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11 Amazing Field Trips Every Hoosier Took As A Kid… And Should Retake Now

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I know you remember the feeling of going to school on field trip day. You weren't tired and groaning, wishing you were still in bed; instead, you were slightly excited and skipping a little as you hopped onto the bus for field trip day. Field trips are one of the most exciting part of a kid's school year, and Indiana has some amazing field trip destinations.

In case you've forgotten, here are 11 amazing field trips you likely took as a kid that you'll want to revisit immediately.

1. Conner Prairie - Fishers

Conner Prairie was a staple field trip destination for most kids in Indiana. Conner Prairie showed kids what life was like before most modern advances and includes places like Prairietown (set in the 1830s), the Civil War Journey, and the Balloon Voyage.

2. Holiday World - Santa Claus

Every Hoosier kids got super excited when learning one of their field trips would be to the infamous Holiday World. With amazing characters, thrilling rides, an awesome water park, and free soda, Holiday World was the ultimate Indiana field trip destination.

3. Fort Wayne Zoo - Fort Wayne

The Fort Wayne Zoo is a favorite field trip spot for many kids (though southern Hoosiers might have gone to the Mesker Park Zoo and central Hoosiers to the Indy Zoo). At zoos, get to partake in mini-classes, learn more about geography, science, and culture, and, of course, take in a wide array of animals. Rekindle your childlike wonder by returning to the Fort Wayne Zoo.

4. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis - Indianapolis

This award winning, world renowned museum was the ideal stop for fun, learning, and inspiring creativity. Children could explore dinosaur exhibits and so much more. The exhibits have only gotten better with time, so take a trip down memory lane and swing by to rediscover your inner child.

5. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore - Chesterton

While you might have only been lucky enough to visit this gorgeous state park and beach if you lived in northwestern Indiana, the kids who went always had a blast. If you've never been, you should definitely check it out.

6. Richmond Art Museum - Richmond

Anyone in eastern Indiana can attest that this museum is highly underrated. Not only does the Richmond Art Museum have a wide variety of art galleries, but they also have a ton of interactive activities for kids, making this place a field trip favorite.

7. CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center - Terre Haute

Sometimes, the best field trips are the ones that move you. When Hoosier students read The Diary of Anne Frank and were learning about the Holocaust in history class, a field trip to the CANDLES Holocaust Museum became the perfect companion. While certainly a field trip for older students, this experience is an extremely profound one.

8. New York Central Railroad Museum - Elkhart

What kid isn't excited by trains? The New York Central Railroad Museum allowed children to explore trains through role playing games, a toy train layout exploration, and of course, time spent playing on real trains. Lucky students got to learn all about railroads and trains past on these fun-filled field trips.

9. WonderLab - Bloomington

What better way was there to understand science than by visiting WonderLab Museum in Bloomington? This amazing hands-on museum let you find the fun in science through interactive learning and student experiments. While it's a relatively newer place (21 years old), I bet plenty of young Hoosiers were still lucky enough to score fields trips here.

10. Rotary Jail Museum - Crawfordsville

This historical museum was once a working jail, and is one of three rotary jails in the US. What makes this jail special, however, is that it still turns. Students who went on this field trip were able to learn more about the role of jails in history, while taking in this building's unique construction and design. Plus, you never misbehaved on this field trip!

11. Clifty Falls State Park - Madison

Those able to go on this awesome field trip likely lived in southern or eastern Indiana. Including awesome nature exhibits, a stunning waterfall, and informational hikes, this field trip was all about encouraging kids to get outdoors and explore.

Feeling nostalgic yet? Don't worry, you can still visit all of these incredible destinations. Which of these awesome field trips did you get to take in school? Were there any memorable field trips you took that were left off this list? Let us know!

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Indiana Is Home To Jackson Washington State Forest, A Little-Known Slice Of Paradise

Nestled in the core of southern Indiana spanning both Jackson and Washington counties is 18,000 acres of amazingness just waiting to be explored from top to bottom. Known as the Jackson-Washington State Forest, this amazing respite from the hustle and bustle of city life is a spectacular example of the pure perfection that is Indiana's amazing outdoors. The Division of Forestry manages an impressive 15 state forests in Indiana encompassing more than 160,000 acres, and this one just so happens to be especially wondrous. Come out to one of the most beautiful places in Indiana and enjoy - there's so much to do that you could make a whole season out of it.

While Brown County often gets all the credit for being ridiculously beautiful, Washington and Jefferson Counties are a bit more secretive about it than that.

But I do promise you this: no matter which forest in Indiana you visit, you'll be awed at the sheer wonder of it all. Jackson-Washington State Forest is no different.

There are 14 miles of wonderful trails to meander around on, with varying degrees of intensity and skill levels required for the full experience.

Camping, too, is available, and there are numerous primitive campsites peppered throughout. Spend the night or spend 14 nights - no matter what, I'm pretty sure you'll never want to leave.

There are five gorgeous lakes you'll find here, too, and I definitely recommend visiting every last one.

In Washington County, there's Spurgeon Hollow Lake, Potter Lake, and Plattsburg Pond; in Jackson County you'll find Knob Lake and Cypress Pond. All of 'em make for perfect day trips.

The hiking is great, the camping is awesome, and the memories you'll make along the way will be oh-so-special.

This forest has so many different things to do - from the usual hiking and boating to more exotic things like archery and horse trails as well. It's an adventure through and through.

Oh, and the vistas - there's also the vistas!

This awesome state forest is home to numerous notable overlooks that are sure to thrill. Indiana isn't exactly known for its mountain ranges, but that doesn't mean we don't have plenty of cool lookout points anyway!

Come out to the amazing Jackson-Washington State Forest any time - it's open year-round and every season brings with it new surprises.

For more information about this amazing state forest in Indiana, check out the official Jackson-Washington State Forest write-up on the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website. Planning a visit and need somewhere to stay? Check out all the cool stuff available from our friends at VRBO .

Do you have a favorite forest in the Hoosier State? Tell me about it in the comments!

The Audubon Center In Indiana Where You’ll See More Than 12 Bird Species In A Single Afternoon

If there's any wildlife more commonly watched than birds, I'd love it if you told me which ones they are - because let's be real: birding is one of the easiest (and most oddly rewarding) hobbies one can get into, and you can do it from just about everywhere! Luckily for us avian geeks, there's an Audubon sanctuary in Indiana hidden in Fayette County that makes for the perfect birding destination. You'll see more than a dozen species of birds at (almost) any given time - different seasons bring different visitors, after all, and it's never a bad time. When it comes to birdwatching in Indiana , the Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary is easily one of - if not THE - best little places of respite in the Hoosier State.

In 1943, a Hoosier by the name of Alice Green-Gray donated 264 acres to the Audubon Society in her daughter's name, as a way to honor her.

In 1947, another gentleman by the name of Finley Gray donated even more land to the sanctuary. This, plus a few smaller donations over the years, has brought the grand total of acreage to more than 700 amazing acres!

From dawn until dusk, this breathtaking little paradise is home to countless species of birds.

Many of them make the sanctuary home year-round; others are just visiting, passing though during annual migrations and calling the preserve home for just a short time.

It's also known as being the site of Indiana's most amazing annual hummingbird festival, which takes place at the end of summer - typically in August.

The precious, tiny ruby-throated hummingbird is the guest of honor at that time; you'll learn everything there is to know about this special little critter, and you'll leave with a whole new appreciation for just how wonderful this world we live in and the creatures in it truly are. Other notable species include both cuckoo species, warblers, tanagers, and many more. How many can you spot?

In the fall, autumn color explodes to life - and in the spring and summer, wildflowers abound. Winter brings a stunning quiet - a perfect stillness sure to quiet the soul.

I'm pretty sure it's impossible to NOT fall head over heels in love with this one. It's astonishing in so many ways - from the birdwatching to the landscape - and I have no doubts you'll find this place as calming to the spirit as I do.

Even if you're not a fan of birdwatching, that's okay - there are so many more reasons to love this incredible place, and I think you'll discover all of it right away.

Indiana is an amazingly beautiful place; it's full of all kinds of surprises, from the kind folks who live here to the amazing flora and fauna that call it home as well.

So come on out to the Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary - an absolutely amazing escape from all the pressures of real life.

For more information about this amazing bird sanctuary in Indiana, check out the official Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary website. Planning on visiting and hoping to explore Connersville and need something amazing to remember it by? Check out all the awesome goings-on at Airbnb Experiences .

Do you have any plans to visit this amazing Audubon sanctuary in Indiana any time soon? Tell me about your plans in the comments.

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Indiana Field Trips by Region

Field trips are an excellent way to bring excitement, interest, and motivation to your homeschool. They can bring the history, people, places, or animals your children are reading about to life.

Do you need help finding specific field trip ideas? Take a look at the map below, where field trip ideas are organized by region. Do you have ideas for field trips that you would like to add to the map? Fill out the form below the map to submit your idea.

Enjoy the adventure!

Click your county or region for a list of local field trips.

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• Location County * Choose One Adams Allen Bartholomew Benton Blackford Boone Brown Carroll Cass Clark Clay Clinton Crawford Daviess Dearborn Decatur De Kalb Delaware Dubois Elkhart Fayette Floyd Fountain Franklin Fulton Gibson Grant Greene Hamilton Hancock Harrison Hendricks Henry Howard Huntington Jackson Jasper Jay Jefferson Jennings Johnson Knox Kosciusko La Porte Lagrange Lake Lawrence Madison Marion Marshall Martin Miami Monroe Montgomery Morgan Newton Noble Ohio Orange Owen Parke Perry Pike Porter Posey Pulaski Putnam Randolph Ripley Rush St. Joseph Scott Shelby Spencer Starke Steuben Sullivan Switzerland Tippecanoe Tipton Union Vanderburgh Vermillion Vigo Wabash Warren Warrick Washington Wayne Wells White Whitley

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Indiana pioneers - 200 years of incredible hoosiers and big ideas.

Indiana is full of incredible people with big ideas. A huge shoutout goes to the Founding Fathers, but we Hoosiers haven't stopped or slowed down for the past 200 years! To celebrate Indiana’s Bicentennial we’re traveling the entire state to bring you the stories of people who have made an impact on us all, whether we know it or not. This is Indiana history (did someone say 4th grade social studies‽) like you've never seen it before!

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Student Groups

Northwest Indiana has a ton of fun and fascinating field trip opportunities for student groups to enjoy, many of them following the STEM curriculum.

Fair Oaks Farms is an amazing opportunity for kids to learn about the world of modern agriculture. The farm has an interactive pig, crop and dairy adventures as well as on-site dining and an orchard in the fall. Lower pricing for student groups is available thanks to sponsorship from Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Pork. Visit Fair Oaks Farms' website to find more information about field trips.

Lake County Parks offers quite a few options for field trips. Explore nature at Gibson Woods’s  nature preserve. Enrich their imaginations at Bellaboo’s Play and Discovery Center . Learn the science behind maple syrup at Deep River County Park or dive into history at Buckley Homestead . Discover all the student opportunities available with Lake County Parks by visiting their website .

