Free Admission Martin Luther King Jr Day Events at Museums in Indianapolis

Many Indianapolis-area kids are out of school on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In honor of the day, local museums are offering special free admission Martin Luther King Jr. Day programming. These opportunities will help your kids learn and remember the life and legacy of Dr. King. We have a complete list of Indy-area museums you can visit for free on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Mark your calendar for January 15, 2024.

Be sure to check out the Kennedy-King Landmark for Peace at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Indy.

Free Museum Admission in Indianapolis

Newfields

Sunday, January 14, 2024
1-4 pm

Celebrate MLK Day with free admission to Newfields on Sunday, January 14. Please bring a donation of a canned good, personal care item, or art supplies in lieu of your admission fee. Newfields is closed on Mondays, therefore this celebration will take place the day before Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Monday, January 15, 2024
10 am-5 pm

Free advance ticket required. Celebrate the life, achievements, and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with special performances by The Griot Drum Ensemble at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Guests can also listen as storyteller Portia Jackson introduces guests to courageous children of the Civil Rights Movement.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis will offer special free admission Martin Luther King Jr Day programming.

Indiana Historical Society

Monday, January 15, 2024
10 am-5 pm

Pause and reflect as we remember Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. through the power of music. Admission is free but advanced ticket reservations are required. Tickets will be available beginning January 5, 2024.

White River State Park

Monday, January 15, 2024

Enjoy free parking and admission to White River State Park and other nearby attractions. For the past 20 years, White River State Park has partnered with Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana to host an annual event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In lieu of canned goods, visitors are asked to make monetary donations to Gleaners Food Bank via “dip jars” around the park and the museums.

Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art

Monday, January 15, 2024
10 am-5 pm

Enjoy free admission and get one last chance to visit Jingle Rails until next November. Visitors can immerse themselves in Native American and Western cultures and explore activities in the Nina Mason Pulliam Education Center.

The Eiteljorg will offer special free admission Martin Luther King Jr Day programming and a final chance to see Jingle Rails this season.

Indiana State Museum

Monday, January 15, 2024
10 am-5 pm

Celebrate Dr. King’s dream and explore the ongoing struggle for civil rights and equity in America at the Indiana State Museum. Watch some of Dr. King’s most iconic speeches, enjoy a performance by Meraki Dance Company, and participate in activities that reflect on what you can do to ensure the dream lives on for future generations.

IMAX® Theater

Monday, January 15, 2024
10 am-5 pm

Visit the IMAX Theater at the Indiana State Museum for free movie showings on the giant screen. Tickets will be available at the State Museum ticket booth on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is met. 

NCAA Hall of Champions

Monday, January 15, 2024
10 am-5 pm

Though normally closed on Mondays, the NCAA Hall of Champions will be open and offering free admission in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The Indianapolis Zoo

Monday, January 15, 2024
9 am-4 pm

Admission to the Indianapolis Zoo is free, but a monetary or food pantry donation is encouraged. Weather permitting, the hardier animals will be out to enjoy the day. Alternatively, duck into the indoor exhibits, including Oceans, the Dolphin Dome, Deserts Dome, Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center, and the Hilbert Conservatory. Café on the Commons will have a $5 combo meal that includes a  hot dog, chips, and a drink.

The Indianapolis Zoo will offer a special free admission Martin Luther King Jr Day opportunity.

The Indiana Historical Society

Monday, January 15, 2024
10 am-4 pm

Visit the Indiana Historical Society for storytelling, music, and to contribute to the “Be the Change” mural. Storytime is scheduled from 10:30-11:30 am, or plan your visit to include a special concert with Keisha Ballinger and the University United Methodist Church Praise Team from 2-4 pm. Guests are asked to consider donating to a local charity in place of their admission and can also enjoy perusing the museum’s many exhibits.

Free Admission Martin Luther King Day Events Outside of Indy

Indiana State Historic Sites

Monday, January 15, 2024
Times vary

Most of Indiana’s State Historic Sites will host free admission days for Martin Luther King Jr Day. Take a day trip away from Indy and learn something new about the rich history of our state. Visitors are encouraged to contact the specific site they wish to visit ahead of time to learn more about planned activities and to secure your space. Most sites will have limited capacity. PLEASE NOTE: New Harmony, Whitewater Canal, and Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Sites will not be open.

Conner Prairie

Monday, January 16, 2023
10 am-5 pm

Not scheduled for 2024 due to Welcome Center renovations.

Join Conner Prairie in the Welcome Center for a variety of activities celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.  Guests can celebrate this year’s MLK Day Theme, Love, through art, music, activism, and the elevation of female voices.

See the full list of all of the Indianapolis free museum admission days.

Free indoor playgrounds are perfect for cold winter days.

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