Dear All,
Are you looking for something special to do on Monday? With the boys and girls out of school and many of you are off work, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a perfect time to have a short “stay-cation” and visit one or several of the many museums in our City. I have put together my annual information guide to some of the places you may want to visit. What is the best part of visiting on Monday? Most are either free or the “cost” is a canned goods donation to benefit Gleaners Food Bank. What a “win – win” for all, you have the opportunity to visit some of our terrific attractions in Indianapolis for basically no charge and Gleaners Food Bank gets a lot of help with stocking their shelves.
Already have plans for Monday or want to know more about the regular hours and admission pricing? I have updated that information along with phone numbers and attached it to this email. This would be great to keep for later use, especially when the children are out of school, you have out of town company, or just want to visit one or more of our wonderful attractions. We have so much to offer in our City, and while this list is far from complete, it gives you a good start.
Look through the information below and also the attachment from White River State Park that tells a lot more about what is going on for MLK Jr. Day, about Gleaners Food Bank, and White River State Park itself. Maybe I will see you out and about over the weekend!
Sunday, January 14th –
Newfields (Indianapolis Museum of Art) – 4000 Michigan Road and also an entrance off of 38th Street – Free Admission with a donation of a canned good item or a toiletry item. They have activities from 1 – 5 p.m. They are closed on Monday.
Monday, January 15th –
Indiana State Museum – 650 W. Washington Street – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free with a can good per person. A lot of special things are going on, especially for children.
IMAX Theater – (Inside Indiana State Museum) Shows at 9:45, 11, 12:30, 2, & 3:30. Amazon Adventure (2D). Free with a donation of a can good. They will start passing out tickets at 9:30. These do go fast, so if you plan on going, get your tickets early as they are usually gone before noon.
Eiteljorg Museum – 500 W. Washington Street – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free. Accepting canned goods. This is the last day for “Jingle Rails“, so if you have not seen this model train experience this is the perfect chance.
NCAA Hall of Champions – 700 W. Washington Street – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free with canned item. They have some new exhibits that you may want to see and check out.
Indianapolis Zoo – 1200 W. Washington Street – 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Free with a can good donation. See the animals that like cooler temperatures as well as the indoor exhibits.
Eugene and Marilyn Glick History Center – 450 W. Ohio Street – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free. Check out the “You Are There” exhibits.
Children’s Museum – 3000 N. Meridian Street – Free. They are accepting canned goods. Remember – “a place where children grow up and adults don’t have to”.
All have free parking on Monday as well.
Outside Marion County –
Conner Prairie Interactive History Park – 13400 Allisonville Road (Fishers) – Free. This is for their indoor area only -Discovery Station, Create, Connect, & Craft Corner.
We are so fortunate to have so many world class attractions right here in Central Indiana. Hopefully you can take advantage of some on Monday, but if not maybe you will be able to plan a visit to one or more soon. Please share this information with others who may be interested.
Below is information for 2018 hours and pricing for some attractions that you may be interested in visiting during the year. Remember that pricing and hours can change during the year, but this is the information given to me in January. A lot of terrific places to enjoy!
Indiana State Museum – 650 W. Washington Street – (317-232-1637)
Normal hours are Mon. – Sat. 10 – 5 and Sun. 11 – 5. It cost $14.95 for adults, $13.95 for seniors and $9.95 for children 3-17 (under 2 is free). If you have an AAA membership there is $1 off. The first Tuesday of every month (keep in mind for summer with children) is called “Community Tuesday” and admission is 50% off. The IMAX has different pricing by the length of the film. The prices are for short films $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $7 for children (3 – 12). The long films (over 60 minutes, not IMAX) are $16.50 for adults and $13.50 for children. Matinees are $15 for adults and $13 for children. Special IMAX are $17.50 for adults and children $14.50. There are also discounts available which can save you a couple of dollars if you attend both the museum and IMAX the same day.
Eiteljorg Museum – 500 W. Washington Street – (317-636-9378)
Normal hours are Mon. – Sat. 10 – 5 and Sun. noon to 5. The admission fees are $13 for adults, $11 for seniors and $7 for children 5 – 17 and those with a Student I.D. There is $2 off regular adult tickets with an AAA card. The first Tues. of the month is $6.50 for adults and seniors, children and students are free. No additional discounts apply on that day.
NCAA Hall of Champions – 700 W. Washington Street – (317-916-HALL)
Normal hours are Tues. – Sat. 10 – 5 and Sun. 12 – 5, however they are closed on Tuesdays as well as Mondays during January and February. Their admission is $5 for adults and $3 for Seniors and Youth
6 – 18. Under 5 is free. Also, they have Community Tuesday on the first Tuesday of the month where you can “Buy One Get One Free” admission.