No one can teach science like the  Challenger Learning Center in Hammond ! Experience a live simulation integrating the thrill of space exploration. Kids will be assigned jobs on a team and learn how to communicate, problem solve and apply STEM skills to complete an exciting task. Different simulations are available based on the age groups. Find out more about planning a field trip to Challenger Learning Center .

Go hiking and introduce the kids to more than 70 bison that roam the prairie at Kankakee Sands in Morocco. You can also try and spot some of the 240 bird species, 70 species of butterflies and more than 900 species of moths! Rangers are available by appointment to meet with groups to answer any and all bison questions. Contact the Kankakee Sands office at (219) 285-2184.

Take your students young and old to the Indiana Dunes National Park to explore landscapes that are among the most biologically diverse in the nation! The Indiana Dunes offers an array of ideas for visiting the park for a field trip - from hikes during the different seasons staring at the Douglas Center to learning about early farming traditions at Chellberg Farm . Find out more about Indiana Dunes student trips.

For religious school groups, The Shrine of Christ’s Passion is a moving experience. Follow along the path and stop at each beautiful statue representing the Stations of the Cross. Every stop also has a recording explaining the station.

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Field Trips

Make your next field trip an unforgettable experience.

As Southern Indiana’s premier agritourism destination, we pride ourselves in offering an educational experience that’s also fun for all ages. From learning where food comes from to enjoying interactive seasonal activities, students and adults alike will look forward to a day at Huber’s.

Interactive

We believe kids should enjoy being kids. That’s why we design interactive activities centered around play and firsthand learning.

Educational

All educational activities and lessons satisfy teaching standards in Indiana and Kentucky—so you can be confident in what your students learn.

From summer wagon rides to pumpkin picking in the fall, we celebrate each season and highlight the importance of sustainable agriculture.

All Field Trips Include

• All-day access to the Family Farm Park
• Interactive presentation on the life cycle of fruits and vegetables
• Video lesson on Johnny Appleseed
• Access to picnic pavilion to bring in outside food
• Seasonal activities
• Option for additional activities

Field Trip Pricing

We cater to all ages and love working with schools, camps, and summer daycares to create the perfect field trip for your students.

A minimum of 10 people is required to book a standard field trip and 20 people for package upgrades.

Pricing starts at $5.00/person in the summer and $8.00/person in the fall

Full Access to the Family Farm Park

Get lost in seasonal mazes, race pedal karts around our 1,000-foot track, swish down the mountain slide, get out wiggles on jumping pads, and enjoy so much more with your all-day access to the Family Farm Park.

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Indiana Field Trips

Field trips are a great way to reboot a bad homeschooling week, get out of the house when everyone has cabin fever, and learn about your local area. Before heading out, check out Jeanne's tips for improving homeschool field trips .

Our listing of Indiana field trips for homeschoolers is ordered alphabetically by city. If you would like to submit a Indiana field trip destination, you may do so using the red button above.

Black Pine Animal Sanctuary exists to give rescued and retired exotic animals a safe haven, and to educate people and enhance their knowledge of exotic and endangered species, and responsible pet ownership.

Black Pine Animal Sanctuary website

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The park is a boat lovers paradise and offers boat launch ramp, boating (electric motor only), a nature center, shelters, canoe rentals, paddle boating, Kayaking, row boating, cross-county skiing, fishing, ice fishing, hiking trails, swimming, and a beach.

Chain O' Lakes State Park website

The Anderson: Provides outreach programming to seniors in assisted living facilities and nursing homes through a program called "Senior Explorations in Art" and to at-risk students through after-school art lessons. Offers a variety of classes and workshops for children and adults. Collaborates with other arts organizations throughout Indiana on exhibitions and arts programs and with other community organizations in Madison County to provide events such as Winterfest, Pow Wow, and more. Brings in artwork and artists from areas such as New York, Los Angeles, and even internationally for the enjoyment and educational stimulation of our community. Holds and displays a permanent collection of visual artworks. Develops and presents events for the community such as Pay Less Oktoberfest and Holiday Open House. Is a premier location to hold events such as corporate off-site meetings, wedding receptions, and other special occasions. Has a special area for children and families to visit and participate in experiencing and creating art and providing a unique location for children's birthday parties.

Anderson Center for the Arts website

Mounds State Park features 10 unique "earthworks" built by a group of prehistoric Indians known as the Adena-Hopewell people. The largest earthwork, the "Great Mound", is believed to have been constructed around 160 B.C. Archaeological surveys seem to indicate it was used as a gathering place for religious ceremonies. Visitors enjoy a Visitor Center and Gift Shop, picnic shelters, hiking trails, fishing, a camp store, and swimming.

Mounds State Park website

The park is named after Leopold and Simon Pokagon father/son leaders of the Potawatomi tribe. . Pokagon park is considers a winter wonderland, with cross-country ski rental, sledding, ice fishing and a twin-track toboggan run.

Pokagon State Park website

Welcome to the National Automotive and Truck Museum of the United States located in Auburn, Indiana. NATMUS is a non-profit museum with emphasis on post World War II cars and trucks but with vehicles on display from 1908 "high wheelers" to current production pick ups. Also you will find inside the doors of NATMUS a Model Car / Truck & Toy Museum (NATMATMUS).

National Automotive and Truck Museum of the United States website

Home to the WWII Victory Museum. Never, in the history of the world, has a fighting force consistently shown so much compassion, vision, and courage. Never have men and women so willingly given of themselves that others might enjoy the fruits of liberty.

National Military History Center website

Hillforest, overlooking the Ohio River, was the home of industrialist and financier Thomas Gaff and his family between 1855 and 1891. Shipping and riverboats were significant elements of the Gaff business enterprises and are reflected in the architecture of the home. Note the third floor belvedere resembling a pilot house. The style is Italian Renaissance, completely symmetrical and characterized by broad overhangs, ornately carved brackets, arched windows and graceful balconies and porches.

Hillforest website

Wolf Park offers a Field Trip Experience like no other! This program includes a private tour of Wolf Park's facility to see their gray wolves, red foxes, gray foxes, and bison (approximately 60 minutes) and a husbandry demonstration in which our wolf keepers interact and train with one of their wolf packs (approximately 15-20 minutes). This program is excellent for all ages, school groups, summer camps, or senior excursions. For groups of 30 or more people. Scheduling restrictions apply. Please call for pricing for your group.

Wolf Park website

No matter what your perspective, you can experience art from all angles at the Indiana University Art Museum. From world-renowned architect I.M. Pei's soaring triangular atrium, to galleries filled with extraordinary works of art from all corners of the globe, the IU Art Museum will engage, stimulate, and satisfy your curiosity about the worlds of art.

Indiana University Art Museum website

The History Center is a building in downtown Bloomington, Indiana, one block east of the Square at the corner of 6th and Washington Streets. It is home of the Monroe County Historical Society, the museum, genealogy library, and store

Monroe County History Center website

Built in 1835, Wylie House was the home of Indiana University's first president, Andrew Wylie, and his family. Today it is a historic house museum recreating the Wylie home prior to 1860. The house is distinctive and unusual for south-central Indiana, a blend of Federal and Georgian styles of architecture. The mission of the museum is to preserve and study the house, artifacts and documents and through them to interpret for the public our local history and domestic heritage as it is embodied by the early Wylie home.

Wylie House Museum website

The WonderLab mission is to provide opportunities for people of all ages, especially children, to experience the wonder and excitement of science through hands-on exhibits and programs that stimulate curiosity, encourage exploration, and foster lifelong learning.

WonderLab Museum website

Want to take a trip around the world? Then check out the Mathers Museum of World Cultures, at Indiana University. The Museum has exhibits, events, and educational programs that give you a chance to learn more about objects from Australia to Zimbabwe...

Mathers Museum of World Cultures website

Ouabache pronounced "wabash" is the French spelling of an Indian word Visitors to the park enjoy a nature center, picnic shelters, picnic tables, fishing, boating, hiking trails, paved bicycle trails, a swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, and playgrounds .

Ouabache State Park website

A repository of treasured momentos and priceless artifacts from our history, assembled and exhibited for the pleasure and education of present and future generations.

Warrick County Museum website

Tours of the Huddleston Farmhouse highlight the history of farm life and commerce during the nation's great westward expansion along the historic National Road.

Huddleston Farmhouse website

The Museum of Miniature Houses is dedicated to sharing the fine art of miniature.

The Museum of Miniature Houses website

Visitors to the park enjoy hiking the rugged terrain to view Devonian fossil outcrops and areas of Karst sinkhole topography. Bird watchers enjoy the 72 species of birds, including bluebirds, black vultures and an occasional Bald Eagle.

Charlestown State Park website

The park is aptly named by the presence of large sand dunes. Visitors enjoy a Nature Center, picnic shelters, cross-country Skiing, fishing, hiking trails, swimming, a beach, and birding.

Indiana Dunes State Park website

The 386-million-year-old fossil beds are among the largest exposed Devonian fossil beds in the world. The park features a spectacular interpretive center overlooking the fossil beds. Inside you will find a 14 minute movie, an exhibit gallery with river and marine aquariums.

Falls of the Ohio State Park website

The Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum Complex preserves history, educates and honors those in uniform who serve and have served.

Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum website

The mission of the Bartholomew County Historical Society (BCHS) is to collect and preserve Bartholomew County artifacts, photographs, and documents. Through interpretive programs and displays, BCHS teaches the heritage of this region to enrich both present and future generations. Our goal is that we may know who we are today based on where we came from yesterday.

Bartholomew County Historical Society website

After Vincennes, the first territorial capitol, was isolated, the capitol was moved to Corydon because of it's central location. Visitors will learn about the beginnings of Indiana history when visiting this limestone capitol building.

Corydon Capitol State Historic Sites website

The O'Bannon Woods State Park offers visitors a Nature Center, picnicking shelters, horse trails, picnic tables, fishing, boating, hiking trails, and a family aquatic center.

O'Bannon Woods State Park website

Hailed when it opened in 1882 as an Industrial Age solution to the problem of housing prisoners safely and efficiently, the Rotary Jail of Montgomery County was one of only seven known prisons of its kind ever built in the United States. By rotating a mechanism on which a two-tiered turntable pivoted, a jailer could bring one of 16 pie-shaped cells to the opening, allowing a prisoner in or out. Today, the Old Jail Museum pays homage to a time when ornamentation and invention were seen as the solution to social ills. Come explore this curiosity of our past.

Old Jail Museum website

Showcases a variety of memorabilia representing the origination of Lake County and its developing years. Featured are artifacts that stand as a reminder of earlier ways of life in Lake County: farm implements, clothing, musical devices. Also features unique Lake County artifacts, including the enormous clerk's desk where several famous people such as Rudolph Valentino received license to marry in Crown Point, Indiana. Also available for viewing are the family Bibles of Mariah Evans Robinson (wife of Crown Point founder Solon Robinson) and of Reverend Timothy Ball. Another feature is a full-size replica of the canoe that the French explorer LaSalle used for explorations; this replica canoe was used in an actual voyage in 1976 which re-enacted LaSalle's exploration. A Washington Printing Press, the last edition of the Guttenburg Press, is also displayed.

