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Forbes Lifestyle Travel Dinosaurs, Cowboys And Classic Cars - Indiana’s Awesome Museums Joe Yogerst Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I roam the world for epic nature, urban areas and road trips. Following May 30, 2023, 01:35pm EDT | Press play to listen to this article! Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Dinomania reigns inside the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. PHOTO BY JOE YOGERST There are all those cool Smithsonian museums in Washington DC, and it’s hard to beat the Met, MOMA and the natural history collections in Manhattan. But nothing quite tops the Hoosier State when it comes to a museum road trip that’s equally awesome for grownups or kids. Indiana’s museums include a wide range of topics from dinosaurs and fine art to history, vintage automobiles and sports mascots. If that’s not enough to entice, consider the fact they’re often hands on, inexpensive and located in interesting locations that lend themselves to further exploration. The following Indiana museum road trip begins at Indianapolis International Airport in the state capital. But you could just as easily rent a car at Chicago O’Hare and start from there. Total distance is roughly 280 miles (450 km) via Lafayette and South Bend. But you don’t have to follow this route. It’s easy to create your own meander through Indiana’s museums depending on the interests of yourself or fellow travelers. Incredible Dale Chihuly glass masterpiece at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. PHOTO BY JOE YOGERST Very Close Encounters of the Dinosaur Kind If you’ve never held a genuine dinosaur bone in your hands, consider a visit to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. MORE FOR YOU There’s Something Fishy About ‘The Little Mermaid’ Audience Review Scores — Update — The Critics Must Be Crazy Here Is The Leaked Allegedly Final MCU Fantastic Four Cast It s A Big Deal Crypto Suddenly Braced For A Huge China Earthquake After Bitcoin Ethereum BNB XRP Cardano Dogecoin Polygon And Solana Price Swings Located on the north side of downtown Indy, it’s hard to miss. The building with the three ornery looking Alamosaurus dinosaurs bursting through the front wall and the two giant two Brachiosaurs peeking in through the glass façade. Sure, it’s for kids. But adults will also get a kick out of a collection that spans everything from ancient Egyptian mummies and China’s terracotta warriors to a full-sized mock up of the International Space Station and a Dale Chihuly glass sculpture comprising 3,200 pieces. One of the other highlights is the Power of Children, which tells the story of four remarkable 20 th century kids — Anne Frank, Ruby Bridges, Ryan White and Malala Yousafzai — through live theatrical performances and replicas of their bedrooms, classrooms, etc. But the main event for most kids (and adults) is the Dinosphere, where the skeletons of Jurassic giants, Cretaceous creatures and Mesozoic sea monsters are displayed in habitats that reflect what the Earth looked like at those times. At the Paleo Lab, you can watch paleontologists clean, prepare and study the latest bones from dinosaur digs around the country and reach through a window to touch real dinosaur bones. 3000 N. Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46208. Childrensmuseum The Children's Museum of Indianapolis Waiting and Mad by American artist Charles M Russell, 1899. Gift of the Harrison Eiteljorg Gallery ...
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