Indianapolis Zoo and White River Gardens – 1200 W. Washington Street – (317-630-2001)
Normal hours through February are Wed. – Sun. from 9 – 4. The admission during this time averages $8.20 for adults, $7.45 for seniors, and $6.20 for children. Starting the first full week in March they are open every day. The best way to know how much admission is charged is to go on their web site (IndianapolisZoo.com) as it varies day to day. Also, if you purchase advance tickets you end up paying less if it is crowded that day. The range in price is about $18 – $30 for adults and $10 – $20 for children. Usually it is higher on week-ends. There is a $7 parking fee. After Memorial Day the hours are 9 – 5 during the week and 9 – 7 on week-ends. Your admission includes both the Indianapolis Zoo and White River Gardens. They are not separate tickets.
Children’s Museum – 3000 N. Meridian Street – (800-208-KIDS)
Normal hours are currently Tues. – Sun. from 10 – 5 and then starting March 12th they are open on Mondays as well. Prices vary from $12 – $35 for adults, $11 – $33 for seniors, and $9 – $22 for children
- However, the first Thursday of each month they do have evening hours from 4 – 8 and this is $5
per person! They are usually crowded for this evening time. It is always cheaper if you purchase your tickets in advance. There is a Military Discount of 10%, but you must purchase your tickets in person to receive that.
Eugene and Marilyn Glick History Center – 450 W. Ohio Street – (317-232-1882)
Normal hours are 10 – 5 Tues. – Sat. The regular prices are $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $5 for children 5 – 17. Under 4 are free. College students with a student I.D. are $3.50. Parking is free if you bring in your parking ticket. Military and Teachers get free admission! Watch for summer special events and pricing.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum – 4790 W. 16th Street – (317-492-6784)
Currently they are open 10 – 4 seven days a week. Starting March 1st they will be open 9 – 5. Their admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 6 – 15. Children 5 and under are free. With an AAA Card you can buy one and get one admission free. Active Military are free. The “Kiss the Bricks Tour” is a 30 minute tour where you get out of the bus and onto the track. This is $20 for adults and $10 for youth and includes your museum admission. On days where there is inclement weather or something is being done on the track the offer a “Behind the Scenes Tour”, which is also $20 for adults and $10 for youth, and this tour will visit the Pagoda. Grounds Tours are also offered for $30 for adults and $15 for children. They do recommend that you call ahead about the availability of the tours due to weather or other activities.
Newfields (Indianapolis Museum of Art) – 4000 Michigan Road (also entrance off 38th Street)
(317-923- 1331)
General admission is $18 for adults and $10 for children. There is no charge for parking. They have a family area called Star Studio where there are activities for all ages. The hours are Tues., Wed., Fri., and Sat. from 11 – 5, Thurs. 11 – 9, and Sun. 12 – 5. Between now and February 9th the Lilly House will be closed.
On the grounds is also the outdoor “100 Acres: The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art and Nature Park”. This is open dawn to dusk and is free, along with free parking.
Conner Prairie Interactive History Park – 13400 Allisonville Road (Fishers) – (317-776-6000)
Through March 27th hours are Thurs. – Sun. 10 – 5. This is for the Indoor Area only (which has Discovery Station, Create, Connect, & Craft Corner.) It is $8 per person. Starting March 27th through April 12th the Outdoor Area is open for Spring Break and will be open Tues. – Sun. from 10 – 5. Hours staring April 13th through April 30th are Thurs. – Sun. 10 – 5. Starting May 1st the hours will be Tues. – Sun. from 10 – 5 until October 28th in which they go back to winter hours and the outdoors is closed. The admission once the outdoor area opens is $18 for adults, $17 for seniors, and $13 for children 2 – 12.
Don’t forget they also have the Balloon Ride, weather dependant (not currently open), where you can go up in a Hot Air Balloon. This is $15 per person.
While this is definitely not everything available to see and do in Indianapolis or the Metro Area, it is a start. I hope this is very useful and is something you will keep and refer back to when looking for a great way to spend time with family and friends. Also, don’t forget about these places when you have out of town guests. Indianapolis has so much to offer at these wonderful attractions as well as many more.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 3, 2018
White River State Park celebrates MLK, Jr. Day with free admissions
Park attractions open for free in exchange for donations to benefit Gleaners;
Free health screenings offered by Eskenazi Health
INDIANAPOLIS – Visitors to White River State Park attractions will receive free admission and parking on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 15, with a canned good donation (one can per person, per attraction).
“This year, we’re also encouraging people to donate to Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana online in exchange for free admission,” said Sampson Levingston, marketing manager at White River State Park. “Because of its buying power, Gleaners can buy $9 worth of food for every $1 donated, so your contribution goes farther. All you’ll need for admission to Park attractions is a donation receipt on your phone.”
In addition to enjoying the attractions themselves, MLK Jr. Day visitors to the Park can:
- Watch films with Dr. King’s speeches at the Indiana State Museum.
- Preview the new children’s exhibit at the NCAA Hall of Champions.
- Catch Jingle Rails at the Eiteljorg Museum the day before it chugs out of town.
- Get a free ticket to the Indianapolis Indians’ season opener if they complete a health screening at the State Museum.
- See animals that love the cooler temperatures and plenty of indoor exhibits at the Zoo.
- Experience the IMAX® film Amazon Adventure (presented in 2D) for free.