Lake County Historical Museum website

The Mission of the Carroll County Historical Society is to acquire and preserve the History and Genealogy of Carroll County, Indiana, and promote the understanding to the Region, State and Nation, convey and teach the significance of Carroll County, Indiana's history to children and adults with exhibits, programs, research and genealogy.

Carroll County Historical Museum website

Frank Merry Park is a beautiful nature park nestled at the corner of Jay, Blackford, and Delaware counties. Frank Merry Park membership is open to the public, and a membership card is required to visit the premises. Frank Merry Park has a rich history with Dunkirk, Indiana and the local glass factories. A spring fed pond with a backdrop of pine trees and 65+ acres of wooded land makes for a perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Frank Merry Park (Membership Required) website

The Midwest Museum of American Art is a showcase of the 19th and 20th century American Art, with original paintings by Grandma Moses and Norman Rockwell. Along with the original Norman Rockwell the Midwest Museum houses a large collection of hand signed lithographs by this famous American artist. In all, the permanent collection numbers over 2,500 works with at least 600 on display at any time during the Midwest Museum's 52 week year.

Midwest Museum of American Art website

ETHOS Science Center is an Elkhart-based non-profit dedicated to helping children learn and love science. ETHOS offers many types of field trip experiences, including the Star Lab (an inflatable observatory), C.S.I Investigation, Rocketry & Flight, and Nanotechnology & Hologram Exploration. There is also a "mini-museum" made of donated exhibits. ETHOS Science Center will customize your experience to meet local science standards, topics, or any other ideas you may have.

ETHOS Science Center website

Woodlawn Nature Center is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of Indiana's native flora and fauna through hands-on education.

Woodlawn Nature Center website

Elkhart's National New York Central RR Museum recaptures the days when locomotives were symbols of progress, and ambassadors of goodwill across the country. The Museum was founded in 1987 and is an ever growing preserver of both local and national railroad heritage. Elkhart is a natural home for the museum; its railyard is among America's largest. Then, just as it is today, Elkhart was and is a vital link between East and West during our country's growth. Visitors enter the Museum through a 1915 passenger coach. This area introduces a timeline to the local railroad history beginning in 1833 with the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern RR, and tracing it through 1914, when the New York Central gained control of the LSMS. At the end of the coach, the path leads through the Central System Gift Shop and into the Museum's main gallery in an 100 year old freight house complex.

New York Central Railroad Museum website

Indiana's only Victorian House Museum is noted as one of the country's finest examples of French Second Empire architecture. Authentic period furniture, much of it original, is arranged as if the family is about to return.

Reitz Home Museum website

Home to one of Southern Indiana's most established and significant cultural centers, the Evansville Museum encourages you to view our lively world through our many permanent and changing galleries.

Evansville Museum website

Displays artifacts related to the town, its families, and schools, the museum also holds many pieces related to and once owned by James Dean and his family. These include awards, clothing, motorcycles, and much more. In addition, the museum houses a tribute to another Fairmount native, Jim Davis and his creation, "Garfield."

Fairmount Historical Museum website

Established in 1988 in the actor's hometown and final resting place, this extensive exhibit is the private collection of James Dean archivist David Loehr, who began collecting in 1974. The collection is housed in a beautifully restored 1890 Victorian home. The exhibit consists of literally thousands of items of James Dean memorabilia and gives visitors the opportunity to see the worldwide impact that this Indiana native and American film star has made.

James Dean Memorial Gallery website

Conner Prairie is a place to hear, see and participate in the stories of our American past. It's a large, open-air living history museum made up of five distinct historic areas, a modern museum center and over 1,400 acres of natural beauty. Conner Prairie's mission is to serve as a local, regional and national center for education and activities exploring the lives, times and values of the 1800s in America.

Conner Prairie Living History Museum website

Surround yourself with nature at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory - an oasis in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne Indiana. Visit the Showcase Garden with its lush seasonal displays, wander through the Tropical Garden where orchids and palms thrive in the shadows of a cascading waterfall, or retreat to the quiet beauty of the Desert Garden. The gardens are perfect for all ages, and offers self-guided tours, classes, and rentals.

Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory website

Science Central provides stimulating family-oriented environments and community programs to inspire exploration of science, technology, engineering and math through dynamic "hands-on" participation.

Science Central website

The Fort Wayne Firefighters' Museum, Inc. was organized on April 20, 1974, two years after the City closed Fire Station #3 in downtown Fort Wayne. Along with the many artifacts on display, the Museum also teaches fire safety to young and old alike.

Fort Wayne Firefighters' Museum website

The History Center is home to the Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society, its museum and collections. When formed in 1921, the society's assets were few, consisting of some historical relics that had been preserved by the Mary Penrose Wayne Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Today it maintains a collection of more than 23,000 artifacts, photographs and documents representing the history of Fort Wayne and Allen County.

The History Center website

The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo exists to: Help people gain a greater appreciation of wildlife, encourage family fun in a natural setting, help save the world's wild animals and wild places.

Fort Wayne Zoological website

Seed to Marsh is an all ages, FREE, stewardship-based program designed around community, phenology, education, and restoration. Through the Seed to Marsh program, Little River Wetlands Project wants our participants to learn about native plants and restoration, why it's important, and be actively involved in our restoration efforts. Our program is offered all-year and we can work with your group to provide a program that is relevant and fun. Our programs last from 1 to 2 hours and activities are contingent on time of year

Little River Wetlands Project Eagle Marsh Nature Preserve website

Visit our beautiful corporate headquarters in Fort Wayne, Indiana to see our chocolatiers in action. You'll enjoy a short video on the history of DeBrand and view our chocolate making kitchens where you'll see the artisan process involved in making our coveted chocolates along with tasting several gourmet chocolate samples. The cost of a Private Reserved School Tour is $10 per person, with each attendee receiving a rebate of $10 off a purchase of $20 or more. To schedule a tour, contact [email protected] or call 260.969.8335.

DeBrand Fine Chocolates website

The mission of The Fort Wayne Museum of Art is to collect, preserve, present and interpret American and related art as well as engage audiences as it builds for the future.

Fort Wayne Museum of Art website

A part of the legendary Underground Railroad for fleeing slaves of pre-Civil War days, this registered National Historic Landmark is a Federal style brick home built in 1839. Levi and Catharine Coffin were legendary in helping many former slaves escape to freedom in the North. During the 20 years they lived in Newport, the Coffins helped more than 2,000 slaves reach safety.

Levi Coffin House website

Family-owned and operated U-Pick Flower Farm in Frankfort, Indiana. Their season is June-October. They offer tours, events, workshops, and are open to the public Thursdays-Saturdays. During a workshop or tour they educate guests about their growing practices, give in depth information on how we choose flowers to create a bouquet, and teach participants how to best harvest flowers. U-pick customers cut by the bucket. They offer a $25 or $35 bucket for adults and a $5 bucket for kids with the purchase of one adult bucket.

Anderson Flower Farm website

Come take a ride with and journey back into the days when the railroad was considered the most luxurious way to travel. You will ride aboard historic pieces of railroad equipment and pass through parts of Hoosier National Forest, the 2200 foot Burton tunnel and past impressive limestone rock cuts.

French Lick Scenic Railway website

The historical society has a large collection of items in both the Old Log Jail Museum and in the Chapel in the Park Museum – with most of the displays located in the Chapel’s basement. There are several thousand items in the collection ranging from ice age animal fossils, Native American projectile points, pioneer artifacts, Civil war memorabilia, Victorian era clothing and accessories to World War I and II items.

Hancock County museum website

Challenger Learning Center of NWI is excited to welcome home school students and educators to our Center for a variety of programs. Challenger NWI is not a museum, nor just a regular kind of monument. We serve as a living memorial to the Challenger 51-L crew, and provide hands-on, immersive space and STEM education opportunities for learners of all ages. While we provide specific Home School Adventure Days for home school scientists, any of our programs can be booked for home school co-ops and groups. We have simulated science missions, science labs, and planetarium shows for groups ages Pre-K through high school. Our Center is small, so we do not have a waiting room or cafe on site, but we do have a lobby with wonderful displays that can be enjoyed. We have free parking, restrooms, and are ADA accessible.

Challenger Learning Center of Northwest Indiana website

Highlights include a Pre-1900 Bedroom, 1939 Kitchen, 1965 Living Room, mid 1950's School Classroom, Gallery of Agriculture Leaders, Former Indiana Governor Ed Whitcomb Display, Military Exhibit and others.

Hayden Historical Museum website

A family friendly live dinner theatre that offers a great package for their Education Series. Includes a syllabus and learning curriculum at state standard in conjunction with their Education Series productions. Please Email for further information and materials about our Education Series. mailto:[email protected]

Myers Dinner Theatre website

From indispensable patriots to infamous traitors, the United States Vice Presidential Museum is the place to discover the unique stories of each man who has ever held our nation's second most powerful office.

Dan Quayle Center and Museum website

The Forks offers tours and programs highlighting the cultural history of the area for public, private, or homeschool groups. Tours are also available to families and to the public, reservations are required. To book your tour call our office at 260-356-1903.

Historic Forks of the Wabash website

Started in 1934 after the Great Depression to provide employment for artists, the Indianapolis Art Center stays true to its mission by hiring professional artists as faculty (classes and outreach), exhibiting the work of working artists (exhibitions) and selling artist-made gifts and art (gift shop and Broad Ripple Art Fair). The Art Center is the place to make art, see art and buy art.

Indianapolis Art Center website

The private, not-for-profit Museum fulfills its mission by acquiring, preserving, and presenting sport art through exhibits, educational materials and outreach programs.

National Art Museum of Sport website

The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis is as much about people as it is about art. Through exhibitions, hands-on workshops with artists and interaction with members of this country’s earliest cultures, the Eiteljorg Museum immerses visitors in the indigenous cultures of the American West and Native America – the only museum in the Midwest to offer this combination.

Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art website

Serves the creative interests of its communities by fostering exploration of art, design, and the natural environment. The IMA promotes these interests through the collection, presentation, interpretation and conservation of its artistic, historic, and environmental assets. The IMA has a collection of over 50,000 works of art. At the Museum, you will find art from a variety of cultures and periods in art history. The Museum also features national and international traveling exhibitions throughout the year.

