The museum houses a genuine, multi-ton Brachiosaurus fossil that stretches through the atrium's ceiling.
The 1917 Broad Ripple Park Carousel is a National Historic Landmark that was painstakingly restored by museum staff.
The museum's Dinosphere exhibit contains authentic fossils found during the museum's own excavations in the Hell Creek Formation.
The collection includes a real race car that has competed in the Indianapolis 500.
The museum features a permanent exhibit, 'The Power of Children,' which explores the lives of Anne Frank, Ruby Bridges, and Ryan White.
It operates its own professional theater, the Lilly Theater, presenting live performances year-round.
The museum campus covers 29 acres, including a significant outdoor sports and fitness experience.
The museum holds over 130,000 artifacts in its collection, most of which are stored in climate-controlled archives off-exhibit.
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is the world's largest children's museum, spanning 482,950 square feet across five floors of interactive exhibits. It is located at 3000 N Meridian St in Indianapolis and features extensive collections dedicated to science, culture, and history. Key permanent installations include a life-sized Dinosphere, the Riley Children's Health Sports Legends Experience, and a restored 1917 carousel. The museum also houses the SpaceQuest Planetarium and a permanent exhibit on the history of Anne Frank and other youth activists. It functions as a research institution, collaborating with universities on paleontological excavations. The campus includes a massive outdoor sports complex designed to engage children in physical education through play. The facility is fully ADA accessible and offers sensory-friendly resources for neurodivergent visitors.
The glass atrium entrance featuring the two massive dinosaur sculptures breaching the wall.
Prioritize the Dinosphere or Sports Legends Experience early in the morning, as these areas become most crowded by midday.
Check the daily program schedule upon entry to catch live performances or specialized science demonstrations.
Bring a change of clothes if visiting in warm weather, as the outdoor water features are highly popular with children.
Attempting to see every single exhibit in one visit, which leads to fatigue; focus on specific floors per session.
Closed on select Mondays during the off-season; check the official website for annual maintenance closures.
Casual, child-friendly clothing is recommended; running shoes are preferred due to the large amount of walking and active exhibits.
