Let’s face it – life with little ones can be expensive and the more little ones you have, the more expensive it can become. That’s why the word FREE is exactly what so many of us love to hear.
Did you know many museums around Indianapolis offer free admission on different dates throughout the year? That’s right, free. That means you and your family can enjoy all the benefits a day at the museum provides – without breaking the bank.
We have created this handy-dandy guide so that you can take advantage of these awesome opportunities. So grab your calendar, jot down these dates and head to the museum for a day of hands-on education and FUN! We will continue to update this list as museums release their free days for 2019.
**Bookmark this page! We will continue to update this post all year long as the museums add more free days to their calendars!
2019 Free Museum Days around Indianapolis:
Conner Prairie Interactive History Park
Location: 13400 Allisonville Road, Noblesville, Phone: 317-776-6000
- Monday, January 21: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 10am-5pm
- Monday, February 18: Presidents Day, 10am-5pm
- September 21: Smithsonian Museum Day LIVE, 10am-5pm
**Based on previous years
*Conner Prairie is proud to partner with other local museums to make family fun available to more Indiana families. Families that participate in any of the state assistance programs listed on their website can visit for just $2 per family member per visit.
*Children under age 2 receive free admission
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
Location: 500 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Phone: 317-636-9378
- Monday, January 21: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 10am-5pm (Admission into the museum is free this day with a minimum donation of one non-perishable food item per guest.)
- Saturday, June 1: In honor of Juneteenth, the celebration and museum admission will be free for all.
- September 21: Smithsonian Museum Day LIVE, 10am-5pm
*Receive a $2 discount for the following: Time Travelers Program members
- Military active duty members of any branch of service, plus immediate family members
- Military veterans of any branch of service
- AAA members
- Convention attendees with badge
- Downtown hotel guests with room key
*The Eiteljorg Museum offers free and discounted admission to many different groups of individuals. Please visit their website for a complete listing of those who qualify for free and discounted admission.
*Children under age 5 receive free admission
Indiana Historical Society
Location: 450 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, Phone: 317-232-1882
- Monday, January 21: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 10am-5pm
- Saturday, March 28: 14thAnnual Circus Day, 10am-5pm
*With the Access Pass, families who qualify may receive admission into the museum for $2 per guest.
*The Indiana Historical Society offers complimentary admission year-round to active members of the military and their families as part of the Blue Star Museums Program.
*Children under age 5 receive free admission
RELATED POST: Free things to do in Indianapolis
Indiana State Museum
Location: 650 West Washington Street, Phone: 317-232-1637
- Monday, January 21: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 10am-5pm (Admission into the museum is free this day with a minimum donation of one non-perishable food item per guest.)
- Monday, February 18: Presidents Day, 10am-5pm
- September 21: Smithsonian Museum Day LIVE, 10am-5pm
Discounts Available at the Indiana State Museum, find more info HERE:
- AAA Hoosier Members- $1 off admission.
- Education- Museum admission is free for pre-registered, accredited schools or homeschool groups of ten or more K-12 students. Afterschool programs also have a special field trip rate. Self-guided preschools and day cares pay group admission. The Preschool Journeys program costs $6 per student, $6 per chaperone and is free for teachers. Learn more >>
- IMAX discount- Receive $2 off the price of museum admission with the purchase of an IMAX ticket. Discount not available online.
- Indiana State Employees-All Indiana state employees receive $10 off of NEW memberships.
- Military admission- To honor their service, active military receives free admission every day, and their immediate family members receive $2 off admission. Veterans receive free admission from Nov. 1 – 12. Additionally, the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites are members of the Blue Star Museum program. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, active military and their immediate families receive free admission.
- Peewinkle’s Puppet Studio discount- Receive $2 off museum admission with the purchase of a full-priced Peewinkle’s Puppet Studio ticket on the same day. Not available online.
- Show Us Your Badge- Attendees of events at the Indiana Convention Center receive $2 off museum admission. Present your convention badge to the museum to receive the discount.
