Children's Museum of Indianapolis

Children's Museum of Indianapolis
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Name	Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Location	Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Type	Children's museum

Children's Museum of Indianapolis. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is the largest children's museum in the world, covering over 472,900 square feet, and is located on a 29-acre campus in Indianapolis, Indiana, near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Butler University. It was founded in 1925 by Mary Stewart Carey, with the support of Theodore Lothrop Stoddard and other local community leaders, including Eli Lilly and J.K. Lilly. The museum has been recognized for its innovative exhibits and programs, and has been visited by millions of people, including Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and Jimmy Carter.

● History

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis was established in 1925, with a collection of approximately 1,000 items, including artifacts from Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome, as well as exhibits on natural history, science, and technology, similar to those found at the Field Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Institution. Over the years, the museum has undergone several expansions, including the addition of a new wing in 1976, designed by Architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and a major renovation in 2009, led by RATIO Architects. The museum has also been recognized for its commitment to community outreach and diversity, and has partnered with organizations such as the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

● Exhibits

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis features a wide range of exhibits, including a Dinosaur Gallery with a collection of dinosaur fossils from Mongolia, China, and Argentina, as well as a Space Quest exhibit, which includes a NASA-designed space shuttle simulator, similar to those used at the Johnson Space Center and the Kennedy Space Center. The museum also features exhibits on art, music, and culture, including a collection of African art from the Yoruba people and Ashanti people, as well as exhibits on science and technology, such as a robotics lab and a 3D printing studio, similar to those found at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the California Institute of Technology. Visitors can also explore a mini-grocery store and a hospital, designed to promote healthy living and community health, in partnership with organizations such as the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross.

● Collections

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis has a collection of over 130,000 artifacts, including toys, games, and artifacts from around the world, such as a Ming dynasty vase and a Tiffany & Co. diamond necklace, similar to those found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The museum also has a significant collection of historical artifacts, including a Lincoln limousine and a Wright brothers airplane, as well as exhibits on sports, including a collection of Olympic medals and sports equipment from the Indianapolis 500 and the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. The museum's collections are used to support its exhibits and programs, and are also made available for research and study by scholars and students from institutions such as Harvard University and Stanford University.

● Education

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis offers a range of educational programs and activities, including workshops, classes, and camps, designed to promote learning and development in children and families, in partnership with organizations such as the National Science Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The museum also provides resources and support for teachers and educators, including curriculum guides and professional development opportunities, similar to those offered by the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers. The museum's educational programs are designed to align with state and national standards, and are informed by research and best practices in education, including those developed by the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering.

● Campus

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is located on a 29-acre campus in Indianapolis, Indiana, near the Indianapolis Cultural Trail and the White River State Park. The campus includes several buildings, including the main museum building, as well as a theater, a planetarium, and a park, designed by landscape architects OLIN and Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates. The campus is also home to several public art installations, including a sculpture garden and a mural by artist Keith Haring, similar to those found at the Guggenheim Museum and the Museum of Modern Art. The museum's campus is designed to be accessible and inclusive, with features such as wheelchair ramps and audio descriptions, in partnership with organizations such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the National Organization on Disability.