EXPLORE POWERFUL, BOLD AND INSPIRING STORIES
Art lovers, science fans, outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs! Welcome to the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites. Here, we create experiences and exhibits designed to captivate visitors of all ages and interests by bringing artifacts, stories and places to life. With everything from historic mansions and wooded retreats, to a working grist mill and Indiana’s first capitol, you and your family can follow the threads of powerful stories all across the state with experiences that are still relevant today.
Explore Our Exhibits
Wander Our Galleries
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An Evolving Collection
Gallery One
Interact with our unique collection of objects in playful and unexpected ways.
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A Totally Different Indiana
Ancient Seas
Travel back millions of years to explore the ecosystems.
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Explore Indiana's Natural History
R.B. Annis Naturalist’s Lab
Explore Indiana’s natural history through your senses.
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A State of Change
Frozen Reign
Explore the Ice Age, beginning with a trip through an ice tunnel beneath a glacier.
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Indiana's Founding People
First Nations
Discover how ancestors of today’s Native Americans built vibrant communities in Indiana.
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Discover Diverse Landscapes
Natural Regions
Discover Indiana’s diverse and dramatic landscapes as early European explorers would have seen them.
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Indiana's Journey to Statehood
Contested Territory
Learn how Indiana moved from territory to statehood.
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Step into pioneer Indiana
19th State
Step into pioneer Indiana and learn why and how settlers made their homes in our state.
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People Who Lived in Early Indiana
The Hoosier Way
Learn how Indiana forged its identity as it emerged from the Pioneer era.
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Connecting Through Railroads
Crossroads of America
Learn how Hoosiers connected physically through railroads and shared messages through newspapers, books and music.
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Contributions to U.S. Milestones
Enterprise Indiana
Experience American milestones through the lens of Indiana’s contributions.
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Indiana's Influence on the World
Global Indiana
Demonstrating Indiana’s influence on a global scale.
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Hoosiers who made an impact
American Originals
Visit a room filled with the faces of famous Hoosiers.
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People Who Shaped Indiana
Legacy Theater
Providing a diverse cultural experience of Black heritage in Indiana.
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Visit Our Historic Sites
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Evansville, Indiana
Angel Mounds
A thousand years ago, southwest Indiana was home to a thriving community of Native Americans.
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Corydon, Indiana
Corydon Capitol
From Corydon’s colorful beginnings, Hoosier statesmen carefully built the foundations for the state we know today.
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New Albany, Indiana
Culbertson Mansion
The Culbertson Mansion reflects the affluence of a man once considered to be the wealthiest in Indiana.
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Rome City, Indiana
Gene Stratton-Porter
Explore the home of a beloved author, photographer, naturalist and entrepreneur.
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Madison, Indiana
Lanier Mansion
The perfect opportunity to encounter, explore and experience life as it was in the 1840s.
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Fountain City, Indiana
Levi & Catharine Coffin House
As conductors for the Underground Railroad, the Coffins helped more than 1,000 freedom-seekers to safety.
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Geneva, Indiana
Limberlost
The Limberlost Swamp was the perfect laboratory for author Gene Stratton-Porter to study nature.
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New Harmony, Indiana
New Harmony
Explore the birthplace of two 19th-century utopian communities
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Nashville, Indiana
T.C. Steele
Hoosier painter T.C. Steele and his wife Selma built their home in 1907 amongst these rolling hills.
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Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes
Explore Indiana’s oldest city, where territory officials made decisions that changed the future of the entire Midwest.
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Metamora, Indiana
Whitewater Canal
Discover how this 1840s feat of engineering changed Indiana from a pioneer outpost to the “Crossroads of America."
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Programs
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May 29, 2024 10:00 am - 12:00 pmCulbertson Mansion
Homeschool Day (ages 5-12)
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May 29, 2024 10:00 am - 11:00 amIndiana State Museum
Toddler Time: Building Blocks
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May 30, 2024 10:00 am - 11:00 amIndiana State Museum
Toddler Time: Building Blocks
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Jun 1, 2024 10:00 am - 4:00 pmLanier Mansion
Lanier Day
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Jun 1, 2024 10:00 am - 12:00 pmLimberlost
Spring Loblolly Wildflower Safari
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Jun 1, 2024 11:15 am - 12:00 pmT.C. Steele
Children's Tours of Historic Buildings
Latest BLog Posts
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Posted April 29, 2024
Case Clock Turns Back Time at Corydon Capitol
A 200-year-old case clock has returned to its original home at the Corydon Capitol State Historic Site.
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Posted April 23, 2024
New Ancient Seas Experience Will Open This Summer
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Posted March 12, 2024
Levi and Catharine Coffin Receive National Honor
By Joanna Hahn, Central Region Manager, Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site
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Posted March 11, 2024
Women’s History Month
This month we're honoring five female history makers with Hoosier ties
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Posted March 1, 2024
Catharine Coffin Honored with USPS Stamp
Catharine Coffin honored with a U.S. Postal Service Forever stamp for her antislavery work.
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Posted February 13, 2024
How Thomas Lincoln Elevated Frontier Furniture
A Federal-style chest made by Thomas Lincoln came to be restored and displayed at the Indiana State Museum.
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Posted December 20, 2023
“Dear St. Nick”
At Lanier Mansion State Historic Site, workers discovered a lightly burnt piece of paper with a child’s handwriting on it.
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Posted December 8, 2023
Complete Refresh of 92 County Tree
Featuring completely new ornaments that will represent the counties for years to come.
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Posted September 15, 2023
Volunteer Shares her Ancestor’s Story
Storytelling is at the heart of everything we do at the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites.
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Our Mission
To serve as a catalyst for informal lifelong learning that connects the stories of real people, places and things.
Our Vision
Be the leader in informal lifelong learning that is recognized, sought-after and celebrated regionally, nationally and globally.