Carousel Wishes And Dreams
Check yourself out in the wobbly, fun-house mirrors before you enter the Mirror Maze. The maze has several escape routes if its over stimulating or the kids get scared. Take a break from the maze and sip tea with a family of bears. Dont miss the huge kaleidoscope.
Behind the maze is an arcade full of nostalgic puzzles and games. Adults and big kids love playing vintage video games.
Adjacent to the arcade is a great spot for littles to burn some energy. Kids can climb, crawl and slide in the play area. Serve ice cream from the retro diner or play in the tree house. Dont miss the topiaries along the benches they are so cute.
The feature of this area is the Carousel. Originally located in Broad Ripple Park, the Carousel was salvaged and rehabilitated for the top floor of The Childrens Museum. It is a favorite stop for young and old alike. Rides are free for members, otherwise its one dollar per person over the age of 2. You have the option to clean your animal before you get on it if you would like. The last ride is 15 minutes before closing every day.
Free And Discount Days
Free days: Admission is free for all ages on the following days: Christmas Eve , Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Presidents Day . A heads up about free and discount days: It will be packed and you may have to park at one of the more distant surface lots, so plan accordingly.
Discount days: Admission is discounted from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month. Visitors pay $5 for either the museum or the sports experience, or $7 for both.
Access Pass: Participants in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families , SNAP and Hoosier Works, or Hoosier Healthwise Insurance may qualify for an Access Pass. Qualified families can visit the museum or sports experience for $2 per person, or both for $3.
Personal Services At The Childrens Museum
Wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Stroller rental, a coat check, and lockers are also available for an additional fee for you to stash your coats, bags, and whatever else you dont want to lug around for hours. Compose yourself, use the restroom, fill your water bottle at the drinking fountain, and take in the fun features youll experience before you even get your tickets scanned! Check out the larger-than-life Bumblebee Transformer rotating in the middle of the entryway. Hes an actual prop from the movie Transformers!
After you have your ticketspurchase online or from the ticket counteryou have to decide if you want to visit the Riley Childrens Health Sports Legends Experience indoor and outdoor exhibits or the primary museum first. Your ticket includes both experiences, but the entrances are separate you will need your tickets for entry into both areas. Do not throw away or lose your tickets if you want to get from one side of the museum to the other. Tickets purchased online in advance can be scanned directly from your phone.
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Access Pass: Now Accepted At 12 Indiana Museums And Attractions
Families on a fixed or lower income often cant afford to visit museums or attractions. The Access Pass presented by GEICO works to ensure that all families, regardless of income, can enjoy valuable learning opportunities at a greatly reduced price.
Those who qualify through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families , Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Hoosier Works, or Hoosier Healthwise Insurance can visit participating locations for just $2 per family member, per visit.
The Childrens Museum recognized that it can be challenging for families who need assistance to visit multiple museums or attractions so it created the Access Pass program to help families who may not otherwise be able to visit cultural attractions in an effort to make them more accessible for all, said Dr. Jeffrey H. Patchen, president and CEO, The Childrens Museum of Indianapolis.
Participating member institutions include:
- Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
- Terre Haute Childrens Museum
- The Childrens Museum of Indianapolis
- WonderLab in Bloomington
Families that meet the requirements listed below can visit the participating locations for just $2 per family member per visit, for up to two adults and dependent youth living in the household.
Qualifying Programs for Indiana Residents
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
- SNAP and Hoosier Works
- Hoosier Healthwise Insurance
Required Documents for Access Pass
Visit Guidelines
What Are The Current Covid
Face masks or shields are required for all visitors 2-years-old and older. They are not required in the outdoor areas.
The museum is also allowing visitors in on a reduced capacity. It continues to urge people to follow social distancing, with some areas like the atrium and food court aiming to space out crowds with floor markings.
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Access Pass Attractions: Welcome Back Reopening Ticketing And Safety Procedures
As each of the Access Pass attractions welcomes you back, youll notice new ticketing and safety procedures to keep all visitors safe. Before you visit, check out the new procedures for ticketing and safety for each attraction listed below. Its also a good idea to check each attractions website or social media outlets for any new changes or updates before you go.
Free Membership For The Childrens Museum Neighbors
If you live in the Crown Hill neighborhood, Historic Watson Park neighborhood, Mapleton Fall Creek neighborhood, Historic Meridian Park neighborhood, Meridian Highland neighborhood or Highland Vicinity neighborhood, you may qualify for a free membership. Fill out this membership application and bring it to the museum with your photo ID and proof of residency.
Katy Mann
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Where Can The Access Pass Program Take You
Presented by The Childrens Museum of Indianapolis, the Access Pass makes fun family learning more accessible. The Access Pass is good at 12 cultural attractions in Indiana, including the Terre Haute Childrens Museum!
