Are you looking for free and discounted admission to your favorite Indianapolis area museums? Here’s a great list of free days and cheap days to visit Indy museums. On these days you’ll get to see your favorite exhibits and attractions free, that’s right, without paying a thing! We’re here to help your family do the things you love while saving money, family fun on a budget! Also, check here to see which Indianapolis museums always have free admission.

Free Admission to Museums in Indianapolis

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis Free Admission | Conner Prairie Free Admission | Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art Free Admission | Indiana State Museum and Historical Sites Free Admission | Indiana Historical Society Free Admission | Rhythm! Discovery Center Free Admission | Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum Free Admission | Soldiers and Sailors Monument Free Admission | Fan Museum at Fanimation | Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art (IMOCA) Free Admission | Indiana State Police Museum Free Admission

Local museums are a family favorite for my eclectic crew, but the admission prices can be a real deterrent. Thankfully, many of our local museums offer free and/or discounted opportunities throughout the year. Check out these budget friendly opportunities. The laundry can wait!

Free Admission to The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is five stories of fun for kids of all ages. The 472,900 square-foot facility is host to such exhibits as Dinosphere, Fireworks of Glass, Beyond Spaceship Earth, and in 2020, they will also host the return of the Barbie You Can Be Anything exhibit and the The Pigeon and Pals! A Mo Willems Art and Play Exhibit.

Visit The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis for free on: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 20, 2020), President’s Day (February 17, 2020), Fiesta Familia (TBA), Christmas Eve (December 24, 2020)

In addition to their free days, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis also offers the following discounted passes:

$5 First Thursday Nights – Enjoy the museum for $5 from 4-8 pm on the first Thursday of every month.

– Enjoy the museum for $5 from 4-8 pm on the first Thursday of every month. Access Pass -Families that receive Indiana state assistance may qualify for the museum’s Access Pass program.

-Families that receive Indiana state assistance may qualify for the museum’s Access Pass program. Neighborhood Club – The Children’s Museum offers free museum memberships to families who live in the museum’s six surrounding Mid-North neighborhoods—regardless of a family’s income or ability to pay.

The Children’s Museum offers free museum memberships to families who live in the museum’s six surrounding Mid-North neighborhoods—regardless of a family’s income or ability to pay. Under 2 Years Old – Children under age 2 years old are always free at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and the Riley Children’s Health Sports Experience.

Free Admission to the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art

Explore Native America and the American West with this one-of-a-kind museum located in downtown Indianapolis. Learn about the early beginnings of North America through the art and culture of the indigenous people.

Visit The Eiteljorg for free on: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 20, 2020) – with the donation of a non-perishable food item.

In addition to free admission days, the Eiteljorg Museum also offers the following discounted admission:

Blue Star Museum – The Eiteljorg offers free admission to active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families, Memorial Day – Labor Day.

– The Eiteljorg offers free admission to active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families, Memorial Day – Labor Day. Special Discounts – Discounts for educators, students, military, AAA members, and even Downtown Hotel guests or Convention Center attendees.

– Discounts for educators, students, military, AAA members, and even Downtown Hotel guests or Convention Center attendees. Reciprocal Membership Discount – Discounted admission for Time Travelers reciprocal membership network members.

– Discounted admission for Time Travelers reciprocal membership network members. Free Parking – The Eiteljorg offers free parking to visitors.

– The Eiteljorg offers free parking to visitors. Under 5 Years Old – Children under the age of 5 are admitted free to the Eiteljorg.

Free Admission to the Indiana Historical Society

Experience Indiana’s history and immerse your budding-historians with exhibits including Destination Indiana, the Cole Porter Room, and much, much more.

Visit The Indiana Historical Society for free on: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 20, 2020), Circus Day (TBA), 4th of July, Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day and December for the Author Fair (details for both to be announced).

In addition to free admission days, The Indiana History Center also offers the following discounted admission:

Blue Star Museum – The Indiana History Center offers free admission to active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families, Memorial Day – Labor Day.