Indianapolis Museum of Art website

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, a nonprofit institution committed to enriching the lives of children, is the largest children's museum in the world. The more than 400,000-square-foot facility houses 11 major galleries that explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures and the arts. The Children's Museum is a place to learn and do. Whenever possible, exhibits are "hands-on" or participatory in nature. The Children's Museum strives to be one of the vital links in the lives of children as it supports their intellectual curiosity and love of learning. The museum, situated on 19 acres of land in Indianapolis, presents thousands of programs and activities each year.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis website

You have studied history; now you can DO history. These experiences bring Indiana's stories to life. A visit to the History Center in downtown Indianapolis includes admission to all exhibits in the Indiana Experience and can include additional interactive activities. Their team will customize an experience that fits your needs, no matter what age or topic is of interest!

Indiana Historical Society website

The Crispus Attucks Museum professionally house treasures from the first all-black high school in the state of Indiana, with its history-making African American community that produced such legends as basketball great "The Big O," Oscar Robertson; jazz sensation, Freddie Hubbard; and opera sensation, Angela Brown. The museum's archival collection consist of yearbooks dating back to the turn of the 20th century, plus a vast collection of city and state memorabilia, with an especially rich African/ African-American memorabilia and art collection.

IPS Crispus Attucks Museum website

Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana saves and restores historic places. We defend Indiana's architectural heritage, and we promote preservation through education, advice, advocacy, heritage tours, and events at our own historic sites.

Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana website

Dedicated to maintaining and preserving the President Benjamin Harrison Home as a museum and memorial to the only President of the United States elected from the State of Indiana. Open to the public as an educational and historical service, the Home seeks to promote patriotism and citizenship through appropriate educational activities and by artfully exhibiting the Victorian time period as Harrison and his family might have experienced it.

President Benjamin Harrison Home website

The Indiana Medical History Museum interprets and preserves the Old Pathology Building. Through its exhibits, publications, and programs, the museum educates the community concerning health care, health careers, and life sciences in Indiana during the nineteenth and first half of the twentieth centuries.

Indiana Medical History Museum website

The Indiana War Memorial Plaza Historic District contains two museum, three park and 24 acres of monuments, statues, sculptures and fountains. It is also home to the national and state headquarters of the American Legion.

Indiana War Memorial Plaza website

The James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home steps visitors back to the beginning of the 20th century. The country's only late-Victorian preservation offers authentic furnishings and decor.

James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home website

Freetown Village, Inc. is a living history museum without walls. The trials, triumphs, and daily life of African Americans are presented through theater, storytelling, folk crafts, heritage workshops, music, day camp, and special events. The town of Freetown Village is a symbolic community representing many of the predominantly African American settlements scattered throughout Indiana during the post-Civil War years. The residents of Freetown Village are composite characters of the approximately 3,000 men, women and children identified on the 1870 Indianapolis census. Freetown Village's mission is to educate the public about African American lives and culture in Indiana through living history performances, the collection and preservation of artifacts, exhibits and allied programs.

Freetown Village website

Constructed completely from Indiana materials including limestone, sandstone, steel, brick and glass, the building itself is a work of art. Discover icons representing each of Indiana's 92 counties on the exterior, then step inside to explore Indiana's past, present, and future through scientific, cultural, historical and art exhibits.

Indiana State Museum website

The Arts Council serves as central Indiana's chief arts resource, not only for artists and arts organizations, but also for government, business, educational institutions, neighborhood and community organizations, visitors and residents.

Arts Council of Indianapolis website

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, located five miles northwest of downtown Indianapolis on the grounds of the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is recognized as one of the most highly visible museum in the world devoted to automobiles and auto racing. In 1987, the museum and Speedway grounds were honored with the designation of National Historic Landmark.

Indianapolis 500 Hall of Fame Museum website

Take a trips to the Indianapolis Zoo to see and learn more about animals from around the world.

Indianapolis Zoo website

The features walking and jogging trails, picnic sites, fishing access to Fall Creek and two national historic districts. The former Citizen's Military Training Camp is preserved around the park office in what was once known as Camp Glenn. Visitors enjoy the Museum of 20th Century Warfare to view exhibits about the lives and history of the soldiers who once marched the grounds of old Fort Harrison.

Fort Harrison State Park website

We are a family fun center on the southside of Indianapolis offering Roller Skating, Arcade Games, full-service Cafe. We offer both regular field trips as well as S.T.E.M field trips. both of these come at a discount for groups of 50 or more.

Fun Factory Skating website

Shakamak is made up of three man-made lakes. visitors enjoy fishing, boating, a family aquatic center, and swimming.

Shakamak State Park website

Step back in time to the Great Steamboat Era with a tour of the Howard Steamboat Museum. This beautiful 1894 home, built by premier steamboat builders, the Howards of Jeffersonville, features original furnishings, brass chandeliers, stained glass windows, and intricate carvings throughout and even a grand staircase! Master craftsmen from the shipyard created much of the decor in the mansion. Howard built steamboats included the luxurious J.M. White, the speedy City of Louisville and the popular Indiana. Models, photographs, paintings, half-hull models and other artifacts from the Great Steamboat Era abound at this unique Jeffersonville Museum.

Howard Steamboat Museum website

Mid-American Windmill Museum is a non-profit museum whose mission is to collect, display, preserve and tell the story of wind power from its origination through to the American water-pumping windmill to present day. Restored windmills are displayed inside a historic bank barn and outside along a graveled walking path. Museum is open April through November, Tuesday to Sunday. Guided tours can be arranged for any size group and usually take an hour.

Mid-America Windmill Museum website

The Howard County Historical Society believes in the daily relevance of history. As the custodian of Howard County's unique heritage, the society preserves our community's collective experiences. In sharing that history, we foster a sense of community - connecting us to our neighbors, the past to the future, and our home to the world.

The Howard County Historical Society website

The Elwood Haynes Museum is the former home of Elwood Haynes. Haynes is credited with developing the first commercially built automobile. Many of Haynes' inventions and possessions are housed in the museum.

The Elwood Haynes Museum website

All of the over 100,000 items on display in our Museum are gifts to the Society by interested and generous citizens who share the interest in preserving the past for future generations. Included in the displays are the relics and rare firearms willed to the City of La Porte by W. A. Jones. This collection is considered to be the third largest antique firearms collection in the world.

La Porte County Historical Society & Museum website

The mission of the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette is to celebrate the power of art to inspire, challenge, and instruct our community through collections, exhibitions, and programs.

Art Museum of Greater Lafayette website

It seems hard to believe that a wooded area seven miles north of Lafayette, Indiana, played such a major role in American history. Yet it was on this spot the Native Americans lost their grip on the fertile Midwestern lands they had roamed for thousands of years. It was also on this spot some years later that a gathering took place that helped launch the modern political campaign. That wooded area is the Tippecanoe Battlefield, a National Historic Landmark that attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually to northern Tippecanoe County. Explore the site of The Battle of Tippecanoe. Explore the grounds where the conflict occurred. Visit vivid museum displays and discover the history of a time when two Shawnee brothers, Tecumseh and The Prophet, had a dream of uniting many tribes into an organized defense against the white settlers. Walk the battle ground where Native Americans and settlers clashed and a conflict of cultures was resolved.

Tippecanoe Battlefield website

The park features shoreline hiking, flat-water boating, swimming, fishing and camping opportunities around the man-made lake. The access to Brookville Reservoir provides many opportunities for seeing migrating flocks of birds.

Whitewater Memorial State Park website

Tour the only Perfumery in the country! View where the creative perfumery process takes place on your perfume factory tour, including the bench lab where fragrances are created and blended, and the factory where they are bottled and readied for distribution. You will experience first-hand perfumes being hand-made and have an amazing sensory experience with some of the world's most exquisite perfume essences, including those considered rare and vintage. Cost is just $5 a person.

Annie Oakley Perfumery website

Abraham Lincoln spent fourteen years of his life (1816-1830) in southern Indiana. Read the words of Abraham Lincoln and other pioneers about the lives that they led on the frontier. The website offers historical information about the park for those who cannot visit in person.

Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial website

The park was opened in 1932 as a memorial to Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks. The park offers a Boat Launch Ramp, boating, camping, canoe, paddle boat and row boating rentals, fishing, a general store, hiking trails, Interpretive and nature Center, picnicking, and swimming.

Lincoln State Park website

The Depot represents an important part of Linden's heritage and was central to the town, and surrounding area's existence for much of its early years. Passenger service was a vital part of the function of the depot. Passenger service ran until 1957 on the Nickel Plate and until 1967 on the Monon Railroad. In 1954 alone, more than 13,000 freight were exchanged between the two railroads at the Linden Depot. The memory of what the Depot meant to the community, and the desire not to lose this piece of history, became the driving force behind the establishment of the Linden-Madison Township Historical Society.

Linden Depot Museum website

The museum houses historical documents, photographs, paintings, music, books, and Indian relic exhibits.

Cass County Historical Society and Museum website

Lanier Mansion is the former home of pioneering businessman James Franklin Doughty Lanier. Visitors will learn more about Lanier's life as well as life in general during the 1800s.

Lanier Mansion State Historic Site website

Clifty Falls State Park offers exciting scenery year-round. Visitors enjoy a nature center, shelters, picnicking, hiking trails, tennis, meeting and conference facilities, the Clifty Inn and Restaurant, swimming pool, and waterslide.

Clifty Falls State Park website

The park offers visitors picnic areas with shelters, a nature center, planetarium, cabins, fishing, hiking trails, Turkey Run Inn, meeting and conference facilities, playgrounds, a saddle barn with escorted rides, tennis, and swimming.

Turkey Run State Park website

The citizens of Mentone, Indiana are preserving the memory of and developing appreciation for Lawrence D. Bell, aviation pioneer and native son. - a museum was established to house both personal and historical items related to Lawrence D. Bell and the history of aviation in America.

Lawrence D. Bell Aircraft Museum website

Learn more about the mansion built by one of the founding fathers of the rail car industry, John H. Barker. This house, while actually lived in for only a very short time, has brought many years of enjoyment to the Barker family, and to the residents of the City of Michigan City. From educational guided tours to special seasonal functions, the Barker Mansion and Civic Center is a true jewel in the crown of Michigan City.

Barker Mansion website

At the bend of Trail Creek in the Michigan City harbor stands an historic old structure whose beacon served as a guiding light for Great Lakes sailors for more than 100 years. Michigan City's well-lighted port has a long and interesting history, bound to Lake Michigan with all its mysteries and beauties. The Old Lighthouse Museum is open for public tours from April through October, every day except Monday.

Old Lighthouse Museum website

Spring Mill is a restored pioneer village from the early 1800s. Visitors can explore the park's four interpretive facilities; the Pioneer Village, Nature Center, Grissom Memorial, and Twin Caves Boat Tour.

Spring Mill State Park website

White County Historical Society is a not-for-profit Society established to bring together those who share a common interest in White County Indiana's history. The Society has a Museum that has many displays recently reworked for public viewing and a variety of programs for our community. Our new remodel provides the public an opportunity to research and to share their research with others.

White County Indiana Historical Society website

The Ball State University Museum of Art cultivates lifelong learning and recreation in the visual arts through its collection of original works of art, engaging exhibitions, and educational programs for the university community and other diverse audiences.

