Indiana War Memorial

If you're into history or architecture, the Indiana War Memorial is a must see! I recently made my first visit to the Memorial and was blown away. I have passed the building many times, but there always seemed to be construction going on. I never imagined the treasures and stories this 90 year old building holds. My husband and I visited last Wednesday. We climbed the stairs outside and admired the statues, architecture and amazing views. The sculptures are the work of Henry Hering, a renowned artist. Inside, the building is grand with an art deco feel. Marble staircases, elaborately carved wood trim and painted ceilings grace the halls. The security person told us to start the self guided museum in the basement and work our way up. The museum covers Indiana territory starting from the Revolutionary War through modern wars and conflicts. Descriptions of battles and original flags are interesting to see. The museum has archived everything imaginable including uniforms, electronics and letters. I was brought to tears hearing the story of Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Sam Davis. A comprehensive honor roll of Indiana veterans fills two marble stairways. As we climbed further up, we found the Shrine Room, an immense and ornate room to remember those who served. The room is surrounded by red Vermont marble columns and vertical stained glass windows bring in colorful light. The museum is free, but donations are accepted. Plan about two hours to walk through. Metered street parking surrounds the complex. A visit is meaningful and educational.

Visiting the Indiana War Memorial recently, we were a little tight on time so we didn't go inside. What we did do was take some time for a leisurely walk around the outside.Tip: The Memorial is quite impressive when viewed from the outside; when you walk up the stairs you'll be treated to a pretty nice view from either side :-)Overall I'd say the Memorial is well worth a visit. Down the road, given the time, I'd like to return and tour the inside as well. As for others, I'd suggest that if you're going to visit here that you allow enough time to see both the inside and the outside in one trip.

Where do I even begin? This museum is a mammoth, eye catching building that towers over downtown Indianapolis. It's architecturally stunning, and the last think I expected to visit during our trip here (for the Taylor Swift Eras Tour). Thankfully it was open this Sunday morning, and my husband and I spent over an hour and a half walking through the beautiful building dedicated to US war history (with a focus on Indiana's contributions to each conflict). The war memorial is breathtakingly beautiful and the displays are poignant and memorable. My husband and I are both Army veterans (2000s era) and it was very moving. Definitely a must see when you come to this city!

Visiting and exploring the Indiana war Museum, dedicated to World War I and II and other events happening in the US was a truly enlightening experience. The museum's dedication to preserving and presenting the events of these significant periods in history was commendable.One of the standout features of the museum was its rich collection of artifacts and props. From authentic weapons and uniforms to personal belongings of soldiers, each item told a story and added depth to the narrative of the wars. The attention to detail in displaying these artifacts was evident, making it feel like stepping back in time. The photographs throughout the exhibits was another highlight. Admission was free, offering a quiet and clean environment for visitors to enjoy.

Just WOW! This is one of the best war museums I've ever visited. My husband and I spent several hours here. We were encouraged to start at the bottom and work our way up because that is the chronological border of the museum. I wish I had done the opposite. We always learn about early American wars, but I know so little about the wars from the last few decades. Make sure to save time for this section.

Great place with a lot of history. Sometimes you forget that there are nice places like this to visit in Indianapolis. Very important to remember that they are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays but open Wednesdays through Sundays 9-5.