– The Indiana History Center offers free admission to active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families, Memorial Day – Labor Day. Free Parking – The IHS offers limited free parking to visitors.

– The IHS offers limited free parking to visitors. Under 5 Years Old – Children under the age of 5 are admitted free to the Indiana Historical Society.

Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines! Race fans of all ages will be amazed at the one-hundred years of racing memorabilia from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum admission discounts include:

Blue Star Museum – The IMS Museum offers free admission to active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families, Memorial Day – Labor Day.

– The IMS Museum offers free admission to active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families, Memorial Day – Labor Day. Under 6 Years Old – Children under the age of 6 are admitted free to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.

Free Admission to the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art (IMOCA)

The Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art exhibits work from national, as well as local and regional contemporary artists.

Visit the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art – IMOCA for free (always!)

Don’t let the name fool you. Packed with Hoosier history, the Indiana State Museum also houses the pendulum clock, interactive exhibits like Birth of Earth and Frozen Reign, and IMAX! Admission includes access to the new early childhood play area, Firefly Landing (when available).

Visit The Indiana State Museum for free on: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 20, 2020) – with the donation of a non-perishable food item. Free admission on Smithsonian Day (April 4, 2020)

In addition to their admission days, the Indiana State Museum also offers the following discounted admission:

Blue Star Museum – The Indiana State Museum offers free admission to active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families, Memorial Day – Labor Day.

– The Indiana State Museum offers free admission to active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families, Memorial Day – Labor Day. Special Discounts – The Indiana State Museum offers discounts for educators, military, AAA members, state employees, and more.

– The Indiana State Museum offers discounts for educators, military, AAA members, state employees, and more. Campus Discounts – Visitors to the IMAX Theater at the Indiana State Museum receive a discount on museum admission.

– Visitors to the IMAX Theater at the Indiana State Museum receive a discount on museum admission. Access Pass – Families that receive Indiana state assistance may qualify for the museum’s Access Pass program.

– Families that receive Indiana state assistance may qualify for the museum’s Access Pass program. Under 3 Years Old – Children under the age of 3 are admitted free to the Indiana State Museum.

The Indiana State Police Museum is a free museum that houses police cars and other memorabilia from different eras in Indiana State Police history. They do also offer a fingerprint station in which children can take their own fingerprints or those of a friend and learn about different fingerprint styles.

Visit the Indiana State Police Museum for free (always!)

Free Admission to Newfields: Indianapolis Museum of Art

Newfields, also known as the Indianapolis Museum of Art is a campus rich with art, indoor and outdoors. Family programming and other popular programming helps create a space that children and adults can come into contact with art and nature in meaningful ways.

Visit Newfields for free on: the Sunday of Martin Luther King Jr Weekend and the first Thursday evening of each month, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. beginning in March and ending in September. Newfields also offers free admission on Nation Gardens & Museums Day.

Access Pass -Families that receive Indiana state assistance may qualify for the museum’s Access Pass program.

-Families that receive Indiana state assistance may qualify for the museum’s Access Pass program. Blue Star Museum – Newfields offers free admission to active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families, Memorial Day – Labor Day.

– Newfields offers free admission to active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families, Memorial Day – Labor Day. Free Parking – Newfields offers free parking to visitors.

– Newfields offers free parking to visitors. Under 6 Years Old – Children under the age of 6 are admitted free to Newfields.

Free Admission to Rhythm! Discovery Center

Bang that drum! The Rhythm! Discovery Center is an interactive percussion museum located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. Not only do they provide educational exhibits and performances, every Saturday there are two interactive family programs.

Visit Rhythm! Discovery Center for free on:

In addition to free admission days, Rhythm! Discovery Center also offers the following discounted admission:

Under 2 Years Old – Children under the age of 2 area admitted free.

The Soldiers & Sailors Monument is a memorial to honor Hoosiers veterans, but don’t miss the number of art pieces throughout the monument grounds. Or, venture up to the observation deck for a 360-view of Indianapolis.

