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USA Today polled its readers to determine the best family museum in the nation. Hundreds of thousands voted and the winner is The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis!
Discerning families are searching for quality museums and attractions that the whole family can enjoy together. Voters made it clear they want to spend quality time together, learning and creating wonderful family memories in a place that has something special for every age and every interest.
“Families would be challenged to find a more impressive museum…” according to the 10 Best article. “This Indianapolis attraction is the largest children's museum on the globe, with over 29 acres to its name. Exhibits include everything from dinosaurs to immersive cultural experiences.”
Consistently ranked as a top family destination in the nation, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is filled with five floors of experiential learning and fun for children and adults. While the outside of the building is flanked by giant dinosaurs bursting out and peeking in, the inside is a wonderland of exploration and exhibits designed to ignite the imagination.
“This is a tremendous honor,” said Jeffrey H. Patchen, president and CEO, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. “We go to great lengths to create authentic, immersive family learning experiences that range from discovering the mysteries of history through scientific exploration to immersing families into the arts of other cultures. By providing a wide variety of subject matter and authentic artifacts in creative ways, we are able to provide something for every interest and every age.”
A stunning 43-foot tall tower of glass, called Fireworks of Glass, created by artist Dale Chihuly sits as the centerpiece. It is surrounded by exhibits such as National Geographic Treasures of the Earth, where families explore a recreation of the longest, deepest most ornate tomb in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt; learn about the only real pirate shipwreck ever uncovered in the Caribbean (belonged to Captain Kidd). In Dinosphere, visitors are immersed in the sights, sounds, and smells of the Cretaceous time period as they explore one of the largest displays of real juvenile and family dinosaur fossils in the United States. In just three weeks, families will also learn more about the best preserved dinosaur ever found. That’s when Leonardo, the mummified dinosaur, makes his debut. Families discover The Power of Children in another exhibit that reveals the lives of Anne Frank, Ruby Bridges and Ryan White. The stories of these extraordinary children inspire today’s children to fight discrimination and intolerance to make a positive difference in the world. Dedicated to the physical sciences, ScienceWorks investigates nature and physical sciences and even has a BioTech Lab that focuses on the science of plant biotechnology.
That is just the beginning. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis will be the only place in the United States to see the real Terra Cotta Warriors from Xian, China in 2014 when Terra Cotta Warriors: The Emperor’s Painted Army opens May 10. Take Me There: ® China opens at the same time immersing children and families in the largest exhibit to explore modern day China.
Actor/interpreters bring stories to life throughout the museum with unique performances and engaging conversation. Also home to Lilly Theater, SpaceQuest Planetarium and infoZone (the only public library within a museum in the country), The Children’s Museum truly does have something for everyone. With five floors of interactive and educational fun, the museum is 472,900 square feet and has 120,000 artifacts in its collection. It is no wonder; people call it the biggest and the best in the world.
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is a nonprofit institution committed to creating extraordinary learning experiences across the arts, sciences, and humanities that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. For more information about The Children's Museum, visit www.childrensmuseum.org, follow us on Twitter @TCMIndy, Facebook.com/childrensmuseum and YouTube.