Ball State University Museum of Art website

Dinosaurs, snakes and trains! Oh my! Dig up dinosaur bones in our Dino Dig, visit our three snakes, Desi, Lucy and Maze or watch the model trains go around the miniature city of Muncie. There are many more exciting exhibits for you to explore when you come to the Muncie Children's Museum!

Muncie Children's Museum website

Minnetrista is a museum and cultural center that serves the people of East Central Indiana. Minnetrista offers exhibits and programs for children, families, adults, scouts, teachers and students that focus on nature, history, gardens, and art. Minnetrista's 40-acre campus includes beautiful gardens, a modern museum facility, an historic home, Nature Area, numerous sculptures, and a portion of the White River Greenway.

Minnetrista website

The world's headquarters for model aviation is in Muncie, Indiana! Visit the National Model Aviation Museum and view the largest collection of model aircraft in the United States. Discover how aeromodeling helped change the world of aviation and examine the astonishing craftsmanship and artistry of its masters. The museum store offers educational items for all ages. During the summer months, visit the 1,000 acre flying site and see Academy members fly their aircraft in competitions, especially on weekends and during the National Championships in July and August.

National Model Aviation Museum website

The mission of the Brown County Historical Society is to collect, preserve and present the history of Brown County, Indiana. To approach this goal, we maintain the Pioneer Museum in downtown Nashville, The Bailey/Reeve Archives at our Society building and present a monthly program on local history.

Brown County Historical Society: Pioneer Museum website

Indiana's largest state park offers visitors comfortable accommodations at the rustic Abe Martin Lodge, large campgrounds, hiking trails, mountain bike trails, interpretive services, and extensive horse riding facilities.

Brown County State Park website

Taking education outside the classroom

River City Field Trips website

The rich tradition of Indiana basketball is proudly celebrated at the Hall of Fame Museum in New Castle. From High School, College, and even Professional Basketball, we have the memories and memorabilia from Indiana's finest athletes. Come relive the history and learn about the legacy of basketball and Indiana.

Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame website

Summit Lake State Park offers visitors campsites, boat ramps, a beach bathhouse, picnic shelters, and an excellent bird watching and wildlife observation area.

Summit Lake State Park website

Harmonie State Park offers visitors a beautiful swimming pool, shady picnic areas, ravines and pristine landscapes.Trail lovers will enjoy trails for walking, biking and nature hikes.

Harmonie State Park website

Site of two of America's earliest utopian communities, New Harmony State Historic Site is now focused on living history and historical archaeology. Visitors to this State Historic Site will learn more about life at this Indiana settlement from the early 1800s through the 1940s.

Historic New Harmony website

For family fun, an historic educational experience, call ITM! Our volunteers will take you on a wide range of train excursions for the whole family including caboose rides, our Pizza PLUS Express and the always popular Dinner on the Diner.

Indiana Transportation Museum website

Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum is a non-profit (501-c-3) all volunteer organization with the goals of: Bringing together people who are interested in preserving, restoring and maintaining interest in railroading, railroad history and railroad items from the past to the present. The organization has established a working railroad museum on the former right-of-way of the Erie Railroad, through North Judson. Land, buildings, railroad cars and locomotives have been donated from numerous individuals and corporations to help establish this railroad museum.

Hoosier Valley Rail Museum website

Native peoples used the area for hunting and fishing. The area's first people of European descent settled here in the 1830s. Today, park visitors enjoy a Nature Center, picnic shelters, bicycle trails, boat launch ramps, bridle trails, cabins, cross-country skiing, fishing, ice fishing, hiking trails, mountain bike trails, playgrounds, swimming, a beach, tubing hill, and wildlife observation area.

Potato Creek State Park website

The Snite Museum of Art educators endeavor to interpret the museum's collections for diverse university and community audiences through tailored touring programs, outreach activities, teacher services, and special events designed to enrich visitors' understanding of our shared humanity and our place in a changing world.

Snite Museum of Art - University of Notre Dame website

Pendleton is proud to preserve the history of the South Madison area.

Pendleton Historical Museum website

Located on the old circus winter quarters where circuses of the past wintered until they left in the spring for a new circus season. One of 55 National Historic Landmarks in the State of Indiana. The "Circus Greats" enshrined in the Circus Hall of Fame, along with the colorful posters, wagons, models, and exhibits, bring the circus to life. Also on exhibit is a miniature replica of the 1934 Hagenbeck Wallace Circus, complete with all the animals, performers, and even the Circus parade!

International Circus Hall of Fame website

Step through the museum's door and visit Miami County's Historic past. The first object that meets your eyes is Cole Porter's 1955 Fleetwood Cadillac and the Cole Porter Exhibit. On your immediate left is the history of circus in Miami County including three stagecoaches (one belonging to movie star legend, Tom Mix). Also, on the first floor you will enjoy exhibits of the Miami Indians, pioneer living, railroads, the archives, and last, but not least the museum's gift shop. On the second floor, you will step back in time and visit Peru during the 1910 era which includes a one-room school house, church, dental office, home, shops and other businesses.

Miami County Museum website

Our mission is to present programs which develop a better appreciation and awareness of our county and state. The Museum collects artifacts and documents which illustrate this county's history in terms of natural resources, Indian heritage, exploration, economic and industrial development and cultural achievement. When you visit our Museum, you can enjoy a variety of activities, including a tour of our exhibits, research in our extensive genealogy/historical research library and special presentations and workshops scheduled throughout the year.

Marshall County Historical Society Museum website

Experience these sights at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore: Waves crashing on sandy beaches, Karner Blue butterflies landing on wild lupines, Sweaty draft horses working the Chellberg Farm fields, Peaceful silence lingering along winter trails, and Bank swallows flying from their nest inside the dunes.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore website

The MOS, in a continuing effort to educate and entertain its members and those who have an interest in military history, has instituted a Guest Lecturer Series. The individuals chosen to speak have imparted the actual events of their histories as it happened to them. Hearing the stories or historical information direct from these individuals is an enlightening experience.

Museum of the Soldier website

The Richmond Art Museum, founded in 1898, is a fine art museum with a permanent collection of American Impressionists, Taos School, the Hoosier Group, the Richmond School and other regional artists. We also have a small but significant collection of local ceramic artists including works by potters of the Arts and Craft Movement, the Overbeck Sisters and the Bethel Pike potters.

Richmond Art Museum website

Overbeck Pottery, produced between 1911 and 1955, is recognized as an important part of our national art history. The museum preserves the creative art of the six Overbeck sisters who lived and worked in Cambridge City, Indiana.

Museum of Overbeck Art Pottery website

Comprised of eight buildings on a compact site, the museum is a unique repository of Wayne County and Richmond history from early pioneer life through the industrial revolution into modern times. Exhibits include period clothing, furniture, portraiture, two log cabins of local origin, a genuine Conestoga wagon, a blacksmith shop, print shop, bakery, loom house, a superb collection of early Richmond made automobiles, steam powered tractors, the first Davis airplane manufactured in Richmond in 1929, and a whole lot more about Richmond's rich industrial heritage.

Wayne County Historical Museum website

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Gaar Mansion was built in 1876 for Abram and Agnes Gaar. Original cost to build the mansion was $20,000. It was completed in 8 months. Complete interior/exterior restoration of this Victorian style mansion boasts hand-painted ceilings, parquet wood floors, and features many original furnishings with their actual bills of sale. Advanced for its day, the home has many unique features, including central heating, indoor plumbing, gas, electricity, and an intercom system throughout the residence. Jonas Gaar and his sons, Abram and John Milton Gaar, and Jonas' son-in-law, William G. Scott were founders of Gaar-Scott and Company, the leading manufacturer of threshing machines and steam engines from 1842 to 1911. This Second Empire style mansion is open for tours of 10 or more by appointment and may be rented for special events.

Gaar Mansion and Farm Museum website

A sports museum and hall of fame honoring high school, college and professional American football in Indiana. The hall was founded in 1973 as an affiliate of the Indiana Football Coaches Association.

Indiana Football Hall of Fame website

An Egyptian mummy and giant pre-historic mammals captivate audiences of all ages. See a pre-historic mastodon, allosaurus skeleton and observe birds and mammals in their natural habitat. The Joseph Moore Museum, established in 1847 as a teaching collection, was officially named in 1905 for Joseph Moore, the Earlham president and geology professor who originated it. The museum is now staffed almost entirely by Earlham students who design exhibits, maintain collections, and lead tours.

Joseph Moore Museum website

Built in 1970 as a memorial to preserve community history, the Stevens Memorial Museum is the centerpiece of the John Hay Center. The two and one-half story building was built using bricks from various historic structures in Salem. The main exhibit area includes special sections devoted to early lawyers, a dentist's office and one of the town's earliest and most popular confectionaries. In addition to thousands of items related to southern Indiana history, the museum contains and extensive genealogy and historical library which draws researchers from all over the United States. The library contains many family histories, church, cemetery and census records, obituaries, newspaper clippings, old photographs and other information.

Stevens Memorial Museum at the John Hay Center website

The Freeman Army Air Field Museum offers free tours of two buildings filled with artifacts dating to World War II. Once used as a multi-engine plane training facility, the Field also featured captured enemy aircraft which was later buried as parts and - decades later - recovered. Ideal for those interested in Indiana, WWII, or aviation history.

Freeman Army Air Field Museum website

Menno-Hof is a non-profit information center that teaches visitors about the faith and life of Amish and Mennonites. Menno-Hof invites groups and individuals to learn about and experience Anabaptist history and lifestyle. Menno-Hof's multi-image presentations, historical environments, and colorful displays take you on a fascinating journey inside the unique world of the Mennonites and Amish. See where the Anabaptists had their beginning in a Swiss courtyard and how they were persecuted for their faith in the dungeon. Travel with the Anabaptists down the cobblestone streets of Holland and board a 17th century sailing boat on a journey to America and freedom. Take a virtual tour for a glimpse of what Menno-Hof has to offer.

Menno-Hof website

The Museum offers a wide range of classes and workshops for children and adults including instruction in all media. Some of the courses offered are: drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, stained glass, jewelry, photography and textiles. The main facility contains ten studio classrooms. Students have the opportunity to learn new skills, express themselves visually, and experience a community of creative people. These classes are an excellent, economical source for creative knowledge and information. The museum faculty, a diverse group of community artists, provides an important bridge for the museum between the display of art and the production of art.

South Bend Museum of Art website

Imagine growing up in a log cabin, attending a one-room schoolhouse, bargaining at a trading post and moving across the wilderness in a Conestoga wagon. You can, when you visit Kidsfirst Children's Museum. Kidsfirst engages children's imaginations through hands-on environments and provides fun ways for young ones to discover history. Kids can pretend to be pioneers in the 1830s in the log cabin that's complete with a child-sized dining table, chair and bed, plus hands-on household items. Climbing aboard a Conestoga wagon, they can make-believe they're journeying cross-country to their new homestead. An 1838 map of South Bend, McGuffey Readers and hand-crafted furniture give an authentic feel to the 1830s one-room schoolhouse. Completing the pioneer village is a hands-on trading post.

