Soldiers and Sailors Monument

Editor’s Note: The interior of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, including access to the observation deck, is currently closed for repairs. Save this adventure for your Indianapolis family bucket list and check for reopening information before planning your visit.

There are some places in Indianapolis that you drive past approximately one million times and think, “We really should do that sometime.”

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument was one of those places for me.

It is right there in the middle of downtown Indianapolis. It is the centerpiece of the Circle. It is the thing you see on postcards, downtown photos, Christmas decorations, souvenir magnets, and probably every local news station transition shot ever made.

We have walked around it. We have driven around it. We have admired it. We have pointed it out to visitors.

But taking my kids inside the Monument and going all the way to the top? That was a completely different Indianapolis experience.

And by “experience,” I mean local history, incredible downtown views, and a very clear reminder that my children have far more stair-climbing energy than I do.

Visiting the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Indianapolis with Kids

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument was built to honor Indiana’s veterans, and it is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Indianapolis. It stands more than 284 feet tall, just a little shorter than the Statue of Liberty.

That little piece of trivia immediately makes the experience more exciting for kids.

Suddenly, this is not just “the big monument downtown.” This is a giant tower we can go inside. This is an Indianapolis adventure. This is something we are going to conquer.

Entry is on the south side of the Monument, where you head up the exterior steps and through the doors. Once inside, visitors typically have two options for getting to the observation deck: climb all 331 steps or take the elevator most of the way and climb the final 31 steps.

As a mother who loves a memorable family adventure but also has no need to prove anything to anyone, I was perfectly happy with the elevator option.

Thirty-one steps still count as exercise. I do not make the rules.

Riding the Elevator Inside the Indianapolis Soldiers and Sailors Monument

The elevator inside the Monument is not a sprawling modern elevator where your whole family can casually roll in with a wagon, snacks, backpacks, and room to spare.

It is cozy.

It is historic.

It is the kind of elevator ride that makes you very aware that you are currently traveling upward inside an enormous stone monument that was completed more than a century ago.

My kids thought this was delightful.

I also thought it was delightful, but in the way adults enjoy things while quietly hoping everything mechanical continues doing exactly what it is supposed to do.

Up we went.

When the elevator doors opened, we still had stairs to climb before reaching the observation deck. This is when my children, who can sometimes act like carrying their own jackets from the car is an unreasonable burden, transformed into energetic little mountain goats.

They raced up the stairs while I followed behind, offering encouraging statements like, “Wow, this is so cool!” and “Look how high we are!” which were both true and also excellent cover for catching my breath.

The View From the Soldiers and Sailors Monument Observation Deck

Once we reached the observation deck, the entire experience was completely worth it.

From the top of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, downtown Indianapolis looks both familiar and brand new. The Circle below suddenly looks tiny. Buildings we pass all the time become pieces of a giant city puzzle. Streets stretch out in every direction, and the kids can look through the windows, trying to find places they recognize.

“Is that where we parked?”

“Is that the Statehouse?”

“Can we see our house?”

No, my dear children, we cannot see our house from the middle of downtown Indianapolis, but I admire your optimism.

There is something really special about seeing your own city from above with your kids. Downtown becomes more than a place where you park for an event, stop for lunch, or hurry everyone across a busy street. From the observation deck, kids get to see Indianapolis as a real city stretching out around them.

And it gives parents a wonderful opportunity to confidently point out a few familiar landmarks before eventually saying, “I am pretty sure that building is an office.”

Why Families Should Visit the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Indianapolis

One of the things I loved most about taking my kids to the top of the Monument was that it turned a place we already knew into something completely new.

Kids love an outing with a mission.

We are going inside the giant monument.

We are going up to the top.

We are going to look down at the city.

We are going to see Indianapolis from a place most people only think about from the sidewalk.

For local families, it is a great reminder that some of the most interesting adventures are hiding right in the middle of places we pass all the time. For visitors, it is an incredible way to experience one of Indianapolis’ most iconic landmarks.

It is also the kind of outing that can easily be added to a downtown family day. When access to the observation deck resumes, families can pair a visit with a walk around Monument Circle, a treat downtown, lunch nearby, or another downtown Indianapolis attraction.

This does not have to be a huge, complicated outing. It is one of those simple experiences that kids will remember because it feels unusual and special.

Learning Indianapolis History at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument

Of course, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument is more than a great place to climb and see the city.

The Monument was built to honor Hoosier veterans, and visiting with kids creates a natural opportunity to talk about why places like this exist. Even younger children can understand that it was created to remember people from Indiana who served their country.

You do not need to turn the outing into a full history lesson. Sometimes, just pausing to explain that this beautiful landmark was built to honor real people helps kids understand their city in a deeper way.

And then, because they are kids, they will immediately return to asking whether they can climb more stairs or get a snack.

Balance.

Know Before You Go: Soldiers and Sailors Monument Observation Deck

When the interior of the Monument and the observation deck reopen, keep in mind that reaching the top requires some stairs, even when using the elevator. The elevator takes visitors most of the way up, but there are still 31 steps to reach the observation deck. Families who choose the full stair-climbing experience can tackle all 331 steps.

The interior and observation deck are currently closed for repairs, so families should check for reopening updates before planning this specific adventure. The exterior of the Monument and Monument Circle are still worth visiting and remain one of the most beautiful places to explore in downtown Indianapolis.

Add the Soldiers and Sailors Monument to Your Indianapolis Family Bucket List

Taking my kids to the top of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument was one of those outings that reminded me why I love exploring Indianapolis with them.

It was simple. It was memorable. It was a place we had already seen many times, but somehow it felt completely different once we stepped inside and made our way to the top.

There was history.

There was a gorgeous view.

There were stairs.

There was a small amount of maternal huffing and puffing presented as enthusiasm.

Address
1 Monument Circle
Indianapolis
IN
46204

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