Visit the Soldiers & Sailors Monument museum and observation deck for free when you summit the stairs. Use of the elevator has a fee.

This popular outdoor art park is full of shady spaces in the warmer months, perfect for a picnic, an afternoon nap under the trees, family photos and discovering nature and art IN nature. During the winter, you can enjoy many of the same sights and activities, just bundle up!

Visit the 100 Acres at Newfields for free every day!

Free Admission to Museums in Hamilton County

Just north of Indianapolis is our friendly neighbor, Hamilton County. With several popular museums, Hamilton County is a great place to visit.

Did you know that the Indianapolis area has one of the largest outdoor museums in the country? Be transported back in time at Conner Prairie, where families can experience first-hand life on the homestead. Conner Prairie also hosts many unique seasonal opportunities–1859 Balloon Ride, Symphony on the Prairie, Conner Prairie By Candlelight, Headless Horseman Festival and more! Even if you can’t make it to a free admission day, admission prices are very reasonable, especially when the outdoor areas are closed for the season.

Visit Conner Prairie for free on: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 20, 2020), President’s Day (February 17, 2020), Smithsonian Day (April 4, 2020) & Sensory Friendly Day (April 26, 2020).

In addition to their free days, Conner Prairie also offers the following discounted admission:

Blue Star Museum – Conner Prairie offers free admission to active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families, Memorial Day – Labor Day.

– Conner Prairie offers free admission to active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families, Memorial Day – Labor Day. Access Pass – Families that receive Indiana state assistance may qualify for the museum’s Access Pass program.

– Families that receive Indiana state assistance may qualify for the museum’s Access Pass program. Under 2 Years Old – Children under the age of 2 area admitted free.

Free Admission to Other Museums in Indiana

Free Admission to the Fan Museum at Fanimation

Browse more than 2000 antique desk and ceiling fans, including the earliest battery-powered fans, water- and steam-powered fans, rail car fans, and more!

Visit the Fan Museum at Fanimation for free (always!)

Free Admission for Military Families/Blue Star

Please see information about applicable dates on our Blue Star Family Information page.

Auburn, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum

National Auto & Truck Museum

Battle Ground, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Tippecanoe Battlefield Museum

Bloomington, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Monroe County History Center

Cedar Lake, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Cedar Lake Historical Association

Corydon, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Corydon Capitol State Historic Site

Harrison County Discovery Center

Elkhart, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Ruthmere Foundation

Evansville, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Angel Mounds State Historic Site

Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science

Reitz Home Museum

Fishers, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Conner Prairie

Fort Wayne, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Fort Wayne Museum of Art

Science Central

Fountain City, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Levi & Catharine Coffin State Historic Site

French Lick, Indiana Blue Star Museums

French Lick West Baden Museum

Greenfield, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Richard E. Peeler Art Center

Indianapolis, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site

Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art

Indiana Historical Society

Indiana Medical History Museum

Indiana State Museum

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum

Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library

NCAA Hall of Champions

Newfields

Jasper, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Dubois County Museum

Kokomo, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Howard County Historical Society

Lafayette, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Haan Mansion Museum of Indiana Art

Madison, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Lanier Mansion State Historic Site

Muncie, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Minnetrista

Muncie Children’s Museum

National Model Aviation Museum

Nashville, Indiana Blue Star Museums

T.C. Steele State Historic Site

New Albany, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site

New Castle, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Henry County Historical Society

New Harmony, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Historic New Harmony

Notre Dame, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Snite Museum of Art

Plymouth, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Marshall County Museum

Portland, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Jay County Historical Museum

South Bend, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Studebaker National Museum

The History Museum

Vevay, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Switzerland County Historical Society

Vincennes, Indiana Blue Star Museums

Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy

All information is up to date at the time of publishing (12/2019). Please call ahead to double check pricing and hours or weather changes.

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