They also change exhibits pretty frequently. Going during breaks is tough because everyone is there but if you stay at home or can go during the week (not during a fall, winter or spring break) that is the best time! Pictures are from the seasonal haunted house. 10/10 recommend. Parking is free in the garage or they have outside parking

We went to the museum as on our trip from out of state and we had a great time. While I will say it is quite pricey our kids enjoyed the experience. I absolutely loved that there were indoor and outdoor activities. As a parent of kids with a big age gap we had all of our bases covered. The Mickey Mouse experience wasn't all I expected- I did expect more interactive/immersive things but regardless our toddler enjoyed it. It was clean, considering all of the people that were there. Parking can get a bit hectic so pack your patience. I enjoyed seeing the employees at different places in the museum and hearing lots of facts and information about the exhibits. It was clear they love their job! Lots of kid friendly options for food. Overall we had a great time and wish we were local to take advantage of a family pass.

This museum is huge! There is no way you will have enough time to do everything in one day. I wish we knew this so I could pick where to go ahead of time, but we still had a great time and my daughter loved it. There's even a whole outside part that is included in admission we didn't make it to. I loved how interactive it was and how many activities there was, along with a lot of presentations and scheduled events. They also have rooms for breastfeeding moms in the Playscape area. Food at the cafe is decent for a museum and huge portions. We loved coming here and are thinking we may get a membership and come quarterly. Definitely spread the trip out over a few days if you can.

Wow! What a better place in Indianapolis to take your kids and or/ grandkids! The entrance alone will wow your kids! Who wouldn't love to see a dinosaur sticking his head through the window of the entrance. The staff is extremely helpful, friendly and talented! They have such patience interacting and sharing their knowledge of their exhibit with the public. Every time I go there is something new I learned. The exhibits start at 6 months. That's where you will find all the kids 5 and younger!! They have everything in there for the curious little minds, anywhere from stem activities to tactile activities. There is a safe area for you 6 month old to do tummy time and explore. There is so much to do and say about this amazing place that you have to go and see it for yourself!!

Took my kids to The Children's Museum for my daughter's birthday! We definitely would have stayed all day if it wasn't nap time. We went to guest services to get a print out of the activities of the day and I loved how the age range was included. The activities were age appropriate given the range and my kids who are 5 & 3 enjoyed their activities. There is so much learning and so many different exhibits to choose from. My kid's favorite activity was coloring the dinosaur and seeing it "come to life" on the projector. I can't wait to visit during the summer to go outdoors in the sports area.

If I could give this place more stars I would! Simply LOVED this place! I've been several times and still amazes me every time I go! This was my first time going to the outdoor experience and spent literally hours out there and it was everything! The different spots you get to experience but all tailored to the Indianapolis teams, which was so lovely! The different sports areas accommodated over and under 6 years old which was nice for the toddlers! The kids loved it and we can't wait to go back! The inside is a whole adventure on its own! So many levels of epic exhibits for all ages, the information the endless toys and imagination! I've been to different children's museums this one if definitely top 5 for me for sure!

It's definitely a big museum. They are listed on the reciprocity for children's museums, but beware that they don't actually honor it. It's full price, no discounts for being a member elsewhere. 2 adults and one child will set you back at least 105$. If you think you'll go at least twice, consider a membership. It's steep. One of the priciest children's museums we've been to in the country and not sure it's really worth it. While by square footage it is very big, we got through it pretty quickly; we expected to take all day going through it but less to do than at the Cincinnati one. The dinosaur exhibit is by far the most well-funded as is the outdoor sports arena. Otherwise exhibits are ok. Like most children's museums, there is a play area for kids under 5 with a small water station. There are stem areas for older kids to learn about farming, weather, and water systems. They have a random exhibit to go to Greece and a throwback to the 70s,80s, and 90s with classic board games and video games from the respective eras. The outdoor area has a lot of different sports for kids to try out and practice. It's interactive and fun. Everything is miniaturized for kids. Probably only good when the weather is nice. Good news is parking was free. Not sure it's quite worth a travel to, but if you're in the area and have kids, worth going to. Otherwise I think there are other museums in the Midwest worth traveling to.

Probably the best place I went as a kid. So, I loved the Dinosaurs! Food was great there!

