Home of the Hoosiers and a history that runs deep, all corners of Indiana offer entertainment and attractions. From fun things to do in the state capital, to family-friendly attractions in Fort Wayne, Bloomington, and Lafayette, Indiana has no shortage of exciting places to visit.
Blending fun experiences with educational value, other tourist orientated facilities within the state include the Studebaker National Museum, the WonderLab Science Museum, and the Snite Museum of Art on the University of Notre Dame campus. For those adventurous explorers looking to get outdoors, areas like Prophetstown State Park and Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore provide campsites, hiking trails, and stunning scenery. Plan your visit with our list of the top attractions and things to do in Indiana.
# Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art, IndianapolisThe Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art is situated at the entrance to the White River State Park. It holds the remarkable collection assembled by the Indianapolis businessman Harrison Eiteljorg. On display are paintings and sculptures of the west from the early 19th century onwards, including works by the landscapists Albert Bierstadt and Georgia O'Keefe, and pictures and sculpture by the leading Western artists Frederick S. Remington and Charles M. Russell. The museum's most recent installation, Attitudes: The West in American Art, features a diverse collection of artists and cultures of the American West.
On the western edge of downtown Indianapolis, the encompassing White River State Park contains many other gems of the city. Adjacent to the Eiteljorg Museum, the Indiana State Museum features three floors relating stories of Indiana art, science, and culture through interactive exhibits.
# Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, Fort WayneCelebrating over 50 years as one of the top attractions of Fort Wayne, the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo encourages tourists and residents to experience award-winning animal exhibits. Spread throughout distinct ecosystems spanning the African Serengeti to an Indonesian rainforest, a few of the hundreds of animals at the zoo include Amur leopards, Tasmanian devils, red pandas, and Komodo dragons.
Other attractions at the Children's Zoo include family-friendly rides like the Endangered Species Carousel, as well as animal experiences that allow you to interact with giraffes, goats, and ponies. Large-scale renovations to the Children's Zoo have been extremely popular and have given it the national recognition it receives today.
# Snite Museum of Art, Notre DameOn the campus of the University of Notre Dame, the Snite Museum of Art offers free admission and a dense collection of 19th- and 20th-century artworks. Spanning different cultures and significant periods of world art history, the collection at Snite includes European painting and sculpture, Mesoamerican effigies, Native American ceramics, and contemporary works. The museum also hosts a constantly rotating selection of new exhibits, including thesis projects by current MFA students at the university.
Operated by the museum a couple of blocks away, the newly instated Charles B. Hayes Sculpture Garden allows visitors to enjoy aesthetic art and nature throughout the year.
# Indiana University BloomingtonHome to the Hoosiers and nearly 200 years of education history, Bloomington hosts the flagship campus of Indiana University. An air of academia defines the historic lecture halls and pedestrian pathways found on campus, including the iconic Sample Gates, which lead to other campus attractions like the Kirkwood Observatory.
Hoosier sports are intertwined with the identity of the entire state, and both football at Memorial Stadium and basketball at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall provide true community gathering spots and reasons to cheer.
# The Children's Museum of Indianapolis A large and wondrous place the whole family can enjoy, the Children's Museum of Indianapolis encompasses 29 acres in the United Northwest neighborhood of the city. As the largest children's museum in the world, the many different exhibits and hands-on science displays span from the time of the dinosaurs to astronauts living aboard the International Space Station. Including thousands of artifacts, photo opportunities, and interactive experiences, the museum is a sure-fire favorite for children of all ages and an incredible learning experience for adults as well.
Other exhibits at this world-renowned museum include a planetarium, children's theater, and numerous outdoor exhibits including an eye-catching Tree of Sports playground. Other areas of eye-catching interest include a 43-foot-tall Dale Chihuly glass sculpture; full-size dinosaur skeletons, including one of the world's few mummified dinosaurs; and an interactive playscape designed specifically for preschoolers.
# Prophetstown State Park, West LafayetteSteeped in natural and cultural history, Prophetstown is a new addition to the Indiana State Park system and features many ways to interact with the environment. Within the state park, the 125-acre Farm at Prophetstown embodies a 1920s motif, including hands-on experiences with homesteading, gardening, and livestock feeding.
At the confluence of the Wabash and Tippecanoe Rivers, Prophetstown also features a variety of hiking trails that cater to all abilities of hikers. An extensive Aquatic Center at the park also draws a lot of warm-weather attention with a zero-depth entry pool, lazy river, and 30-foot waterslide.
# Studebaker National Museum, South BendA defining industry and top attraction of South Bend, the American car manufacturer Studebaker has long roots tied to the city. Once the headquarters for manufacturing, South Bend and the Studebaker National Museum now display a wide range of these made-in-Indiana automobiles, including classic models, military vehicles, and the largest collection of Presidential carriages found anywhere in the country.
An interactive area at the museum designed for children, the Super Service Center encourages young visitors to step inside an auto shop to work on kid-size cars. The museum's collection also consists of numerous manufacturing drawings and history relating to the Studebaker Corporation.
# WonderLab Museum of Science, BloomingtonWonderLab is a children's fun center with a focus on science, health, and technology. It's also one of the top-rated attractions of Bloomington for families. Featuring hands-on and immersive learning experiences, WonderLab features popular permanent exhibits, including a Bubble-Airium; the Fitzgerald Hall of Natural Science; and an outdoor WonderGarden, which connects with the nearby pedestrian corridor, the B-Line Trail.
The museum also runs an active events calendar targeted at both adults and children, including science talks, STEM Sundays, and a WonderLab After Dark series. Other areas of interest at the museum include a coral reef aquarium, a children's Discovery Garden, and facilities for birthday parties or events.