Of course were big, big fans of our local museum. Did you hear that the Ropes Course is reopening? And of course the Under Construction exhibit has a great view of ACTUAL construction!
Our family has also visited a few other gems on the list such as Conner Prairie Interactive History Park. Not knowing much about it, we were shocked by how much fun we had at Conner Prairie on our first visit!
Of course the Childrens Museum of Indianapolis is a premier Indiana attraction. And the Sports Legends Experience is mostly outside! $2 per person is truly a steal of a deal for this legendary museum.
But thats not all! The list of eligible experiences also includes
- Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
- Indiana Historical Society
- Indiana State Museum & Historic Sites
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
- The NCAA Hall of Champions
- Newfields, Rhythm! Discovery Center
- WonderLab Museum in Bloomington.
The Access Pass is also valid for admission at 11 historic sites across the state through the Indiana State Museum.
Families that meet the requirements listed below can visit all participating locations for just $2 general admission per family member per visit, for up to two adults and all dependent youths living in the household.
Children’s Museum Of Indianapolis Pulls ‘juneteenth Watermelon Salad’ From Menu After Criticism
INDIANAPOLIS The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis has come under fire for offering a pre-packaged watermelon salad as part of its Juneteenth menu, an option criticized online as offensive after a photo of the salad circulated on social media.
The outrage over the circulated photo comes as the museum invites the public to its Juneteenth Jamboree, which features live performances and community artists.
Juneteenth is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. Although the Emancipation Proclamation declared enslaved people free beginning Jan. 1, 1863, news of the proclamation did not reach enslaved people in Texas until June 19, 1865. It became a federal holiday in 2021.
As a museum, we apologize and acknowledge the negative impact that stereotypes have on communities of color,”the museum said in a statement. “The salad has been removed from the menu. We are currently reviewing how we may best convey these stories and traditions during this years Juneteenth celebration as well as making changes around how future food selections are made by our food service provider.”
‘Cheap copycat’:Walmart pulls Juneteenth ice cream after critics call it insensitive
The museum said in its statement that its food service provider uses the food and beverage menu to commemorate and raise awareness of holidays like Juneteenth.
What’s everyone talking about?:
Maybe they learn from it, take it on the chin and dont do it again.
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Free Admission To The Indiana State Police Museum
The Indiana State Police Museum is a free museum that houses police cars and other memorabilia from different eras in Indiana State Police history. They do also offer a fingerprint station in which children can take their own fingerprints or those of a friend and learn about different fingerprint styles.
Visit the Indiana State Police Museum for free
Explore The World Of Percussion
Rhythm! Discovery Center is the worlds only interactive drum and percussion museum, and its located right here in Indiana! Rhythm! features instruments from leading percussionists and promotes the understanding of percussion and its role in world cultures through interactive educational experiences. Facilitated programs are offered each Saturday and include drum circles, educational lessons, and live performances.
Admission into Rhythm! is $2 per person with your Access Pass.
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See Masterpieces Come To Life At The Lume
If you havent yet, be sure to check out THE LUME Indianapolis, one of the newest exhibits at Newfields! This multi-sensory and immersive experience will be unlike anything youve seen before. Guests walk through 30,000 square feet of gallery space where projectors transform two-dimensional masterpieces into a three-dimensional world. THE LUME Indianapolis is a permanent attraction, with this first years show featuring the work of Vincent van Gogh. This experience is suitable for all ages and is included with your Access Pass admission.
The Caf At The Childrens Museum
The Café offers a variety of sweet and savory treats. The café is completely nut-free which is comforting to those with peanut and tree nut allergies. Patrons are allowed to bring in their own food though, so be mindful that there is still a possibility of those allergens on the premises.
The Dinosphere is just to the right of the café. Stairs heading to the second floor are behind the water clock and you will find a few sets of elevators just past the atrium. Another option is to take the four story ramp up or down as it circles the Fireworks of Glass installation.
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Who Is Eligible For The Access Pass Program
Who qualifies? Indiana residents actively enrolled in these programs:
- Hoosier Healthwise Insurance
- SNAP
- TANF
For our fellow foster and adoptive parents, we asked if our families would qualify. The official answer is that its for either parents or kids who have Hoosier Healthwise. Either one having it qualifies you for Access Pass!
Eligible families can easily apply online at the Access Pass website or visit any of the participating attractions and apply in person with the needed documentation. Visit the Access Pass website for more information on eligibility, enrollment, and participating attractions.
Access Pass Allows Low Income Hoosiers Discounts To Area Attractions
If you hadnt heard about it yet, the Childrens Museum of Indianapolis and Conner Prairie announced this spring a partnership that allows a reduced rate of just $1 per family member who obtains an Access Pass. Indiana families with at least one member who is 18 years of age or older and who are part of the TANF , food stamps or Hoosier Healthwise Insurance are eligible to participate in the Access Pass program. Families can visit The Childrens Museum and Conner Prairie and present a Hoosier Works card or Hoosier Healthwise Insurance card, together with photo identification, at the box office to receive $1 admission for immediate family members. They will be issued an Access Pass card that is renewable annually and provides family members the reduced rate throughout the year!