Omg, this is the biggest children's museum which has both indoor and outdoor exhibits. We came the weekend that outdoor exhibits opened. Be sure to be flexible base on crowds since outdoors was empty at opening morning. After a couple of hours, it got packed. Mickey's playhouse was okay but son and daughter loved all the stations. Dinosaur had an interactive station where son could borrow clipboard to do some research project. Dining hall is gigantic and had great selection of food. White milk ran out toward end of day. Also, seating during lunch is hard so eat early to avoid crowds. Gift shop is very unique and well done. Something for every age. 3rd floor had playscape suited for toddlers with music, water table, and sand table along with tree house. We spent 2 days to spread out the fun without getting too exhausted. Special deal if you come back and pay $15 adult and $10 kid which is half off regular admission.

I visited with three disabled adult. We encountered so many acts of kindness from the staff. None of the adults were registered for the discounted rate and someone took the time to do all the computer work for us so we could have the discount that day. We ended up at the food court later as the grill was closing, which we hadn't realized. I had a profound blood sugar issue. The gentleman at the grill made chicken tenders for me, anyway. Aside from he saved me from me from a cozy ambulance ride, d@mn, that was the best chicken I've ever had in my life. I don't associate 'chicken tenders' with anything edible, but I would seriously pay $32 entry and another $20 to relive that experience. All of these things may seem small, but this isn't a kind world at this moment. I'm reassured that we are saving some of what's left for our children. Someone please tell that grill guy I love his chicken.

As always a must visit in Indy if you have littles! Activity's are more geared toward the under 12 crew but anyone who enjoys learning would enjoy the exhibits.

Great museum where kids can touch everything. A lot of fun exhibts, and floors to explore.

We always have a great time here. Lots of new adventures every time we come - we rarely see everything in 1 day so we have a pass to take advantage of all the stuff to learn So excited that the ninja turtles are coming back her March 9- Sept 2!

This is by far the best Children's museum I've ever been to and I would debate anyone if there is another better. I read a few years ago that it is ranked in at least the top 5 in the US. It is absolutely well deserved that it has earned that accolade, if not more. I visited it on occasion for years in the past, especially when my kids were younger. Now that I have grandchildren, I am reliving, enjoying and experiencing it all over again. Much of it is still the same as I remembered. There are so many wonderfully solid and timeless exhibits. The Chihuly exhibit and massive blown glass sculpture in the center of the building is beautiful and stunning. They also add and change things depending on the seasons and incorporate special exhibits like Lego or whatever else is super fascinating and cool. They have added and built onto the museum quite a bit over the years. It's all been for the better by improving upon what was already exemplary. I will admit that I miss the big movie theater where the Dinosphere exhibit is now, but it's still all good in the neighborhood. The interactive outdoor sports addition is awesome. It's such a fun and magical place. There's nothing better than reliving the warm fuzzy feeling of wonderment when one was a child. This museum accomplishes just that. It is highly innovative, educational and hits all of the marks for children and adult all the same. It seems to accommodate everyone. Bravo to Indy for this special and precious gem of a museum. It's undoubtedly a huge part of Hoosier history and pride. I am so grateful and blessed to have been able to experience it.

We have heard nothing but exceptional reviews from different sources. We visited in late September and the experience certainly lived up to our expectations. Our family of four purchased the annual membership which includes access to all of the exhibits and unlimited carousel rides. We visited for two consecutive weekdays and there were no crowds for both days. Considering our daughters' young age and the expansive facility with multiple indoor and outdoor exhibits, they would not be able to cover a significant portion of the museum in just one day. We spent at least four hours at the museum for each day. For the outdoor sports complex, my girls tried hockey, football, tennis, baseball, race car, and golf. For the indoors, my girls really enjoyed the playscape, carousel, hockey exhibit, basketball exhibit, and music room. We highly suggest families with young children to purchase the annual membership and visit more than once. There are plenty of options in the food court but the food is mediocre at best. We ordered two hot dogs and a grilled chicken sandwich with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and a side of tator-tots. Everything was room temperature if not cold. It would have been nice if they could spare a minute to warm up the chicken and let the slice of cheese melt on the sandwich. Fortunately, our girls ate the grilled chicken sandwich without issue.

Every year on Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday. The children's museum allows free admission with advance tickets. Unfortunately I didn't know about the advance tickets part but I tried my luck. When I got to the box office they had leftover tickets! Me and the group I was with had a fantastic time. I was happy to see the staff constantly sanitizing and vacuuming throughout the museum. It was pretty packed as expected seeing them clean gave a little bit of comfort to my OCD. After today's visit, I consider being a member where you can get free admission for a year. Not fully committed yet but I think it'll be worth it.

We just purchased season passes. After being to lots of other museums I thought it was a little small, but they change exhibits quite frequently and there is a large outdoor area for the kids to try different sports.