In June of next year, 2024, it will have been 80 years since my 20 year old father stepped foot on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France and survived to marry my mother and create myself and my sister. He graduated IU Bloomington while in the ROTC in 1943 and immediately went into Officer's Candidate School. I think about that a lot and seek out and visit memorials dedicated to the "greatest generation." Even though this memorial was built primarily for veterans of the First World War it is still a must see destination, in my opinion, because the free museum covers every war beginning with a siege near Vincennes before the United States was a country and became independent of Great Britain and ends with all of the modern conflicts of the Middle East.This building is very impressive. Construction began after WW1 and was interrupted by WW2. The auditorium is currently under renovation. The seats have been removed and I saw workmen working on the floor tiles. But everything else is open, free and available. Outside, on the south side, it is 80 steps from the street level sidewalk to the shrine level. Inside, there is an elevator and a ramp to reach the summit where the shrine's altar is located. This is an extremely impressive room and structure. It looks like it belongs in our nation's capital. I don't think anything like this will ever be built again. I think everyone should see this at least once in their lifetime.The museum is very comprehensive. It covers the Revolutionary War, the Spanish War, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, 9/11, The Iraq wars, and Afghanistan. The museum coverage focuses on Indiana's role and the Hoosiers that have fought in all the various wars and conflicts. There is a lot of attention to the USS Indianapolis heavy cruiser that carried the two atomic bombs and was sunk afterwards and the USS Indiana battleship. I think what impressed me the most was their extensive collection of uniforms, not just for soldiers and sailors, but for civilians as well. I was impressed by the woman from Indiana who was the first female Marine.Please check out the restrooms. Note that it says, "Gents" instead of Men. And that there is a "lounge" with stuffed sofas and chairs before going into the tiled restroom. This is how it was in the downtown movie theaters back when it was just one film showing per movie house decades before multiplex cinemas showed up in suburbia. The reason these lounges were provided for women was so they could adjust their stockings privately. I'm really showing my age here but it is what I remember about being a baby boomer in the 1950s and from what my mother told me.

It's titled as a memorial, and I dropped in towards the end of their hours to view the memorial shrine. However, the museum element comprises multiple floors and several rooms and a whole range of war history, which I regrettably had barely time to glance at. The memorial shrine is quite magnificent. I also noted with some amusement that the portrait of a French WWI leader looked remarkably like his presentation in the Netflix version of All Quiet on the Western Front.Moving on down to the museum rooms, they start with the original European exploration and settlement of what is now Indiana, and cover the whole range of wars (foreign wars at least, the Civil War wasn't a big focus). Notably, the U.S.S. Indianapolis was a major piece of naval history that is covered with a full room to itself here, but they also have 9/11, World War I, and everything else in between. There was no charge to enter, though a donation box was available.Part of a larger complex, this was an impressive structure, and I may well stop in for a more thorough perusal of the exhibits. As a native Washingtonian, I enjoy spending Memorial Day directing our veterans to their various spots in our nation's capitol. I am very familiar some of with the best military memorials and museums available, in various locales. I was nonetheless surprised and impressed at what I found in Indianapolis.

A few blocks north of Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis, you will find the Indiana war memorial. The outside of the building alone is a spectacular work of architecture. Inside is even more magnificent. The entrance is located on the north side of the building. This is also where you will find a ramp.Inside there are many spectacular elements to see. The auditorium was spectacular. My next visit was up several stairs to the Shrine room. Immediately when you enter the shrine room you are greeted with an amazing American flag and as you look towards the ceiling you'll notice the magnificent star and several small blue stars. The presence of the American flag is inspiring. I could easily have sat in that room for hours. You will also notice several paintings of major Military leaders. After dragging ourselves away from the Shrine room we entered the museum area of the memorial. This area walks you through every war and major conflict that the United States was a part of. There were many things that we saw that made me reflect the sacrifice the men and women of this country went through for our freedom.This is a wonderful tourist destination in Indianapolis and it seems underrated for all that it has to offer. Not to mention that it is free! How many places can say that. You should give yourself at least an hour and a half or 2 hrs. I felt a little rushed because we went around lunchtime and I was getting too hungry to give it my full attention . This will be a must visit destination anytime I have visitors in town, but I definitely won't wait for them to go back!

My girlfriend and I visited the Indiana War Memorial Museum and I feel like it was a great experience. I'm someone who loves learning about history and I really enjoyed the collection of artifacts from both World Wars and the civil war. The museum did an excellent job of showcasing a few individual war stories and experiences of soldiers through different attractions. They showed us things like uniforms, weapons, and other gadgets. Each section was put near other things that related to them, and a lot of effort went into preserving these items. I found myself immersed in a lot of these displays, especially the ones focusing on local involvement in the wars.The museum's layout was well thought out, and easy to follow. The exhibits were detailed and I could probably spend hours there reading through different items historical context. I was impressed by the range of memorabilia, which ranged from small personal items to full on military vehicles. There was a lot of attention to detail and I learned more than I expected to. It was also quieter and less crowded than i expected it to be. The Indiana War Memorial is fascinating to people like myself, and being inside the monument was pretty cool. The museum is also located inside a historic building. The staff were friendly when I walked in to directing us where we wanted to go. I left feeling glad I went and would certainly go back.