# Indiana State Museum Winter STEAM Labs & Giant Foucault Pendulum

> Place to go for families in the Indianapolis–Carmel–Greenwood area (IN). Times are Eastern Time.

- When: Open on its own schedule
- Where: Indiana State Museum, 650 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
- Ages: All ages (Preschool play zones and interactive STEAM maker labs for youth ages 4–14)
- Price: $16–$20 adult admission; $12–$14 youth (ages 3–17); Free for children 2 and under; Indiana College Student and Access Pass discounts available
- Organizer: Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites
- Official page: https://www.indianamuseum.org/
- Last checked: Thu, Nov 5

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/indiana-state-museum-winter-steam-labs-and-giant-foucault-pendulum--listing-8454994171b2a42b8f6bc197

## About

Situated along the downtown canal inside White River State Park, the Indiana State Museum showcases Indiana's natural science, cultural heritage, and engineering achievements across three sprawling indoor levels. In the center of the soaring core atrium, children are mesmerized by the giant 212-pound brass Foucault Pendulum swinging silently across a compass floor, demonstrating the Earth's rotation in real time. In the natural history wing, families step into the Ice Age gallery to marvel at full-scale reconstructed skeletons of mastodons and mammoths excavated right here in Indiana. Young makers and engineers love the Cardboard Engineering and STEAM Maker Studio, where kids use real tools, gears, and recyclable materials to construct inventive prototypes. The indoor environment provides an educational refuge during cold winter weekends, with canal-side cafe dining and IMAX theater experiences on site.

Family Experience & Accessibility:
• Stroller Accessibility: Fully ADA compliant and step-free throughout, featuring broad hallways, smooth terrazzo floors, and modern elevators connecting all exhibition galleries.
• Nursing & Rest Spots: Private mother's nursing room located on Level 1 near the central restrooms, comfortable lounge seating throughout atrium spaces, and spacious family restrooms.
• Age Suitability: Engaging for toddlers through high schoolers; hands-on discovery carts and maker spaces are especially suited for ages 4 to 12.
• Sensory Tips: Spacious galleries with varied lighting conditions; quiet alcoves and low-sensory rest zones are marked throughout the museum; sensory kits available at guest services.

## Similar picks in Indianapolis

- [Slippery Slimy Science! for Ages 3–5 at The Children's Museum](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/slippery-slimy-science-for-ages-3-5-at-the-children-s-museum--listing-72bb24766ac47f8b83940858) — Wed, Nov 11 (+1 more date) · 9:15 AM · The Children's Museum of Indianapolis · Ages 3–5 · From $27.25 · checked Oct 30. Families with 3- to 5-year-olds team up for three messy sensory science experiments: oobleck, clean mud and slime. The program needs a minimum number of families; if it doesn't…
- [The Children's Museum of Indianapolis Winter Discovery & STEM Galleries](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/the-children-s-museum-of-indianapolis-winter-discovery-and-stem-galler--listing-4ed54b7e81f0acb9500112be) — Open on its own schedule · The Children's Museum of Indianapolis · All ages · From $22 · checked Nov 5. As the largest children's museum in the world, spanning five expansive floors and nearly 500,000 square feet of hands-on interactive exhibits, The Children's Museum of…
- [Early Childhood Programs at the Indiana State Museum (Toddler Time, Small Wonders, Messy Mondays, Stay and Play)](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/early-childhood-programs-at-the-indiana-state-museum-toddler-time-smal--listing-e15e7245459af0cbf64d41c0) — Toddler Time Wed/Thu 10–11 am, Sat 9–10 am; Small Wonders Wed/Sat 10–11 am; Messy… · Indiana State Museum · Ages 1–6 · From $13 · checked Oct 30. Weekly one-hour programs in Firefly Landing, the museum's early-childhood space: Toddler Time (18–36 months), Small Wonders (3–5), Messy Mondays (2–5), 90-minute Stay and Play…
- [Christmas Nights of Lights at Indiana State Fairgrounds](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/christmas-nights-of-lights-at-indiana-state-fairgrounds--listing-57126c1733f72eb5f84240f6) — Nov 13 – Jan 1 · 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM · Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center · All ages · From $35 · checked Nov 5. Christmas Nights of Lights at the Indiana State Fairgrounds is Central Indiana's largest drive-through holiday light show, featuring more than one million synchronized RGB LED…
- [Sensory Friendly Afternoon at the Indiana State Museum](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/sensory-friendly-afternoon-at-the-indiana-state-museum--listing-ac523bf97753068cc43e27a6) — Sun, Nov 15 · 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM · Indiana State Museum · All ages · From $17 · sensory-friendly · checked Oct 24. A two-hour afternoon at the Indiana State Museum tailored to visitors with sensory processing needs and their families. Social narratives are available at the ticket counter to…
- [Eiteljorg Museum Winter Western Art & Native American Family Workshops](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/eiteljorg-museum-winter-western-art-and-native-american-family-worksho--listing-06ae72cbbdbb899b40bdb655) — Open on its own schedule · Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art · All ages · From $18 · checked Nov 5. Perched on the scenic Central Canal in downtown Indianapolis's White River State Park, the Eiteljorg Museum is one of only two museums east of the Mississippi dedicated to both…

## More for families

- [Things to do with kids at Indiana State Museum](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/venues/indiana-state-museum) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/venues/indiana-state-museum.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Marion County, IN](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/counties/marion-county-in) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/counties/marion-county-in.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Indianapolis — November 2026](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/events/2026-11) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/events/2026-11.md)
- [This weekend in Indianapolis](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/this-weekend.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Indianapolis](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis.md)
