The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
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The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, the world's largest children's museum, is located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Founded in 1925, the museum claims to be the fourth oldest such institution in the world. It is located in a working class neighborhood immediately north of downtown Indianapolis. The current building was built in 1976, and has had several significant expansions since then.
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[edit] Inside the Museum
There are miniature exhibits throughout the museum as well as resource centers for tourists and schools. The main stairwell of the museum is actually a giant spiral ramp which allows visitors to access all five levels of the museum by walking or the use of strollers and wheelchairs. In 2006, world renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly installed a four story glass chandelier inside the giant spiral ramp. This installment is called "Fireworks of Glass" and is accompanied by an exhibit of Chihuly's glass blowing methods.
[edit] Lower Level
What If? is a popular attraction located in the lower level of the museum. When entering, you first explore an underwater setting (which features a few fish tanks). Visitors then come upon an open area known as the Dinosaur Discovery Area where children can uncover dinosaur bones from the sand like real archaeologists. To the left of this area, visitors can enter a darkened hallway which resembles the insides of an egyptian pyramid. While touring the "pyramid" they can gaze at Egyptian artifacts, including a real life mummy.
The lower level also hosts its own planetarium, a theater, and a real antique train engine that visitors can walk through.
[edit] Ground Level
The Museum has an expansive courtyard, parking lot, and parking garage to accommodate large parties of visitors such as schools on field trips. The lobby of the Museum contains North America's largest water clock as well as a large museum gift shop and a food court. The museum also boasts a 3,000 square foot branch of the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library called the InfoZone. It also contains a reproduction of a real Indiana cave in a large geology/botany related exhibit that used to be the main entrance.
[edit] Second Level
The second level is where many temporary special exhibits are hosted. The only permanent exhibit on this level is Passport to the World, a two story exhibit which explores traditions and cultures from around the world.
[edit] Third Level
The most popular permanent exhibit on this level is Mysteries in History, an exhibit which focuses on uncovering clues of the past. Here visitors can enter two walk-through log cabins from the 1800s or stroll down a 1900s main street and even enter some shops.
Also on this floor is Story Avenue. Visitors take a walk through tour of an African American community. The people are life size mannequins that talk when visitors past. The exhibit is an overall look at the oral story-telling traditions of African Americans. Next door is the preschool play area called Playscape.
[edit] Fourth Level
Perhaps one of the museum's most popular and unique exhibits is a real life-size indoor carousel called The Carousel of Wishes and Dreams. The carousel was originally built for an amusement park (now Broad Ripple Park) in 1917 and was restored and reinstalled in this museum. It sets against a painted backdrop of an early 1900s park. It is considered the museum's biggest gallery artifact.
Also on this level is Science Works, formerly Science Spectrum, an exhibit completely devoted to exploring natural science and physical science through building activities. Within Science Works is a newly constructed biochemistry laboratory, which hosts daily events focusing on the future of DNA and chemistry.
[edit] Dinosphere
The Dinosphere is located in the spherical wing of the museum which is separate from the other exhibits, where the Cinedome Theater was formerly located. There are several dinosaur art galleries and a wide open area which features fossil digs, real artifacts, and numerous life-size dinosaur skeletal structures.