Since it started 18 years ago, the Park’s partnership with Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana on this one-day, annual event has resulted in more than 100 tons of non-perishable, canned food donations.
“The food drive not only helps Hoosiers in need, it allows families to enjoy these wonderful facilities at no cost,” said John Elliott, Gleaners’ president & CEO.
Special activities will take place throughout the day at most of the major attractions that make up White River State Park: Eiteljorg Museum, IMAX® Theater, Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis Zoo and the NCAA® Hall of Champions. The Indianapolis Indians will have activities at the State Museum.
“I love how our visitors rise to the occasion by filling the donation bins to benefit those less fortunate, while enjoying plenty of entertainment and healthy activities throughout the day,” said Carolene Mays-Medley, executive director of White River State Park.
The following FREE activities at Park attractions will be taking place on MLK Day:
- NCAA Hall of Champions: A new permanent children’s exhibit “It All Begins With A Dream” by artist Jingo Illo, will make its debut. Illo will be on hand to talk to guests about the mural he created. There will also be an opportunity for children to post their dreams to the display. For those interested in a little friendly competition that involves using your thinking skills, visitors will find two new interactive exhibits on the second floor: “Make the Grade” and “Trivia Blitz.” Guests can also participate in a scavenger hunt and register for hourly raffle prizes.
- Indianapolis Zoo: Visitors can walk the grounds and see animals, especially the ones that love the cooler temperatures. Favorite activities will include petting sharks, looking eye-to-eye with orangutans and gazing at dolphins.
- IMAX Theater: Amazon Adventure (presented in 2D) will be shown for free as space permits throughout the morning and early afternoon. Make sure to get your IMAX tickets early that morning as there is limited seating. Tickets are typically gone before noon. This film is Rated G and 40 minutes in length. Film title is subject to change.
The film tells the epic, true story of explorer Henry Bates‘ fascinating 11-year journey, through the Amazon rainforest, as a young man who risks his life for science in the 1850’s. As in any great detective story, audiences will experience the compelling clues Bates unearths in his discovery of the phenomenon of mimicry, whereby certain animals adopt the look of others that helps them deceive predators and gain an advantage to survive.
- Indiana State Museum: Explore all that the Indiana State Museum offers for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. There will be an inflatable game with the Indianapolis Indians, roaming historical characters, paper flower and chain crafts, coloring sheets, Indiana Trivia, videos of Dr. King’s speeches and more. Plus, take part in a health screening performed by Eskenazi Health. The Farmer’s Market Café will offer lunch.
- Eiteljorg Museum: Visitors can immerse themselves in Native American and Western cultures with the museum’s many exhibits. It’s your last chance to visit Jingle Rails: The Great Western Adventure, a one-of-a-kind G-scale model train experience. See trains wind past treasures of the American West and Indianapolis, including Hollywood, Mt. Rushmore, Yosemite, the Golden Gate Bridge, Soldiers and Sailors Monument, Lucas Oil Stadium and much more. Jingle Rails features trains that chug along nearly 1,200 feet of track through a network of trestles, bridges and tunnels with detailed replicas of national treasures.
The Park is also offering complimentary parking on MLK, Jr. Day on a first-come, first-served basis and not guaranteed. Visitors may park in one of the following locations:
- The underground garage located off Washington Street just west of West Street,
- The surface parking lots at the Indianapolis Zoo and Victory Field, and
- The surface parking lot across from Victory Field next to the Park’s Visitor’s Center.
For more information about White River State Park, visit www.whiteriverstatepark.org.
# # #
Media contact
Jen Thomas, 317-441-2487, jen@jtprinc.com
Social media
#MLKday @WhiteRiverStPrk
About Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, Inc.
On a yearly basis, hundreds of thousands of hungry Hoosiers depend on food and other critical grocery products provided by Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana. Gleaners supplies items to hunger relief agencies and schools throughout 21 counties in central and southeastern Indiana.
Gleaners was founded in 1980 and is a member of Feeding America the nation’s food bank network. Charity Navigator has recognized Gleaners as a 4-Star organization for six consecutive years, the highest rating for charity demonstrating fiscal management and accountability. Since its inception, Gleaners has distributed over 360 million pounds of food and critical grocery products to nearly 600 hunger relief agencies and partners serving needy Hoosiers. In addition to food distribution to agencies, we serve our most vulnerable populations, seniors and children, through specialty programs such as the BackSacks: Weekend Food for Kids, School-Based Pantry, Mobile Pantry, Summer Meals for Kids, and Senior Hunger Initiative Programs. To learn more, visit www.gleaners.org.
About White River State Park
White River State Park is the epicenter of Indianapolis culture, offering unique experiences with a variety of educational and recreational world-class attractions. The Park is home to the Indianapolis Zoo, Indiana State Museum, IMAX® Theater, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, NCAA® Hall of Champions, Indianapolis Indians Baseball at Victory Field, the Concert Series on the White River State Park Lawn, the Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial and Military Park. To learn more about the Park and its many happenings, visit www.whiteriverstatepark.org.
Sincerely,
Janice McHenry
City-County Councillor District 6