Best of Southern Indiana
Best Museum

Even the lobby is amazing at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Southern Indiana's Best Museum according to our readers!

Children's Museum of Indianapolis - The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, a non-profit institution committed to enriching the lives of children, is the largest children's museum in the world today. The 356,000-square-foot facility houses 10 major galleries that explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures and the arts. The Children's Museum, situated on 13 acres of land in Indianapolis, presents thousands of programs and activities each year.

The Main Entrance to the Children's Museum
Also on the museum grounds is the CineDome Theater. This round, five-story theater features digital stereo sound and an enormous domed screen that completely surrounds you with breathtaking images.

The Museum is open daily from March through Labor Day and closed on Mondays from September through February. Hours are from 10 am - 5 pm and the museum is open until 8 pm on the first Thursday of each month. The museum is located at 3000 N. Meridian Street. 800-208-KIDS. www.childrensmuseum.org.

Other Nomination

Baseball Hall of Fame, Jasper - Located in the Jasper Campus of Vincennes University, this hall of fame is a tribute to Indiana's baseball history. The collection features unique memorabilia from Indiana high school baseball players and professional players from the Hoosier State. The museum is in the Alvin C. Ruxer Student Center, and is open during campus hours, weekends or by appointment. 812-482-2262 or visit their website at http://www.indbaseballhalloffame.org

Clay County Historical Museum, Brazil - This museum, located on historic US 40 was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1994 and is housed in the former Brazil Post Office. The museum is home to a large collection of historical artifacts of Clay County. Constructed of Brazil brick and Bedford stone in 1911, the building was purchased as the permanent home for the museum and is currently working on displays containing memorabilia from former residents that are well known. On permanent display is a tribute to rock star and Brazil native Henry Lee Summer; “Popcorn King” Orville Redenbacher; and former Indiana governor George N. Craig of Brazil. The museum is open at no charge on weekdays 1-4pm and Saturdays 1:30-3:30pm. Closed during January and February and legal holidays. Tours may be also be arranged. An art show is being planned for December of 2000, to feature local artists. Extended evening hours are planned for this event. 100 East National Avenue.

Columbus Visitors Center, Columbus - While not technically a museum, the Columbus Visitors Center offers a hands-on, informative way to learn about the area in a very appealing setting. Housed in what was originally the Storey House, The Visitors Center offers a preview video to the Architectural Tour for which Columbus is known. Lighted panels with different featured sites, offer a nice preview to the tour. The "Yellow Neon Chandelier" is a beautiful feature of the Visitors Center. This nine-foot-long glass chandelier highlights the two-story bay window and staircase. Composed of 900 pieces of hand-blown glass in four shades of yellow, it was created by world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. The chandelier is 6’ across, weighs 1,200 pounds and contains 500 feet of neon tubing. Architectural tours are offered seven days a week March through November. 800-468-6564.

Dr. Ted's Musical Marvels, Dale - Dr. Ted's is a Southern Indiana favorite, with a magnificent collection of musical instruments dating from the late 1800s through 1950s. “We have 16 mechanical musical instruments - player pianos, old music boxes that used to be played in hotel lobbies, old phonographs, a Dutch street organ, a fairground organ and a dance organ!” The Dutch street organ comes from Holland, where organs are pushed around on the street. “ We even crank it for you. We give a guided tour and play instruments and give a history about each instrument.” The dance organ is 12 feet high and 24 feet long and has 535 pipes. It plays a variety of instruments including saxophone, drums, accordion, top hat and other instruments. This museum has been featured in several magazines, and in 1999 won the Tourism Award for the State of Indiana. They've also been featured in the AAA magazine, and “Across Indiana” television show, and have hosted several travel writers. They are open daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, then weekends only through the first of October. They open back up on weekends the first of May. Located on US 231, 1/4 mile north of I-64, exit 57, Dale. (812) 937-4250.

Eugene V. Debs Museum, Terre Haute - Renowned labor leader, writer and humanitarian Eugene V. Debs was born in Terre Haute. His Midwestern-Victorian architecture home, built in 1890, is an official Indiana landmark and a Registered National Historic Home. The museum, which opened in the 1960s is open from 1-4:30pm Wednesday through Sunday and by appointment. Admission is free. 451 N. Eighth St. 812-232-2163.

