Many Indianapolis-area kids are out of school on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In honor of the day, local museums are offering free admission and special MLK 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 16, 2023.
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 15, 2023
11 am-4 pm
Celebrate MLK Day with free admission to Newfields on Sunday, January 15. 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 16, 2023
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. Guests can also listen as storyteller Portia Jackson introduces guests to courageous children of the Civil Rights Movement.
Indiana Historical Society
Monday, January 16, 2023
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. Visitors are invited to bring a donation of new children’s clothes, books, or cash for Charity Cares Early Academy.
Rhythm! Discovery Center – TEMPORARILY CLOSED
Monday, January 16, 2023
10 am-5 pm
Due to flooding in December, Rhythm! Discovery Center will not be able to offer free admission for Martin Luther King Day as it has traditionally done in the past. The museum plans to reopen in the coming months following repairs.
White River State Park
Monday, January 16, 2023
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 16, 2023
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.
Indiana State Museum
Monday, January 16, 2023
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 16, 2023
10 am-5 pm
Visit the IMAX Theater at the Indiana State Museum for free showings of Into America’s Wild. Journey throughout the nation to explore some of America’s most stunning natural wonders. Tickets are available at the State Museum ticket booth on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is met.
NCAA Hall of Champions
Monday, January 16, 2023
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 16, 2023
9 am-4 pm
Admission 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.
Free Museum Admission in Hamilton County
Conner Prairie
Monday, January 16, 2023
10 am-5 pm
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.
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