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Highest-rated museums in Indiana by visitors

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Museums are popular tourist attractions because they provide fun ways to learn about history, science, and culture. As stewards of our civilization, they collect and exhibit items of significant importance, typically based around a theme, topic, or place. Many cover areas like art, natural history, or science, but some museums dedicate themselves to highly specific topics like mustard, play, hot air balloons, and even funeral history. Ultimately, museums present a window into different eras of society so people can learn about the past.

Collecting, preserving, and displaying items is not a new idea. The world's first museum dates to about 530 B.C., a project of Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna, a Babylonian who had a collection of Mesopotamian artifacts. The oldest public museums still in existence are the Capitoline Museums in Rome, a collection of art and archeology museums started in 1471. America's oldest museum predates our country's founding. The Charleston Museum, a preservation of South Carolinian Lowcountry history, opened in 1773.

Museums are important not just because they preserve important elements of our history and culture but also because they can improve our well-being. Naturally, museums promote education and learning and can also bring joy. Researchers studying art museums found that they can reduce depression and increase people's sense of belonging. Quiet museum environments allow people to slow down and relax, and looking at exhibits can reduce stress. Museums also foster community by hosting events, activities, and tours that encourage social interaction.

No wonder they attract nearly 900 million visits a year.

With over 30,000 museums in the country to choose from, there's something for everyone. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated museums in Indiana on Tripadvisor as of Aug. 11, 2025. Tripadvisor rankings factor in the average rating and number of reviews. Keep reading to see what museums are in your own home state.

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#28. Children's Museum of Evansville

Tripadvisor

3 / 30

#28. Children's Museum of Evansville

- Rating: 4.2/5 (107 reviews)
- City: Evansville
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#27. Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library

Tripadvisor

4 / 30

#27. Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library

- Rating: 4.5/5 (74 reviews)
- City: Indianapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#23. Santa Claus Museum & Village

Tripadvisor

8 / 30

#23. Santa Claus Museum & Village

- Rating: 4.3/5 (135 reviews)
- City: Santa Claus
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#22. Indiana Medical History Museum

Tripadvisor

9 / 30

#22. Indiana Medical History Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (128 reviews)
- City: Indianapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#19. NCAA Hall of Champions

Tripadvisor

12 / 30

#19. NCAA Hall of Champions

- Rating: 3.7/5 (282 reviews)
- City: Indianapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#18. Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science

Tripadvisor

13 / 30

#18. Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science

- Rating: 4.3/5 (156 reviews)
- City: Evansville
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#17. Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor and Museum

Tripadvisor

14 / 30

#17. Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor and Museum

- Rating: 4.3/5 (442 reviews)
- City: Columbus
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#15. Oldfields-Lilly House and Gardens

Tripadvisor

16 / 30

#15. Oldfields-Lilly House and Gardens

- Rating: 4.5/5 (149 reviews)
- City: Indianapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#13. Candles Holocaust Museum

Tripadvisor

18 / 30

#13. Candles Holocaust Museum

- Rating: 4.9/5 (164 reviews)
- City: Terre Haute
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#8. Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum

Tripadvisor

23 / 30

#8. Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum

- Rating: 4.9/5 (645 reviews)
- City: Auburn
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#5. Studebaker National Museum

Tripadvisor

26 / 30

#5. Studebaker National Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (628 reviews)
- City: South Bend
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#2. Children's Museum of Indianapolis

Tripadvisor

29 / 30

#2. Children's Museum of Indianapolis

- Rating: 4.7/5 (3,989 reviews)
- City: Indianapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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