Kidsfirst Children's Museum website

Home to a priceless collection of vehicles, artwork, archival material, and artifacts spanning nearly 200 years, The Studebaker National Museum is a state-of-the art facility designed to be reminiscent of the Studebaker dealerships of the 20s and 30s. On display is the largest collection of presidential carriages outside of the Smithsonian Institution, including the carriage that President Lincoln arrived in at the Ford Theatre the night he was assassinated.

Studebaker National Museum website

Copshaholm is a 38-room Romanesque Queen Anne house designed by New York architect Charles Alonzo Rich. It was owned and lived in by industrialist J.D.Oliver. The furnishings on all three floors are original, giving visitors a remarkable glimpse of how the mansion appeared during the 72 years the Oliver family lived there. Copshaholm and its gardens are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Copshaholm is registered as an American Treasure.

Copshaholm, the Oliver Mansion website

If you're looking for a magnificent historic site that showcases an elegant, 38-room Victorian mansion, a charming cottage reflecting the 1930s, a gallery that chronicles local history, a gallery of Notre Dame history, a children's museum plus compelling exhibitions, that place is the Center for History.

Northern Indiana Center for History website

Potawatomi Zoo's Education Department offers a variety of classes and programs for children and families. Your children can learn about animals throughout the year by attending Zooper Edventures or ZooCamp. The zoo closes for the winter each year.

Potawatomi Zoo website

Unique limestone formations and scenic waterfalls are some of the beautiful highlights at Indiana's first state park. Visitors enjoy camping, picnicking, pony rides, swimming, a recreation center, and fishing.

McCormick's Creek State Park website

he Sheldon Swope Art Museum exists to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret the best of American art, with special emphasis on painting and sculpture of the first half of the twentieth century and on Wabash Valley artists past and present.

Swope Art Museum website

Mission: To enrich our children's lives through the exploration of science and technology. Vision: To create a fun, dynamic science and technology learning environment of the highest quality, which serves as a point of community pride.

Terre Haute Children's Museum website

CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center is dedicated to the Mengele twins who survived the horrible experiments of Dr. Mengele. Through the continued efforts of the survivors, family members, and community support we hope to shed light on the effects of hatred and prejudice. The center strives for the elimination of hatred and prejudice from our world. CANDLES pursues this goal through education about the Holocaust and the power of forgiveness. Personal accounts, programs, activities, and the museum facilities and resources are used to educate students, teachers, and the general public.

CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center website

Dedicated to an outstanding Terre Haute labor and civic leader. Museum features Virgil Morris Memorial Gardens that honor prominent pioneers of the American labor movement. The Debs home is an official National Historic Landmark.

Eugene V. Debs Foundation Museum website

Located in the state-of-art Center for the Arts on the Valparaiso University campus, the Brauer Museum of Art is home to a nationally recognized collection of 19 th- and 20 th - century American art and includes works by Frederic Edwin Church, Asher B. Durand, Childe Hassam, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Ed Paschke. It also houses the largest known collection of works by Junius R. Sloan, a Hudson River School painter who lived and worked in the Midwest. Other focus areas within the collection include world religious art and Midwestern regional art. As well as displaying selections from its permanent collection, the Brauer Museum hosts a full schedule of special exhibitions and events.

Brauer Museum of Art website

Children dive into the sensory aspects of nature, challenge their bodies and minds, and develop confidence and lasting friendships through these innovative programs! Each day is designed to excite, enchant, and bring imaginations to life. Children are given time, space, and inspiration to immerse themselves in deep and meaningful play. TimberNook offers large scale experiences, staging the environment to inspire. As a result of this transformative method, children try new things, practice conflict resolution, and improve gross and fine motor skills, while engaging in exciting adventures! Address

TimberNook Northwest Indiana website

The Jennings County Historical Society presents, preserves and documents the history of Jennings County. The 1838 landmark is owned and maintained by the historical society.

Jennings County Historical Society website

Versailles State Park offers fishing, paddle boating, rowing, kayaking, canoeing, hiking trails, mountain bike trails, and swimming.

Versailles State Park website

Our Mission: To unite those people interested in the history of Switzerland County, Indiana, and the surrounding region for its protection, preservation, and promotion to the public. In pursuit of our mission we undertake a variety of educational programs, special exhibits and preservation projects. Central are our three museum properties. The Switzerland County Historical Museum and the "Life on the Ohio" River History Museum display and preserve a great variety of artifacts and documents and are currently open to the public. Our Agricultural Museum Center is under development and is open to groups or individuals by appointment.

Switzerland County Historical Society website

The Indiana Military Museum (IMM) exists to serve the citizens of the community, the state, and the nation with educational programming, archives, displays, and opportunities for intense research related to America's military history from the American Revolution to the present day. The museum is dedicated to fostering the memory, understanding, and appreciation of U.S. military history. This is accomplished by maintaining, preserving, and displaying artifacts which represent the strength and freedom of our American heritage.

Indiana Military Museum website

One of the greatest feats of the American Revolution - The British flag would not be raised above Fort Sackville Feb. 25, 1779. At 10 a.m., the garrison surrendered to American Col. George Rogers Clark. His American army, aided by French residents of the Illinois country, had marched through freezing floodwaters to gain this victory. The fort's capture assured United States claims to the frontier, an area nearly as large as the original 13 states.

George Rogers Clark National Historic Park website

Shades State Park is a day use park offering picnic areas, picnic shelters, hiking trails, and fishing.

Shades State Park website

Canal Boat Ride - 35 minute float trip on The Delphi (19th century replica canal boat) with stories from tour guides; Canal Park - hike or bike trails that were once the towpaths traversed by mules pulling the canal boats; Canal Museum - immigrant history, architecture and canal exhibits, historical dress-up - interactive and kid-friendly; Pioneer Village - log school house, fur trapper's cabin, blacksmith shop, smokehouse, cabins, boat house. Campgrounds.

Wabash & Erie Canal Park, Boat, Museum website

Fort Ouiatenon was the first fortified European settlement in what is now Indiana. It was established by the French in 1717 at a site five miles southwest of Lafayette as a military outpost to prevent British expansion into the Ohio and Wabash country.

Fort Ouiatenon website

The park's landscape was shaped by ice from the glaciers, moving water, and fires that helped maintain the vast tallgrass prairies. Today, visitors enjoy picnic shelters, hiking trails, a bicycle trail, camping, interpretive naturalist services, and a family aquatic center.

Prophetstown State Park website

The Mascot Hall of Fame (MHOF) features interactive, educational displays that incorporate S.T.E.A.M - based activities complimenting state and local curriculum. Our mascot-themed exhibits offer standard embedded learning opportunities for students K-8. These fun, curricular activities were designed to be open-ended, giving Educators the opportunity to augment instructions based on the specific needs of your students.

Mascot Hall of Fame website

Visitors to the park enjoy picnic areas with shelters, boat launch ramps, bridle trails, cross county skiing, fishing, and hiking trails.

Tippecanoe River State Park website

The SullivanMunce Cultural Center features a wide range of exhibits, events and programs designed for anyone interested in celebrating the culture of a historic town where the past is preserved and the future is embraced. We invite you to make the SullivanMunce your destination for art, history, and genealogy.

Sullivan Munce Cultural Center website

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Field Trips

Piney Acres is 73 acres of explorable fun and we are excited to share it with your group! School tours can be scheduled any time throughout the year and include your very own expert farm guide to keep on-hand for any and all questions! Each tour includes a guided wagon ride through the tree fields with tons of educational facts (adjusted to meet state curriculum criteria for each age group).

We also allow time for guests to enjoy the peaceful, fresh air and the natural beauty of a farm setting. Free play in our Exploration Area is a great opportunity to see all of the beauty Piney has to offer!

We provide free and ample parking, indoor or outdoor picnic areas (sack lunches can be brought and stored inside our store) and indoor restroom facilities with handicap accessibility. Guided tour times are from 10am-Noon only. Lunch & free play (if applicable) will follow the guided portion of our tour and will last for approx. a half hour. Lunch & Free play may be extended during booking for a fee. Due to the high demand of our tours, we ask that all tour requests be made at least two week before desired date!

Christmas Field Trip

Join us for a special Christmas Field trip at Piney Acres Farm. Check back soon for more information!

Pricing & Reservations

Pricing:  

Minimum is 25 students OR $200 per field trip.

Teachers receive complimentary admittance.

Adult Chaperones are required based on class size.

Call us at 317-326-1700 or reach out via our registration form to book your field trip. Please note that the registration form is a request only. Deposit and date confirmation MUST be completed at least two weeks prior to trip in order to guarantee date.

Field Trips are non-refundable unless cancelled by the farm.

Field Trip Deposit:

Non-refundable $50 deposit is  due two weeks  prior to the event. In the event of cancellation due to weather, we will reschedule. Before making deposit please confirm date desire with the farm. NO EXCEPTIONS!

A written agreement will be emailed or mailed for signatures and date. Please sign and return with the deposit. The balance is due in full on date of trip. There is a $50 late fee assessed for all payments made AFTER departure from farm.

Out of season fields trips are cash/check only. A convenience fee is applied to all credit card payments.

Themed Field Trip Options

1. spring field trip.

$10 per Child $6 per Parent

Learn all about the lifecycles of spring! From plants to animals, this unique tour allows students to learn through hands on experience! Students will complete all tree planting steps, learn about and mine for rocks/minerals and learn about and feed our beloved barnyard friends.

2. Anytime Field Trip

$8 per Child $6 per Parent

Enjoy fresh farm air ANY TIME with this educational, fun tour. Learn all about our farm, the things we grow, the animals we raise and SO MUCH MORE! This specific tour does allow for more “free play” than normal. Gem Mining and Animal Feeding are also included in this tour.

3. Fall Field Trip

$9 per Child $6 per Parent

FALL in love with this fun, seasonal tour. Learn about all things harvested on the farm, including pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn. Each student will pick out a pie pumpkin, shuck some corn, learn about and mine for treasure at our Gem Mine and feed our barnyard friends.

ALL TOURS RUN FOR TWO HOURS AND INCLUDE A 30 MIN. WAGON RIDE, GEM MINING, ANIMAL FEEDING AND FREE PLAY IN OUR EXPLORATION AREA. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOUR GROUP PLANS ON BRINGING A SACK LUNCH.

*These are basic starting packages and can be customized/edited to fit your party needs! We are ALWAYS able to work with you to make your fall party SPECTACULAR!!

Don’t hesitate to reach out to us with requests/questions/concerns @ (317) 326-1700 or [email protected] *

After submitting your registration you will be redirected to pay your deposit online. You registration is not fully submitted until this deposit is paid. After we receive your deposit, we will contact you to confirm your tour date and time.

