Col. Eli Lilly Civil War Museum

For those looking for the Museum at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument (middle of Monument Circle) to find this museum, you are looking in the wrong place. Back in 2018, the collection was moved to the Indiana World War Monument (431 N Meridian) to provide more display space and to do repair work under the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. As of the time of this review, the collection has been moved for over a year and my thoughts are part of the review listed on that location.According to the staff working in the Soldiers and Sailors gift shop (located on the south side of the monument at the top of the steps), something new will occupy the space under the monument once repairs have been completed. It has not been released what will go in the space.Review #2581

As a previous review mentioned, I'm surprised more people haven't written about this place! When many people think of Indy, they think of Monument Circle. But did you know that there's a museum in the bottom of the Monument? Well, there is! I'm a fan of museums, but some times, they can be overwhelming. By the time you're done, you're exhausted and can't even comprehend the items towards the end. Luckily, this museum is quite the opposite. It's short and sweet and after learning about the various Indiana-focused facts, you get to travel to the top of the Monument and check out the Circle City from above.Locals, tourists, and everyone in between: give it a shot. You might even learn something new! And hey, it's free!

Such a cool little surprise under the Monument! It's been closed for a few months for renovation. I'm excited to see the updates! They have a wonderful collection of civil war and Indiana artifacts. I always love stopping here.

How are there not more reviews of this place? Do you not know it is here? Read my review and then get your butt over there! This is a FREE MUSEUM, so that alone bumped up the stars to at least four. Add in the fact that the museum is Indiana-centric, in the basement of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, is dark and super creepy, has really cool artifacts including a chunk of tree trunk with a cannon ball stuck in it that soldiers cut from Gettysburg and brought back here, how could I not give it five stars?!?!- It's free, but don't be a jerk - donate a couple bucks.- You won't need much time. If you only skim the exhibits, you will be out in five minutes. Read every card and you might be there an hour.- Did I mention, please donate to this lovely free museum?- Read the medical treatment cards and be so grateful we live in a time of modern medicine. - Can't figure out where to get in? The entrance is on the southwest side of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument (Monument Circle).

For what it is a self guided tour of a free museum in the basement of the towering war memorial based on the history of Indiana in the civil war, this place is pretty darn good, there is not much room for improvement. There is a video that loops when you 1st walk in though one can not be certain about when it it starts(how about a timer guys?). Some of the displays had a lack of detail attached to them so you weren't sure of what you looking at or its significance those negatives aside a truly stunning display of cannon rifles and other artifacts.The Museum takes donations and there is a gift shop above, even if your not up for watching a video biography I recommend at least looking at the exhibits, if you do not buy a item from the gift shop please make a small donation.

This museum is a very cool (and free!) find along the base of the tower. It is small and quaint, but super informative, kid friendly, and interactive!The compact size and dimness of it makes it feel more intimate and calming when slowly walking around each interesting and packed exhibit. There aren't too many corridors, but there are enough different ones which correspond to the time periods. There is plenty to look at from the historic costumes to the real equipment the soldiers used. My favorite exhibits were the living spaces and everyday tools the soldiers habitated with as well as a preserved tree trunk with a cannonball still embedded in it! The bathrooms and drinking fountains are very clean accessible from the entrance, the gift shop was tiny but full of cool mementos and mini replicas of the tower and such, and the people running the museum were friendly and informative. A definite must-see when touring monument circle and need a break from the sun!

This is an unknown gem of a Civil War museum. It's completely free and you'll most likely be the only person in the whole place when you visit. There are a lot of videos to sit through and displays to read. It's tiny, but you could easily spend a couple hours in here if you read and sit through everything.

I literally stumbled upon this free attraction by chance. I had been to Monument Circle (and thus the Monument) many times during this trip and in the past but I had never noticed that there was a full (small but full) Civil War Museum beneath the monument complete with some really interesting items from that time period. I always find learning more about places that I'm visiting is really interesting and this was no exception. I definitely learned more than I already knew and enjoyed wandering the exhibits.Directional signage was occasionally a bit confusing which is perhaps the only downside of this little museum tour -- I could tell that the folks maintaining it were trying to make clear the direction to walk to enjoy all the exhibits but it wasn't always as straightforward as one might expect.

Really cool spot you wouldn't expect. Entry is cheap. Whether you're a carpet baggin' yankee son of a bitch or an honorable member of the Army of Northern Virginia... this is a must see attraction for Indianapolis

This is a must visit! You can either climb up 300+ stairs to the top which is not air conditioned or pay $2 to ride the tiny elevator. Just looking at the outside of this monument is a lot to take in , too. There's so much to see and learn. At the bottom of the monument there is the civil war museum. Very cool!!