Indianapolis Tourist Attractions

Indianapolis, Indiana is an ideal destination for a family vacation. The city's rich history and culture match its modern attractions with historical sites. It is a city of neighborhoods and there is no better way to get to know the character, history, and culture than by walking through it.

No matter where you stay in Indianapolis, there are plenty of nearby destinations that make for fun day trips or extended weekend getaways. The following guide features several top attractions both within the city.

Amazing Indianapolis Scavenger Hunt Adventure

The Amazing Indianapolis Scavenger Hunt Adventure is an exciting new concept in tourism that combines the fun of Indiana's famous tourist attraction.

The Indianapolis scavenger hunt is designed to provide an adventurous and entertaining experience for everyone. It was designed in such a way that it will be easy to navigate, while still challenging enough to keep you engaged and entertained.

Guided by any smartphone, groups make their way among well-known and overlooked gems of the island, solving clues and completing challenges while learning local history.

The adventure will start at the American Legion Mall and take you to famous war memorials, incredible outdoor art, and other hidden gems of the city.

You will explore the Capitol grounds, discover interesting cultural locations, and enjoy parts of the Indianapolis Canal Walk as you have fun solving clues and completing challenges in downtown Indy.

The tour requires a little over 2 miles of walking.

Indiana War Memorial

Address: 55 E Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States

The Indiana World War Memorial Plaza is an urban feature located in Indianapolis that was originally built to honor the veterans of World War I.

It was conceived in 1919 as a location for the national headquarters of the American Legion and a memorial to the state's and nation's veterans.

It is composed of the American Legion Mall at the north end of the plaza. The southern part is the Veterans Memorial Plaza with its obelisk. The Indiana War Memorial is considered the largest war memorial project in the United States.

The centerpiece of the plaza is the Indiana World War Memorial. It contains "the Altar of the Flag" in the Shrine Room. The site also contains a military museum and an auditorium.

The University Park is the oldest part of the plaza, filled with statues and a fountain.

In 1994, the Indiana World War Memorial Plaza was designated a National Historic Landmark District.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

Address: 3000 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46208, United States

At 472,900 square feet, the Children's Museum of Indianapolis is the world's largest children's museum. It is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

Founded in 1925 by Mary Stewart Carey with the help of Indianapolis civic leaders and organizations, it is the fourth-oldest such institution in the world.

The museum has five floors of exhibit halls and receives more than one million visitors annually. It holds a collection of over 120,000 artifacts and exhibit items are divided into three domains: the American Collection, the Cultural World Collection, and the Natural World Collection.

The current building was constructed in 1976 and has had several expansions since then.

Among the exhibits at the institution are a simulated Cretaceous dinosaur habitat, a carousel, a steam locomotive, and the glass sculpture Fireworks of Glass Tower and Ceiling.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis hosts thousands of activities annually, including plays, classes, and workshops for school children, traveling exhibits, among others.

Indianapolis Museum of Art

Address: 4000 N Michigan Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46208, United States

The Indianapolis Museum of Art is a 152-acre tourist compound that houses Lilly House, The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park, the Gardens at Newfields, the Beer Garden, and many more.

Founded in 1883 by the Art Association of Indianapolis, the first permanent museum opened in 1906 as part of the John Herron Art Institute.

The museum holds exhibitions, classes, tours, and events throughout the year.

The entire campus was previously referred to as the Indianapolis Museum of Art. In 2017, the campus and organization were renamed "Newfields" to better reflect the venue.

Today, the "Indianapolis Museum of Art" specifically refers to the main art museum building as well as the legal name of the organization doing business as Newfields.

The museum holds a collection of over 54,000 works, including African, American, Asian, and European pieces, including paintings, ceramics and bronzes, sculptures, prints, textiles, and many more.

In 2009, the museum was awarded the National Medal for Museum and Library Service for public service, namely the museum's free admission policy and educational programming.

The free admission policy ended in 2014 though some areas of the Newfields campus remain free of charge.

Indianapolis Zoo

Address: 1200 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46222, United States

The Indianapolis Zoo is in White River State Park, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The zoo is the permanent refuge of around 4,000 animals of different species and subspecies. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the American Alliance of Museums.

The Indianapolis Zoo is a private non-profit organization.

Tickets:

• Adult - $14.25
• Child - $10.25
• Senior - $12.25