The Evansville Museum - The Evansville Museum of Arts and Science is a general museum with comprehensive collections in art, history, anthropology and science. Visitors can view paintings from the 16th Century to the present in the Museum’s newly renovated art galleries; stroll down the street of 19th Century Rivertown USA; explore “hands-on” exhibits in the Science Center; discover the evening sky in the Koch Planetarium; and trace the history of transportation in the new Evansville Museum Transportation Center. 411 SE Riverside Drive. 812-425-2406 Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm,. Sunday noon-5pm. Admission is free. www.emuseum.org.

Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis - The IMA is among the largest and finest general art museums in the United States. Situated on the 152 acres that incorporate the historic Oldfields estate, as well as breathtaking gardens and grounds, the IMA features significant collections of African, American, Asian, European, contemporary and decorative art, including paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings and photographs, textiles and costumes. Among the highlights are prints by Paul Gauguin and his follower; a Neo-Impressionism collection which includes the work of Georges Seurat and his followers; the Clowes Collection of Old Master works; more than 2,00 objects in the African art collection, and the largest collection of works by JMW Turner outside of Great Britain. Look for the IMA’s Special Exhibition schedule to be included in SouthernIN.com’s Calender of Events. The Indianapolis Museum of Art is located at 1200 W. 38th Street. Open Tuesday through Saturday 10am-5pm. Sunday noon-5pm. Closed Mondays and major holidays. Permanent Collections and parking is free. 317-923-1331.

TC Steele State Historic Site, Brown County - “The House of the Singing Winds” was the home of Indiana artist Theodore Clement Steele and his wife Selma from 1907 until Mrs. Steele died in 1945. At that time, the 211-acre site was donated to the people of Indiana. Visitors can see the Large Studio, which houses many of T.C. Steele’s paintings, and the House of the Singing Winds, the couple’s home. When Mrs. Steele left the property to the people of Indiana, the house was left exactly as it was when the couple was alive. The books in the bookshelves, the clothing, and all of the furniture belonged to the Steeles. The gardens at the State Historic Site were featured in the July issue of SouthernIN.com. Guided tours are offered Tuesday through Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday, 1-5pm. Closed Monday. Located 1.5 miles south of SR 46, Belmont. Free admission. 812-988-2785.

A Champagne Velvet poster in the Terre Haute Brewery & Tap Room
Terre Haute Brewery & Tap Room, Terre Haute - This museum is housed in the Bleemel Building, which was built in 1837. Mathias Mogger originally operated a brewery out of it, from 1848 to 1858. Mogger laid the foundation for what became the Terre Haute Brewing Company, the 7th largest brewing company in the United States by 1892. The popular Champagne Velvet Beer was made by the Terre Haute Brewing Company. Today E. Bleemel Flour and Feed houses a brewery museum and a Civil War museum. The brick floor is from the old Torner House in Terre Haute, wooden spindles were salvaged from area porches, stained glass doors are from the Central Christian Church, and the1900 wooden beer cooler came from nearby Marshall, Illinois. Brochures describe the backgrounds of the other gorgeous furnishings. 904-906 Poplar Street. 812-232-2466.

Wayne County Historical Museum, Richmond - The Wayne County Historical Museum is one of the most comprehensive museums in Indiana, and offers a good look at Wayne County's history as well as relics from around the world. The building itself is the historical Friends Meeting House, which was used by a branch of Quakers called Hicksites. The collection of relics came in a large part from the collection of Julia Meek Gaar. She had traveled the world and was a savvy collector. She managed to bring an Egyptian mummy home, one of only three in Indiana, and possibly the last to leave Egypt legally. The museum also has an 1919 Davis airplane that was manufactured in Richmond, a Wooten desk, a replica of a general store, and much more. Thirteen different automobiles were made in Richmond at one time. Six of these cars plus an early Wayne County school bus, ambulances and even authentic covered wagons are at home at the museum. Outside the museum is a Village Square, with a fully operational blacksmith shop, the 1823 Dickinson house and an old log school. The Palladium Printing Office is a functioning print shop modeled after Richmond's 1890's newspaper office. Much of the museum's material is still printed on the grounds. Open Tuesday-Friday 9am-4pm, Sat. & Sun. 1-4pm. Closed Monday. 765-962-5756. 1150 North "A" Street.

<back to top>

All Feature Articles, artwork and photographs ©2000 by Southernin.com. Some information on the 'County Info' pages is taken directly from brochures published by Visitors Bureaus and Chambers of Commerce.