Indianapolis, IN | Dec. 26
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis celebrates a monumental milestone in 2025—its 100th birthday! To kick off the centennial celebration, the museum invites families to its annual Countdown to Noon event on December 31 where visitors will be among the first to explore the new exhibit, Memories, Wonders, and Dreams: Stories from 100 Years, and see icons and objects from the museum’s wide-ranging collection.
"Countdown to Noon is a fitting way for us to ring in the New Year as we celebrate 100 years of inspiring curiosity, creativity, and lifelong learning. We are incredibly proud of the profound impact The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis has had on families, educators, our community, and the museum field," said Jennifer Pace Robinson, President & CEO of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. "This milestone is a testament to the dedication of our founders, staff, volunteers, and supporters who have helped us evolve from a small carriage house to the nationally recognized institution we are today. We are thrilled to celebrate this incredible journey with our visitors, and we look forward to a year filled with memories, wonder, and dreams."
Countdown to Noon is the start of a year filled with excitement and surprises for all ages, from a Centennial Ferris Wheel to new exhibits, including Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: The Exhibit, Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design, and Take Me There: Peru.
The Centennial year and the Memories, Wonders, and Dreams: Stories from 100 Years exhibit are presented by Purdue University.
“Purdue is thrilled to celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Children’s Museum and serve as the official Centennial Partner for the upcoming year’s festivities,” said Kelly Hiller, Vice President of Marketing for Purdue University. “For 100 years, the museum has sparked curiosity and ignited imagination in young minds through hands-on discovery — a mission perfectly aligned with Purdue's commitment to experiential learning. Through our new expansion campus in Indianapolis and shared dedication to inspiring the next generation of innovators, this partnership celebrates our mutual goal of transforming young lives through education and exploration."
Countdown to Noon
Two family friendly celebrations are planned at noon and at 1 p.m. on December 31. As water splashes through North America’s largest water clock, families will dance to the music of Grammy-nominated musician, Zak Morgan, while a shower of metallic confetti rains down.
The day of celebration includes a scavenger hunt, and opportunities to create a memory mural, make a paper time capsule, and help to design an activity for a future exhibit. Grownups can help teach little ones how to tell time with the water clock.
Memories, Wonders, and Dreams: Stories from 100 Years
Video: https://vimeo.com/childrensmuseum/review/1036842602/eaa6ba000a
Photos: https://platform.crowdriff.com/m/s-gPAkTBw3wFZ6xGdk
In its first 100 years, The Children’s Museum has collected over 130,000 objects—and they all have stories to tell. In this exhibit, visitors will learn the stories of 100 objects from the museum’s vast collection, a mix of never-before-seen objects, beloved museum icons (such as our historic Carousel), and artifacts from past exhibits. Objects in this bilingual exhibit are related to arts, natural sciences, history, sports, and pop culture. Families will explore stories about the past and consider the stories yet to come. The exhibit runs from Dec. 31, 2024 to January 2025.
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is proud to partner with Riley Children’s Health, Old National Bank, Ice Miller LLP, and The Heritage Group.
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis celebrates a monumental milestone in 2025—its 100th birthday! To kick off the centennial celebration, the museum invites families to its annual Countdown to Noon event on December 31 where visitors will be among the first to explore the new exhibit, Memories, Wonders, and Dreams: Stories from 100 Years, and see icons and objects from the museum’s wide-ranging collection.
"Countdown to Noon is a fitting way for us to ring in the New Year as we celebrate 100 years of inspiring curiosity, creativity, and lifelong learning. We are incredibly proud of the profound impact The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis has had on families, educators, our community, and the museum field," said Jennifer Pace Robinson, President & CEO of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. "This milestone is a testament to the dedication of our founders, staff, volunteers, and supporters who have helped us evolve from a small carriage house to the nationally recognized institution we are today. We are thrilled to celebrate this incredible journey with our visitors, and we look forward to a year filled with memories, wonder, and dreams."
Countdown to Noon is the start of a year filled with excitement and surprises for all ages, from a Centennial Ferris Wheel to new exhibits, including Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: The Exhibit, Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design, and Take Me There: Peru.
The Centennial year and the Memories, Wonders, and Dreams: Stories from 100 Years exhibit are presented by Purdue University.
“Purdue is thrilled to celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Children’s Museum and serve as the official Centennial Partner for the upcoming year’s festivities,” said Kelly Hiller, Vice President of Marketing for Purdue University. “For 100 years, the museum has sparked curiosity and ignited imagination in young minds through hands-on discovery — a mission perfectly aligned with Purdue's commitment to experiential learning. Through our new expansion campus in Indianapolis and shared dedication to inspiring the next generation of innovators, this partnership celebrates our mutual goal of transforming young lives through education and exploration."
Countdown to Noon
Two family friendly celebrations are planned at noon and at 1 p.m. on December 31. As water splashes through North America’s largest water clock, families will dance to the music of Grammy-nominated musician, Zak Morgan, while a shower of metallic confetti rains down.
The day of celebration includes a scavenger hunt, and opportunities to create a memory mural, make a paper time capsule, and help to design an activity for a future exhibit. Grownups can help teach little ones how to tell time with the water clock.
Memories, Wonders, and Dreams: Stories from 100 Years
Video: https://vimeo.com/childrensmuseum/review/1036842602/eaa6ba000a
Photos: https://platform.crowdriff.com/m/s-gPAkTBw3wFZ6xGdk
In its first 100 years, The Children’s Museum has collected over 130,000 objects—and they all have stories to tell. In this exhibit, visitors will learn the stories of 100 objects from the museum’s vast collection, a mix of never-before-seen objects, beloved museum icons (such as our historic Carousel), and artifacts from past exhibits. Objects in this bilingual exhibit are related to arts, natural sciences, history, sports, and pop culture. Families will explore stories about the past and consider the stories yet to come. The exhibit runs from Dec. 31, 2024 to January 2025.
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is proud to partner with Riley Children’s Health, Old National Bank, Ice Miller LLP, and The Heritage Group.