Such a cool museum. And free parking! Almost unheard of anywhere else. There's so much here that it's just not possible to do in a day (especially not with littles). So definitely have an idea of main exhibits you want to see ahead of time so you don't get caught in the stream of flow. We had put some things on our itinerary but it took too long for us to travel to each exhibit that we didn't end up doing those things. Playscape had a fun climbing structure for our older kid, while our toddler walked around doing a little bit of everything: from a sand digging area, music space, building blocks to a little wind funnel. We missed the art activity, which was what we were trying to get to, but the area was still fun. Emotions at play is a cute area that looks like Pixar's Inside Out. It was super busy there and we tried to make it to one of the timed events, but missed that too. Womp womp. Ended up at the dino exhibit. There was a fun little game where you hatch the dinosaur and help it grow. They also have a coloring activity that your child can scan and it comes to life on the screen. We've done it at other museums and it's always a hit. There happened to be NASA engineers with a booth and giving presentations the day we went, which was really cool. The outdoor sports area looked like a lot fun, but it was too cold for us so we stayed indoors. Maybe next visit! TL;DR enormous museum, but definitely cool things for a wide age range. Make sure you plan your day so you don't miss any special activities/events--getting around takes longer than you think.

I loved the museum and all of the exhibits that we got to see! The staff was great too! My only complaint is that I had to pay 6.00 dollars a piece for four soft drinks! So if you plan on visiting bring your own food and drinks because they are ridiculously high in there cafeteria! But other than that I can't wait to come and visit again!

I've been going to the Children's Museum my entire life. It is hands down the greatest children's museum of all time! All of the different areas bring back so much nostalgia, even with all of the updates and upgrades. I even take my children now and get to watch them experience it with the same joy that I had. I love this place so much!

I'm a father of 3 and decided to take my babies on an adventure. They absolutely loved it! They stayed on the third floor in the water but they loved it!

This is the best children's museum we have ever visited. You can easily spend multiple hours going through each exhibit of this expansive museum. The outside sports complex is just as impressive and fun. So much "hands on" play for kids of all ages and I found myself getting excited at many of the exhibits. Great experience bonding with our child here. Definitely worth the drive! Free parking is a plus too!!

Stopped in Indy when traveling to Ky. We have a child under two and it was okay. We went on a Saturday which was probably not a great choice for how busy it is. With the size of the place I feel they need more family restrooms. They had 4 that we saw which seems like a lot but now for how many people they attract. Which are allll families for the most part. It was a 90 degree day in the city and if you are looking for a place to cool down... this ain't it. It was so uncomfortably hot in the building. The only place cool was the check in area. Outside is the sport area. That is why i gave 4 instead of 3 stars... incredible place to play.

It was such a fun place to visit! Beware, it's always super busy! Try to stay at the top floor and work your way down. There seems to be more people on the main floor. Make sure to visit the Playzone area if you have toddlers. They have sand, water, music, crafts, science and climbing sectioned if for the Littles. Don't sleep in the dinosaur area. Wait a bit for the weather to change. There are periodic thunderstorms, stars at night and the moon. There are also rotating exhibits that are fun to see, as they won't be here for long. This was the last year, 2022, for the holiday slide. Although, they are replacing it with something better I hear!

Came here with my family today, and overall we had a great time! First, parking was free in the nearby garage, and while it took a few minutes to get inside and find a spot, you really can't complain about free parking :) Once we got inside the museum, I was a little surprised by how many people were there! Tons of families were hanging out in the lobby and in line to buy tickets, but we went during the holidays so I guess it makes sense. There was also a giant transformer in the lobby area so that was entertaining for me and our son :) Anyway, after purchasing our tickets, we went inside and headed to the dinosaur exhibit. Pretty cool stuff! They even had a little digging area for kids where you could dig up some "fossils". We also toured a section about trains and a section on space exploration. Unfortunately, our son was getting restless so we had to bail before exploring the whole museum, but we went back down to the first floor in style: the slide! The line was quite long but it moved reasonably quickly, and it was a fun slide. Not too scary, which was perfect for our son. They also had lockers handy to store valuables, which we found very useful. Overall, I would definitely recommend this museum if you're in the area and looking for something to do with your kids!

Thanks to the first Thursdays promotion I was able to return back to the museum to see the excellent revised dinausaur exhibits and the incredible visiting exhibit on Minecraft which my son has been playing for at least 7 or so years. Also always fun to go outside and play in the amazing sports actuvities area. Its a great deal to go on the first Thirsday with reduced costs to enter.

