Memorabilia from both World Wars and Vietnam are on display in this interesting museum. A wide range of paraphernalia used by the US military is showcased, providing visitors with a glimpse of what many of the brave soldiers had with them on the battlefield.

Adults and children of all ages enjoy viewing and participating in the many hands-on exhibits provided by this interesting museum. A life-size learning tree is the setting for reading time, and a real stage is set up for precious puppet shows. Scientific exhibits, an arts and crafts area, and toys from the past are also included. Be sure to visit the huge stuffed polar bear and the water clock, which are two of the most popular attractions.

DOWNTOWN. The exhibits displayed in this museum illustrate various aspects of life in America's Wild West. A number of the works bear the names of such renowned artists as Georgia O'Keeffe and Frederick Remington. Some of the displays highlight artifacts chronicling the trials and tribulations of the lives of Native Americans. The souvenir shop includes a number of items that would make a perfect gift for someone special or a great keepsake for yourself.

Part of the State Museum, Freetown Village is a living history museum that lets visitors get a glimpse of the lives of free African Americans living in 1870, just five years after the end of the Civil War. Costumed actors represent composite characters determined from the 1870 Indianapolis census, and the geography of the exhibit focuses on the city's old Fourth Ward. The museum offers an outstanding program called "Evening Dinner with Freetown Village," a unique chance for you to experience a historically focused, family-style meal including the likes of smothered cabbage, black-eyed pea soup and cornmeal hoecakes.

The historical pathology lab in which this museum resides is one of the oldest in the nation. Its primary purpose was to provide a base for the study of mental illness; as such, surgical tools from the 1800s are on display, as are a doctor's kit from the Civil War and patent medicines. Visitors with a particular interest in medical history may want to peruse a book on rare diseases in the library or sit in on a seminar in the lecture hall.