Field Trip #1 (Spring ONLY)

$10.00 per child $6.00 parent*

Planting a tree (if trees are available), Hayride, Gem Mining, Feeding the Animals & Playground time.  Approx. 3 hours

Field Trip #2

$8.00 per child $6.00 parent*

Hayride around the farm, Gem Mining, Feeding the Animals & playground time.  Approx. 2 hours

Field Trip #3 (Fall Only)

$9.00 per child $6.00 parent*

Hayride to pumpkin patch, Pick a Pumpkin, Gem Mining, Feeding the Animals & Playground time.  Approx. 2 ¼ hours

*Teachers and Teacher aides are Free

Walking by the Way

the road to inspired learning

Indiana Field Trips: Museums

March 8, 2016 by ami Leave a Comment

A huge thanks to my friend and co-op cohort, Heidi Rider , for contributing her gigantic list of Indiana field trips; she spent hours and hours compiling the trips around our great state. Another thanks to the Interest Led Homeschooling Facebook group as well as the IAHE Facebook group for sharing more great field trip ideas. Feel free to thank these people in the comments below!

Children’s Museums

Children’s Museum of Indianapolis (Indianapolis) The mission of this museum is to create extraordinary learning experiences across the arts, sciences and humanities that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. It is truly the most amazing children's museum we have ever been to; you will not be sorry if you choose to visit the Children's Museum of Indianapolis.

Hannah Lindahal Children’s Museum (Mishawaka) Since 1946 Hannah Lindahl Children’s Museum has provided a collection of unique artifacts that encourages families to explore, learn and enjoy the history of the Mishawaka area.

Kidscommons Children’s Museum (Columbus) A fun, safe, and inviting place, kidscommons nurtures exploration, collaboration, and creativity within all children and their caregivers. It is a place to learn about our community and our world. 

Kidsfirst Children’s Museum (South Bend)

Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville  (Evansville) A place to spark the curious minds and imaginations of children.

Muncie Children’s Museum (Muncie) Big Rig, Tot Spot, Book Nook, Water Works, Make Believe Theater, and a Little Town to explore–it's all at the Muncie Children's Museum. 

Terre Haute Children’s Museum (Terre Haute) The Terre Haute Children's Museum is full of fun, interactive activities for children of all ages! In addition to our permanent exhibits, we have several traveling exhibits that make a stop in our museum.

Science Museums and Planetariums

Ball State University Planetarium (Muncie) This planetarium offers free programs for the public. You can also find out more about school and group programs here .

Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science (Evansville) This general museum maintains a permanent collection of more than 30,000 objects, including fine and decorative arts and historic, anthropological, and natural history artifacts. Over twenty temporary exhibitions are displayed every year in four changing galleries. 

Healthworks! Kids’ Museum  (South Bend) HealthWorks! is a one-of-a-kind place that merges the best of both worlds from children’s museums and health education centers.

Imagination Station by ASSET (Lafayette) Imagination Station provides hands-on learning experiences in science, technology, and engineering.

Joseph Moore Museum (Richmond) The Joseph Moore Museum inspires learners of all ages to connect with and appreciate nature, including the ancient world and its peoples, using a scientific lens.

Joshua Tree Earth and Space Museum (Lakeville) The Joshua Tree Earth & Space Museum is an educational facility to learn about our past cultures. It provides collections to teach our future generations of our past, present and future.

Koch Planetarium (Evansville) Found at the  Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science .

Science Central (Ft. Wayne) Science Central is a regional resource that provides inspiring and fun hands-on science education for people of all ages. This fantastic museum also offers Afternoon Science for homeschooling families.

Sheets Wildlife Museum (Huntington) The museum centers around the collection of Sumner B. Sheets gathered from around the world. 

Wonderlab Museum of Science, Health, and Technology (Bloomington) WonderLab welcomes people of all ages and abilities to play, experiment, innovate, discover, create and learn about science. 

Art & Music Museums

Anderson Center for the Arts (Anderson)

Art Museum of Greater Lafayette (Lafayette)

Brauer Museum of Art (Valparaiso)

Carnegie Center for Arts and History (New Albany) The Carnegie Center for Art and History is a local history museum and contemporary art gallery. The Center offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy art works in a variety of media and to learn more about the process of creative expression through a range of exhibitions and programs for all ages.

Dr. Ted’s Musical Marvels (Dale) Dr. Ted's Musical Marvels is a colossal collection of the most amazing mechanical musical instruments you will ever hear. This spectacular collection embodies pieces from the 1800's to the mid-1900's. 

Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art (Indianapolis) The Eiteljorg collects and preserves high-quality Western art and Native American art and cultural objects. Its collection includes artists such as T.C. Cannon, N. C. Wyeth, Andy Warhol, Georgia O’Keeffe, Allan Houser, Frederic Remington, Charles Russell and Kay WalkingStick.

Fort Wayne Museum of Art (Ft. Wayne)

Glass Museum , The (Dunkirk) This museum houses glass-making tools, a leaded glass mural, carnival glass, lead cyrstal, milk glass, Dagenhart, King's Crown, Albany glass, Norse, and many other household and farm items.

Hall of Heroes Museum   (Elkhart) Hall of Heroes is the only Super Hero and Comic Book Museum in the world. We cover the entire 75 year history of Super Heroes in Comics, Toys, Film and Animation. 

Indiana University Art Museum (Bloomington)

Indianapolis Museum of Art (Indianapolis)

Last Supper Museum (Greensburg) At the Last Supper Museum you will see prints, sculptures, carvings, needlework, puzzles, ties and numerous other mediums and objects with a Last Supper picture. 

Midwest Museum of American Art (Elkhart) The Midwest Museum of American Art is a showcase of the 19th and 20th century American Art, with original paintings by Grandma Moses and Norman Rockwell.

Minnetrista (Muncie) Minnetrista, is the home of the Ball Jar and a Gathering Place located in Muncie, Indiana with exhibits and programs that focus on nature, local history, art, and gardens. See plenty of wildlife near the riverbank or take a quiet walk through the nature area a six-acre backyard wildlife habitat.

Museum of Overbeck Art Pottery (Cambridge City) The museum houses and preserves Overbeck Pottery. The pottery was produced between 1911 and 1955 by the Overbeck sisters and is recognized as an important part of our national art history.

Quilter’s Hall of Fame (Marion) The mission of The Quilters Hall of Fame is to celebrate quilting as an art form by honoring the lives and accomplishments of those people who have made outstanding contributions to the world of quilting.

Rhythm! Discovery Center (Indianapolis) This museum explores the history of percussing with exhibits, archives, and drums to play. 

History Museums

Academy of Hoosier Heritage (Mooresville) The museum includes a one-room school, information and artifacts about Mooresville and Morgan County, and temporary exhibits. Our displays include primarily artifacts from the 1800s depicting Mooresville and area history.

Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum (Columbus) The museum will educate and inspire you about the history, photos and personal stories of those who served. You can learn about World War II Glider pilots, the Tuskegee Airmen, 2466th, 434th, 71st Special Operation Squadron in Vietnam, the base, the leaders, the airmen, the equipment, the aircraft and The Indiana Aviation Wall of Fame.

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum (Auburn) Features more than 100 classic and antique vehicles from the 19th century to present era, with emphasis on cars built in Indiana. 

Bartholomew County Historical Society Museum (Columbus) Check here for educational programs.

Bell Aircraft Museum (Mentone) Read about exhibits here .

Brown County Historical Society: Pioneer Village  (Nashville)

CANDLES Holocaust Museum (Terra Haute) CANDLES is an acronym for Children of Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiments Survivors. The CANDLES organization was founded in 1984 by Eva Mozes Kor with help from her twin sister, Miriam Mozes Zieger, to launch an effort to locate other surviving Mengele twins. As a result of their efforts, Eva and Miriam were able to locate 122 individual Mengele twins living in ten countries and four continents.

The Carnegie Center is also home to two permanent history exhibits. The award-winning exhibit  Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage: Men and Women of the Underground Railroad   and  Remembered: the Life of Lucy Higgs Nichols  detailing her amazing life.

Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County (Crawfordsville)

Carroll County Historical Museum (Delphi)

Cass County Historical Society Museum (Logansport) Visitors learn about the golden age of steamboating on the Missouri River, the pioneer experience, the arrival of the train, and the importance of farm production. A second part of the permanent display covers the age of the automobile, the telephone and radio, churches and religious life, schools, and entertainment. There is a Pioneer room, a Victorian Parlor, and a General Store. The Society also maintains the Joseph and Mary Cook Log Cabin (built in 1868) and a Burlington Northern Caboose.

Clinton County Historical Society and Museum (Frankfort)

Conner Prairie Interactive History Park (Fishers) Conner Prairie is a living history museum that preserves the William Conner home. Many Hoosier homeschool families will tell you that this is one of the best! Don't miss it.

Decatur County Historical Society (Greensburg) Learn Greensburg's history.

Dubois County Museum (Jasper) Discover the rich history and heritage of Dubois County, Indiana by winding your way through exhibits as they tell the stories that have been passed down generation to generation. Get a feel for what the settlers of this area would have endured in the early 1800’s.  Learn of their trying times during the wars and how it shaped local families and the economy, and appreciate the hard work that turned Dubois County’s natural resources into thriving industries and farmland.  

Elkhart County Historical Museum (Bristol)

Elwood Haynes Museum (Kokomo) Elwood Haynes invented the first commercially successful gasoline powered automobile in the United States in 1894.

Ernie Pyle World War II Museum (Dana) This museum features Ernie Pyle’s birthplace and a museum highlighting the famous journalist’s life and writings as a correspondent during World War II.

Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center (Indianapolis)

Fairmount Historical Museum (Fairmount) In addition to artifacts related to the town, its families, and schools, the museum also holds many pieces related to and once owned by James Dean and his family. These include awards, clothing, motorcycles, and much more. In addition, the museum houses a tribute to another Fairmount native, Jim Davis and his creation, "Garfield."

Fire Museum and Sturgeon House (Columbia City)

Firefighters Survive Alive (Indianapolis)

Five Points Fire Station Museum (Lafayette)

Fort Wayne Cathedral Museum (Ft. Wayne) Religious artifacts dating back to the mid-13th century.

Fort Wayne Courthouse & History Center (Ft. Wayne) Miama Indians, Anthony Wayne, the Wabash & Erie Canal, a black smith shop, and more; read about the exhbits here .

Fort Wayne Firefighters’ Museum, Inc (Ft. Wayne) Along with the many artifacts on display, the Museum also teaches fire safety to young and old alike. 

Fulton County Historical Society & Museum (Rochester) Step back in time (1900-1925) and visit a living history village where you will learn about the Golden Age of Agriculture.

General Lew Wallace Study & Museum (Crawfordsville) The General Lew Wallace Study & Museum has faithfully preserved General Wallace’s personal memorabilia in the Study that he designed and built in 1895–on the same site where  Ben-Hur  was penned. 