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Using The Access Pass
What does the Access Pass cover?The Access Pass offers $2 admission. Some partners offer additional benefits for Access Pass members, such as discounts in the food court, free or validated parking, and discounts on special programs. Visit the Access Pass website for more information on what is and isnt included with Access Pass admission.
How do I use my Access Pass?Simply show your Access Pass card to the front desk/box office staff along with your Indiana state-issued photo I.D. to receive $2 admission per visit. You do not have to show any other proof of eligibility after you enroll and receive your card.
I have relatives/friends coming in from out of town, can we bring them as guests and get the Access Pass discount?No. Your guests will have to pay full price. I cant always bring my children to these Access Pass venues.
Can someone else bring my children and use the Access Pass card?At least one named adult cardholder must be present for any visit and present their Access Pass card and Indiana state-issued photo ID at the box office/front desk to receive the $2 admission price.
Do you have a digital card available?Yes, when you apply online, youll receive a digital card you can use for admission. If you applied in person, you can create an online account on the Childrens Museum of Indianapolis website to get a digital card. You can use either your digital or printed card for admission.
The Childrens Museum Of Indianapolis
Museum entry turnstiles are just past the exit of The Museum Store. Have your tickets scanned and enter into the Sunburst Atrium where you can catch interactive shows from dinosaurs and superheroes, to sports and music. Check the daily schedule to see whats happening that day. Check the time on the two-story Water Clocktry to catch it when the hour changes its really cool to see the water empty into the basin.
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Stories From Our Community
The Art of Protest
This is a new exhibit expected to be here until 2023. Hear stories from local Black artists, learn about their lives and discover how they came together to create a colorful mural in Indianapolis during the height of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Nancy Noel
Also on the second floor, a temporary exhibit featuring the work of local artist Nancy Noel will open Nov. 13, 2021. Over decades, Noel sold millions of prints, published eight books, and created more than 1,000 original works. Her paintings hang in the homes of celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Robert Redford. Check out her beautiful pieces and learn more about this Zionsville mother who recently lost her battle with cancer.
Free Admission To The Indiana State Museum
Dont let the name fool you. Packed with Hoosier history, the Indiana State Museum also houses the pendulum clock, interactive exhibits like Birth of Earth and Frozen Reign, and IMAX! Admission includes access to the new early childhood play area, Firefly Landing .
Visit The Indiana State Museum for free:
- Presidents Day
- Free admission on Smithsonian Day
Free admission to the Indiana Historic Sites is also offered on the same dates, but reservations must be made by calling the sites.
In addition to their admission days, the Indiana State Museum also offers the following discounted admission:
- Blue Star Museum The Indiana State Museum offers free admission to active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families, Memorial Day Labor Day.
- Special Discounts The Indiana State Museum offers discounts for educators, military, AAA members, state employees, and more.
- Campus Discounts Visitors to the IMAX Theater at the Indiana State Museum receive a discount on museum admission.
- Access Pass Families that receive Indiana state assistance may qualify for the museums Access Pass program.
- Under 3 Years Old Children under the age of 3 are admitted free to the Indiana State Museum.
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The Seymour And Rheta Holt Tennis Center
In Tennis, you can choose from four different sized rackets and three different-sized courts. Standard-sized rackets are great for adults and smaller-sized rackets are perfect for small kids. Check out the half court option and try hitting the ball against a wall instead of to another player across the net.
Free Museum Days In 2022 Around Indianapolis:
Location: 13400 Allisonville Road, NoblesvillePhone: 317-776-6000
- February 21: Presidents Day
- Smithsonian Magazine Free Museum Day
Plus: Conner Prairie is proud to partner with other local museums to make family fun available to more Indiana families. Families that participate in any of the state assistance programs listed on their website can visit for just $2 per family member per visit at any time. Children under age two always receive free admission.
Location: 500 West Washington Street, IndianapolisPhone: 317-636-9378
- Smithsonian Magazine Free Museum Day
Receive a $2 discount for the following any time:
Location: 4000 Michigan Road, IndianapolisPhone: 317-923-1331
- First Thursday of each month: Enjoy free admission on the first Thursday of the month
- May 27: National Gardens and Museums Day
Plus: Newfields is proud to be a part of the Access Pass program. Families that meet the requirements can visit Newfields and all participating locations for just $2 per family member per visit for up to two adults and dependent youth living in the household. Visit their Access Pass page to learn more about this program that makes cultural attractions more available to Indiana families. Children under age 6 receive free admission.
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