The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is for the Young and Young at Heart

By Keshia McEntire

Last Thursday my husband and I, alongside his parents and my parents, made our way to the Indianapolis Children’s Museum with no children in tow. We originally planned  to have children with us, namily my husbands 12 and 14-year-old siblings, but it seems the teens are too cool for the museum, leaving us adults to wander the halls all to our lonesome.

Despite the fact that the Indianapolis Children’s Museum is targeted towards little ones, it is easily my favorite museum in Indy because of how accessible and interactive the exhibits are. I may be too old to crawl through tunnels or play with toys (well technically I could, but I did not come to scare the children) but I can admire all of the cool exibits they have with adult understanding.

 

The Children’s Museum has plenty of exhibits for all ages to enjoy. I spent a great deal of time at the new Star Trek exhibit, admiring the props and learning the shows history. I would not call myself a “trekkie,” but I do appreciate the legacy of the show.  Not only did Star Trek influence our technology, it allowed people of color the opportunity to play more diverse roles on television. It was a little before my time, but not too far gone that I am immune to the nostalgia.

 

Next on my itinerary was American POP, which continued to explore movies, music and pop culture in America. My inner nerd fangirled over the clothing and instruments that belonged to famous stars, and I enjoyed looking at the toys, gadgets and gizmos of yesteryear. With so many vintage pop culture references, I couldn’t help but think these exhibits were playing off of parents nostalgia rather than the interests of modern day children. Than again, maybe it’s my age that brought me to these exhibits. There was as Paw Patrol exhibit across the hallway that I was avoiding like the plague. If I had a child with me, I’m sure they wouldn’t allow me to walk past Paw Patrol without taking a look. 

We went downstairs to the planetarium and caught a show that explored the ways technology in science fiction movies influences our modern day tech. Then we explored Scienceworks and Dinosphere before calling it a night.

Despite the museum’s  “buy ahead and save” pricing, The Indianapolis Children’s Museum can be a pricey if you are looking to bring a large group of kids. Fortunately, if you attend the museum on the first Thursday of any month admission is only $5 after 5 p.m. I expected the $5 price tag to turn the halls of the museum into madness, but the exhibits were surprisingly calm. They had just the right about of business to make the museum feel lively.

Adults who hope to explore without kids should look into the museum’s After Dark events. These adults-only parties allow grow-ups to connect with their inner child while enjoying local beer and food from Indy’s top chefs. Proceeds from After Dark support The Children’s Museum Fund, which ensures that all children and families, regardless of income, can experience the museum.

To purchase tickets to The Children’s Museum click here.

To learn more about The Children’s Museum After Dark click here. 

Need more places to explore? Learn the Five Spookiest Spots To Visit In Indiana or chill at the local Cat Cafe. 

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