Grissom Air Museum (Peru) Here you can learn about our historic aircraft, climb the Observation Tower, view exciting exhibits, and enjoy a modern, hands-on facility.

Grover Museum   (Shelbyville) The museum’s permanent exhibits include “The Streets of Old Shelby,” which is a life-size generic village of the 1900-1910 era anywhere in Shelby County, and “History of the Railroad in Shelby County,” which features a diorama with running model trains.

The Grover Museum also has three rotating galleries that change displays several times a year.

Hamilton County Museum of History (Noblesville) Includes an old sherriff residence and jail.

Hendricks County Historical Museum  (Danville) This 1886 landmark just off the historic Hendricks County Courthouse Square has become a time capsule of sorts preserving the former Sheriff’s residence and county jail. The jail in the back of the home has a cold, medieval feel that wows every visitor that enters, while knowledgeable tour guides make this private experience a memorable one.

Henry County Historical Museum (New Castle)

Hesston Steam Museum (Michigan City) History comes alive at the Hesston Steam Museum as real steam locomotives take you on a spectacular two and a half mile journey through deep woods, past lakes and farm fields.

The Hesston Steam Museum is filled with other steam powered machinery including a steam-powered saw mill, a railroad steam crane, steam powered electric power plant, steam traction engines and more.

Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum (North Judson) Are you ready to take a journey back to a bygone era? Then visit the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in northwest Indiana. Situated near the former junction of the Erie, PRR, C&O, and NYC in historic North Judson, HVRM offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience the sights, sounds and smells of railroading during its heydays.

Howard Steamboat Museum (Jeffersonville) Step into the Steamboat Era with a tour of the Howard Steamboat Museum. This beautiful 1894 home was built by, premier steamboat builders, the Howards of Jeffersonville. The Howard Steamboat Museum features original furnishings, brass chandeliers, stained glass windows, intricate carvings throughout and even a grand staircase.

Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame (Jasper)

Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame (New Castle)

Indiana Medical History Museum (Indianapolis) Explore the beginnings of scientific psychiatry and modern medicine in a historic setting.

Indiana Military Museum (Vincennes) Take a journey through time and space, from the American Revolution to the beaches of Normandy; the jungles of Vietnam to the deserts of Afghanistan. Explore the life and times of brave military men and women: the uniforms they wore, weapons they used, and vehicles they drove.

Indiana Railway Museum (French Lick)

Indiana State Museum (Indianapolis) The Indiana State Museum's collection contains hundreds of thousands of items ranging from prehistoric fossils to current popular culture items and everything in between.

Indianapolis 500 Hall of Fame Museum (Indianapolis) The Hall of Fame Museum is recognized as one of the most highly visible museums in the world devoted to automobiles and auto racing.

International Circus Hall of Fame (Peru)

James Whitcomb Riley Boyhood Home and Museum (Greenfield) The Boyhood Home, birthplace and boyhood home of the famed "Hoosier Poet", will take you back to life in the 1850's and '60's. Tours are led by Riley Home hostesses. 

Jay County Historical Museum (Portland) Our collections date from the earliest days of the county.They include many collections, such as memorabilia from the Hawkins Family. 

Jefferson County Historical Society (Madison) Exhibits include: Pioneer Exhibit, Transportation Exhibit, Victorian Parlor Exhibit, Civil War Exhibit, and Special Exhibits.

Jennings County Historical Society (Vernon)

John Dillinger Museum (Nashville) The John Dillinger Museum takes visitors on an interactive, historical adventure through the life and times of John Dillinger and other gangsters of the 1930s depression era.

Johnson County Museum of History (Franklin) Explore our exhibits tracing the history of Johnson Country from its geological beginnings to the pioneer days to the foot tappin’ fifties!

Kosciusko County Jail Museum (Warsaw)

Lake of the Red Cedars Museum (Cedar Lake) The Lake of the Red Cedars Museum consists of 14 rooms featuring settings from the past and 11 special exhibits highlighting the history of Cedar Lake.

Life on the Ohio River History Museum (Vevay)

Lyle’s Station (Princeton) Celebrating freedom & success in Indiana, Lyles Station stands as one of the last remaining African American settlements in the state. 

Marshall County Historical Society & Museum (Plymouth) Lots to do at this historical museum: Meet the man we called "Doc," catch the Saturday morning train, spot Roy Rogers in downtown Plymouth, hear WWII vets share their memories, walk the Trail of Death with Chief Menominee, meet the Purdue coach who honed his craft defending the Notre Dame Four Horsemen, and more!

Mathers Museum of World Cultures (Bloomington)

McClain’s Historical Military Armor Museum (Anderson)

Menno_Hof (Shipshewana) See and hear the Ammish-Mennonite story.

Miami County Museum (Peru) The Miami County Museum offers two floors of permanent exhibits. As you step through our doors, Cole Porter’s 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood will dazzle you. Explore pioneer history, circus displays, Native American (Miami and Woodland) culture, and the Walker Armament gallery on the first floor. Continue to the second floor and step back in time to 1910 era downtown Peru!

Mid-America Windmill Museum (Kendallville)

Monroe County History Center (Bloomington) Come walk through our 1880s School House and authentic 1830s Pioneer Cabin, meet the ever-popular Schmalz Bear, and view an exhibit about the Gentry Bother's Circus.

Museum of Miniature Houses   (Carmel) Visit our museum and allow yourself to be transported into delightful magical miniature worlds. The museum’s collection contains over 600 miniatures.

Museum of the Soldier (Portland) This museum's goal is to preserve and present histories of the men and women, the families and workers back home, during times of war, of peace, and peace keeping.

National Automotive & Truck Museum of the United States (Auburn)

National Military History Center (Auburn)

National Model Aviation Museum (Muncie) The museum collects three-dimensional objects relating to aeromodeling that help convey the story, evolution, and importance of the modeling experience. We have about 9,000 artifacts in our collection, including model airplanes, radio systems, engines, building tools and equipment, and memorabilia such as patches, stickers and clothing.

New York Central Railroad Museum (Elkhart) The museum's goal is to tell the story of the vast New York Central System, and its predecessors and successors into the modern era.

Northern Indiana Center for History (South Bend) This amazing museum has a variety of exhibits for your to see including Oliver Mansion and Navarre Cabin.

Ohio County Historical Museum (Rising Sun)

Old Rotary Jail Museum (Crawfordsville) Our Rotary Jail opened in 1882 as the first rotary jail in the country! Its round cell block sits on a turntable that revolves when a hand crank is turned. Just 18 rotary jails were built, and we are the only one that still spins. Come see this remarkable feat of 1880's engineering that still rotates!

Old Lighthouse Museum (Michigan City) Tour the oldest lighthouse in Indiana.

Perry County Museum (Cannelton)

Porter County Museum of History (Valparaiso)

Quayle Vice Presidential Learning Center (Huntington) From indispensable patriots to infamous traitrs, this learning center is the place to discover the unique stories of each man who has held our nation's second most powerful office.

Ropkey Armor Museum (Crawfordsville) One of the finest collections of U.S. Tactical Military Vehicles in the country.

Santa Claus Museum and Village (Santa Claus) The Santa Claus Museum features historical documents, photos and artifacts illustrating the progression from the tiny settlement of Santa Fee to the present day town of Santa Claus. Exhibits feature the story behind the town's famous name, the history of tourism, and artifacts highlighting the town's unique history.Explore the joy behind Christmases of yesteryear with antique toy displays and a large collection of Santas of every shape, size and interpretation.

Studebaker National Museum (South Bend)

Sullivan County Historical Society (Sullivan)

Swiss Heritage Village and Museum (Berne) The Village is now the largest outdoor museum in northern Indiana. As you visit our site and read about the buildings, grounds, and events that are sponsored by the Swiss Heritage Society, you will learn about how the Swiss settlers lived in this area more than a century ago.

Switzerland County Historical Museum (Vevay) Lots of scheduled events plus three museums to check out: County History Museum , Agricultural Museum , and River History Museum

Tipton County Historical Society (Tipton)

Vigo County Historical Society Museum (Terre Haute)

Vintage Fire Museum (Jeffersonville) This museum is nationally known; it features beautiful restored fire engines (hand pumpers, chemical engines, horse-drawn steamers, early motorized engines) and other equipment dating back to 1756!

Warrick County Museum (Boonville) The museum currently offers schools and organizations interactive programs on pioneer living and the history of Warrick County and its citizens.

Wabash Historical Museum (Wabash) Exhibits are hands-on and interactive. We strive to be a living, breathing exploration center for local history, not a “graveyard for old stuff."

Wayne County Historical Museum (Richmond) Comprised of eight buildings on a compact site, the museum is a unique repository of Wayne County and Richmond history from early pioneer life through the industrial revolution into modern times.

Whitley County Agricultural Museum (Columbia City)

Whitley County Historical Museum (Columbia City)

Wilbur Wright Birthplace and Museum (Hagerstown) Follow tour guides to discover life on the Wright farm in the 1860's through the Museum time-line with interpretive sketches of the Wright Brothers before and during Kitty Hawk. Enjoy excerpts from a Wright video concentrating on Kitty Hawk.  Learn how the Brothers lived at Kitty Hawk as you tour the Kitty Hawk camp. Take a look at the full size replica of the First Flyer. Stroll along a 1903 street. 

Winona History Center at Grace College Various exhibits including the Billy Sunday Home Museum

Looking for more Indiana Field Trip ideas? Check out The Ultimate List of Indiana Field Trips

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Fort Wayne-Metro Field Trips

Please be aware that many venues are temporarily closed due to COVID-19. We have added a new section of "Virtual Field Trips" on FieldTripDirectory.com in your state and beyond! Use the activity filter below to search for virtual trips, resources, and distance learning options in Indiana or  CLICK HERE  for a list of virtual trips nationwide. Explore topics in the arts, science, social studies, and more from anywhere.

• Financial Support
• Historical Railroad Excursions
• Transportation: Boats, Planes, Trains, & Trollies
• Career Exploration
• Indoor Amusement & Recreation Centers
• Laser Tag/Laser Maze
• Outdoor Amusement & Recreation Centers
• Science Museums & Exhibits
• Zoos, Wildlife, Safari Tours, Reptiles, Animal Shows, Vertebrates
• Early Childhood
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Combat Ops Entertainment is a multi-attraction family entertainment center offering fun, unique, and engaging battle-themed attraction. Featuring Laser Tag, Nerf-style Tag, Mini Golf, Arcade and more in a 25,000 sq. ft.

Fort Wayne Children's Zoo

Learn about the farm, baby animals, zoo careers, and more on a trip to the AZA accredited Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. Enjoy its virtual, Zoo-to-You program.

Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society

The AAM accredited Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society hosts a variety of year-round, steam-powered vintage passenger excursions. Explore virtually via the societyNorht

Science Central

At Science Central, explore exhibits on magnets, sound, light, optical illusions, live animals, and more!  Topics include sound, minerals, matter, electricity, weather, STEM and more. Experience exciting, educational demos and hands-on workshops