This is a favorite spot with cousins and family, and today was a perfect fall day for a visit. I love that their parking garage is free which alleviates so much of the stress of finding a spot downtown and allows you to just enjoy the experience. We have smaller kiddos so we visited mostly the toddler areas but what I love is that they have things for all ages. There are also plenty of seats and resting spots and hand wipes along the way. We also enjoy bringing our lunch and sitting in the spacious cafeteria area for a break. They have a large seating area as well as several food vendors and snacks for purchase. You can bring food or buy things which is a nice touch as we worked up an appetite with all the walking and interactive play time. We headed outside and I have to say on a beautiful fall day this was an amazing spot. It was my first time outside but I was so impressed. They had a space for almost all imaginable sports -basketball, hockey, soccer, football, golf, race car track, tennis and several other spots that we didn't explore. The impressive thing too is that they have equipment geared toward all ages from toddler up to adult. We could play out of the way of the bigger kids and still enjoy the sport. They also did sports 'classes'. We were able to participate in a toddler soccer 'class' where they worked on motor spots and taught the kids some soccer moves. It was an interactive fun way to get them moving and teach about the sport. The kids loved it and it gave us some great photo moments. This is an amazing spot and I believe it when I've heard it is one of the best children's museums in the cpu try. We will for sure go back and love that they also have passes and other deals you can purchase so as to go often. If you haven't been yet we highly recommend it!

$6.00 night was good and it wasn't to busy. Lots of activities for the kids. The winter fair was fun; they had ski ball, skiing, ring toss, and more.

The best kid's museum in the USA resides in Indianapolis! I have loved The Children's Museum of Indianapolis since I was a kid myself and I love that my kids get to enjoy the same wonderment and learning fun that I have such great memories of! Most exhibits stay the constant (which means your kids will know exactly where they want to go for fun!) with two exhibits changing every couple months so you can always visit for a different experience. Our visit today including their winter fun: Jolly Days. We also got to explore their Scooby Doo exhibit before it leaves. While there we learned the Minecraft and Dinosaur Train were the next upcoming exhibits so the kids have already begged to go back. Half of the year the outdoor sports area is open and that's a definite must explore as well! Basketball, motor speedway, tennis, soccer, track and a giant tree house!

This is the 58th year that they have put on this haunted house. I had no idea that it has been going on until this year. I like that they have a lights on version for kids that could not really handle a real haunted house. That was my kids' speed. They wanted to do a haunted house but was not ready for the full experience. This event is perfectly managed and is first class. The staff and volunteers are awesome. They were all so friendly and upbeat. They really enhanced the experience. I really like that even though the haunted house is in the children's museum, just off of the bridge that connects the museum to the parking garage, that you do not need to pay for museum admission. Admission is $9. I wish that parents were free though since they are just walking the kids through, but oh well, the money is going to a good cause. The haunted house is well organized and during the lights on version, they hand out candy and other treats to the little ones as they pass through. My 3 and 7 year olds had a great time. It takes about 10 minutes to go through the house and it lets out at a small gift shop/snack bar where you can buy trinkets, toys, popcorn, candy and drinks. My only wish is that they did not allow strollers in the house. It gets a bit tight in spaces and they take up a lot of space. This event is held every October and is a great opportunity for children of all ages and abilities and scare levels. It is reasonably priced and since it is located in the Children's Museum, it has free parking. The proceeds from the haunted house goes to various museum programs including their InfoZone, free admission days and out-of-school programming for local youth. I had a great time during the daytime haunted house, but I hope my kids are able to one day handle their night time frightening version of the haunted.

If you are looking for a fun activity to take some children to I say go to the Children's Museum. We had took some children for a school field trip and it was nice. They had a winter theme which they had a slide for the kids and adults to slide down. Also, there was a snow fairy play which was very good. The actors did very well. There is a food court and the prices are very reasonable for the food. Prices to enter into the museum was not bad at all and they have group rates. There is a lot to learn at the museum. They have days were the rates are cheaper like first Thursday but it is very busy during those days. I will say this is a must do activity with children if you are looking to have fun with them. I want to say Clay was very helpful with our group.

Over the years, this place has been one of our favorite go-to places for a fun and educational experience. With new exhibits seasonally and the permanent ones so interactive, we always find new things to discover and explore. The staff is always accommodating and going above and beyond.