*The Indiana State Museum offers discounted admission to families who qualify with the Access Pass.
*Children under age 3 receive free admission
Family Fun: The Indiana State Police Museum
Indiana State Police Museum
Location: 8660 East 21st Street, Indianapolis, Phone: 317-899-8293
*Admission is free, donations are welcome
Indiana War Memorial Museum
Location: 431 North Meridian Street, Phone: 317-232-7615
*Admission is free
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
Location: 4790 West 16th Street, Indianapolis, Phone: 317-492-6784
*Children under age 6 receive free admission
Newfields
Location: 4000 Michigan Road, Indianapolis, Phone: 317-923-1331
- Sunday, February 20 – MLK Day Celebration: Speaking LOVE, 12-4 pm
- First Thursday of each month: Newfeilds offers free admission the first Thursday of every month from 4:00-9:00 pm. *Note there are no Free Thursdays in January and February. Free Thursday will return March 7.
- March 7, 2019 – 4 – 8 pm
- April 4, 2019 – 4 – 8 pm
- May 2, 2019 – 4 – pm
- June 6, 2019 – 4 – 8 pm
*Newfields is proud to be a part of the Access Pass program. Families that meet the requirements can visit Newfields and all participating locations for just $2 per family member per visit, for up to two adults and dependent youth living in the household. Visit their Access Pass page to learn more about this program that makes cultural attractions more available to Indiana families.
*Children under age 6 receive free admission
Indianapolis Zoo
Location: 1200 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Phone: 317-630-2001
- Monday, January 21: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 9:00 am-4:00 pm (Admission into the museum is free this day with a minimum donation of one non-perishable food item per guest.)
*Tickets are always more expensive at the gate, CLICK HERE to buy tickets online to save money!
*The Indianapolis Zoo offers discounts for different groups of individuals. Visit their website for more information.
*Children under age 2 receive free admission
Discover the Rhythm! Discovery Center in downtown Indy
Rhythm! Discovery Center
Location: 110 West Washington Street, Suite A, Phone: 317-275-9030
- Monday, Jan. 21 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- September 21: Smithsonian Museum Day LIVE, 11am-4pm
*Based on previous years
*Children under age 6 receive free admission
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
- Location: 3000 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Phone: 317-334-4000Monday, January 21: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 10am-5pm
- Monday, February 18: Presidents Day, 10am-5pm with special activities running from 10:00 am-3:00 pm
- Sunday, September 29, Fiesta Familia, 10am-5pm
- Tuesday, December 24: Christmas Eve, 10am-2pm
*Tickets are always cheaper when purchased in advaced. CLICK HERE to purchace tickets.
*The Children’s Museum is proud to make family learning available to more Indiana families through free or reduced admission days and reduced admission programs like Access Pass.
*$5 First Thursday Nights: The first Thursday of each month from 4–8 p.m. admission is $5 per person. They highly recommend that you buy your tickets in advance online as these days may be a little crowded.
*Children under age 2 receive free admission
The Indianapolis Children’s Museum is the world’s biggest children’s museum!
The Museum of Miniature Houses (and other collections) in Carmel may not on your radar.
The Museum of Miniature Houses and Other Collections
Location: 111 East Main Street, Carmel, Phone: 317-575-9466
September TBD: Smithsonian Museum Day LIVE, 11am-4pm
*Based on previous years
WonderLab
Address: 308 West 4th Street, Bloomington, Phone: 812-337-1337
WonderLab offers half-price admission the first Friday of every month from 5:00-8:00 pm.
WonderLab offers a day when guests receive admission into the museum for $1 in the fall. The date for this day has not been set yet – stay tuned for more information.
*WonderLab is part of the Access Pass program. As part of the program, guests can receive admission into the museum for just $2.
*Children under age 1 receive free admission
With all of these discounted and free dates to choose from, you and your family are bound to have some fun this year exploring the museums and learning together. We will continue to update this list as museums release their free days for 2018.
