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The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is one of the top 20 most visited among all museums in North America for the second year in a row, according to the Global Attractions Attendance Report Museum Index, sponsored by the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) and the AECOM group.
Perhaps even more impressive, the museum ranks second in North American museum visitation relative to its Designated Market Area (DMA), which is significantly smaller than other metropolitan areas featured on the list provided by the Global Attractions Attendance Report and Demographic World Urban Areas May 2014 edition. In that context, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis ranks second only to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC in terms of local and regional visitation.
The Children’s Museum welcomed more than 1.2 million visitors through its doors in each of the last three years. The American Alliance of Museum lists 17,500 museums in the United States, making a top 20 ranking particularly noteworthy.
“The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a shining example of the diverse arts and cultural assets we have in Indiana. It’s one of our cornerstones. But to view it as a place just for kids does it a disservice. The Children’s Museum is a true destination where people of all ages go to explore and learn and be fascinated,” said Mark Newman, executive director of Indiana Office of Tourism Development (IOTD).
“The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis consistently offers top-tier exhibits that inspire and educate inquisitive guests of all ages,” said Leonard Hoops, president & CEO of Visit Indy. “Having the world’s largest and best children’s museum in one’s city provides great cultural and economic benefits to the community. Visitors from all over the world come to Indy to explore the museum and while its primary audience is families, it’s not uncommon to see adults without children in hand enjoying the experience as well.”
“We are thrilled so many people make a conscious choice to visit The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis out of the plethora of quality educational and entertainment venues available across the country,” said Dr. Jeffrey H. Patchen, president and CEO, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. “We work very hard to make sure we provide a wide variety of world-class content in the sciences, arts and humanities that is fresh and compelling for people of all ages. It is extremely important to us that we provide families with rich experiences and learning opportunities that are also fun and imaginative.”
“The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a Central Indiana institution that provides thrills and quality learning experiences for children and families who visit from across the nation every year. I’d like to congratulate the museum leadership team and staff on this well-deserved recognition. The hard work, talent and creativity that goes into running the world’s largest children’s museum is truly first-class. I know the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis will continue to be a vehicle for innovation in learning, a source of inspiration to children and a vital economic engine for the Hoosier State for many years to come,” said Congresswoman Susan Brooks.
“I’m so proud of The Children’s Museum and all that it contributes to our city’s residents and visitors,” said Congressman André Carson. “The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is truly an Indianapolis treasure, that not only sparks imagination, creativity and surprise in the life of my daughter, but thousands of Hoosier children and families every year.”
These rankings underscore the museum’s commitment to providing educational and entertaining experiences for visitors of all ages. Families and children have come to expect fresh, relevant and extraordinary exhibits that range from Dinosphere: Now You’re in Their World®, one of the largest displays of real juvenile and family dinosaur fossils in the United States and includes a rare, mummified dinosaur to National Geographic Treasures of the Earth, which explores a pirate shipwreck, the longest, deepest and most ornate tomb in all of the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, and the mysterious Terra Cotta Warriors discovered in China. Visitors are also encouraged to explore Take Me There:® China (the exploration of another culture intended to foster awareness of differences and similarities of other cultures), experience Dale Chihuly’s Fireworks of Glass, examine the impact of children who have shaped history in The Power of Children: Making a Difference and Playscape, a play area designed for infants through five-year olds that is based on the latest brain development research.
To see the entire Global Attractions report, please click on http://bit.ly/GlobalAttractionsAttendanceReport2013 (2013 report released in 2014).
About The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
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.com/IndyTCM.