So much fun! A children's museum may not seem like a place for young adults like me but it definitely can be. There is so much to see and do, a lot of which is nostalgic such as the Barbie exhibit. One of my favorite parts was the outdoor sports center. There were a ton of sports areas from basketball to golf to go-karting. You can just walk around and play at your own pace, which was really nice. One downside to this museum is that the tickets are pricey, which is a big turnoff. But they have several free events throughout the year, so that makes it a little more accessible for people. The parking is easy and free, which is always a plus. I think this museum does a great job at being inviting to everyone and including people of all ages and backgrounds. Overall, I had so much fun being a kid again at this museum and I definitely recommend the Indianapolis Children's Museum to ALL!

This is regularly named the best children's museum in the United States and it holds up to that ranking. It is an enormous place with so much to do and so much interest everyone from toddlers all the way up to adults. It has multiple exhibits that stay for many years and other ones that come seasonally as well as traveling exhibits and temporary exhibits. They have everything from a large outdoor and indoor sports park where you can learn about sports as well as kids have the opportunity to play them, including golf, tennis hockey basketball, racing and so many others. Inside other than the sports area which features one of our local teams, they have a number of exhibit halls. During the winter time they have a winter-based exhibit that is tons of fun. They have the long-standing just recently updated dinos sphere, which is an incredible collection of dinosaurs and artifacts. It is incredible. In addition they have so many exhibits, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Pixar's emotions that play, a great exhibit called sacred places that visits various locations around the world to see how people practice their faith, take meet there Greece, which explores the country of Greece in an awesome exhibit. In addition, the carousel on the top floor has always been a favorite. And for the little ones play, scape is a blast and a great way to learn. Down in the basement they have beyond spaceship earth which is inside the international space station and a very cool exhibit, especially for those who are interested in space. The power of children has been around for a long time and it recognizes the stories of Anne Frank, Ruby, Bridges, Ryan, White, and Malala. Very powerful. American pop is another fun one, especially for the older folks that can look back at some of the memories from their childhood. Another very cool thing is the enormous Chihuly blown glass fireworks of glass that goes up the middle of the walkway in the center of the museum. This beautiful blown glass feature is absolutely amazing, five stories high, with 3200 pieces of blown glass by the master And his team. there's also a big open area where they have many things going on, as well as a theater downstairs in the basement as well as so many other things just going on during the day. There is a great food court if you're hungry or thirsty. They have many special events throughout the year for adults as well as for children. And they open a number of days during the year at no charge. It is a bit pricey to attend this museum, but for the best in the country and may be the best in the world, it is certainly worth it and to watch the children, enjoy themselves and learn in the way that they present, is worth every penny. they have an incredible team that works at the museum. Some of the greatest professionals out there, doing their work at the highest level. This is truly a world-class museum. I highly recommend it for anyone.

I have heard great things about this museum, so I was thrilled when an opportunity arose to visit yesterday. Veterans get a discount, with proof. Honest, I was disappointed. When I read "Children's Museum" I do anticipate there being more hands on options for kids. This may be a better option for kids 10 and up. While they do have a couple of play areas for younger kids. All in all, for a day visit, I felt they were overpriced for families with children 3-10. You can apply your purchased tickets toward a membership within 2 weeks. If you are local, I say, take them up on it! I did not research enough to find out if they offer reciprocal museum options. However, as an adult, I loved several exhibits! The fireworks glass exhibit was amazing. As an 80s kid, I found the American Pop exhibit to be such fun and nostalgic. I had hoped the Dinosphere exhibit wound have been more kid friendly, albeit superbly displayed, my Dino loving kids were not interested. I really solemnly enjoyed the exhibit about Anne Frank. Due to the weather, we did not visit the outdoor sports area; although it looked quite fun.

Check out there neighborhood membership. We got in free and get in Newfield and several other places for only $2. My nephew first time at the museum and he had a ball outside doing all the activities. He's 3.

One of the top Children's museums in the USA, and for a reason! Covered over three floors, there are ever changing exhibits and activities that are available for all ages (including adults). I love that they are constantly rotating their exhibitions, making it educational and exciting with each visit. Entering into the museum, you are greeting by a large water clock that uses chemistry and physics to display the time. This has always been my favourite display in the museum. They have expanded the ground floor into a Dinosphere, chock full of amazing displays, engrossing story times, hands-on activities and even the ability to watch archeologists dig out real bones! On the next couple of floors they have exhibits for all ages, including a 90's Pop Up, a Minecraft pop up, and an exhibition geared towards toddlers/small children. The top floor has a hands on carnival, finished with a massive indoor carousel and swirly walkway. There is also a history exhibit with motivational children who have/do live in our time and the telling of their story, which motivated me as well. The children's museum also hosts "After Dark" events for adults which are well worth a visit - imagine Night of the Museum with a cocktail bar, food, and silent disco. What's not to love?