Now that the kids are getting a bit older, I find that we venture out into the public more often.  We have begun exploring our city and quite often find ourselves downtown. 

Of course, having the Engineer work in the city also encourages us to travel that direction.  Most recently we visited the Indiana State Museum’s (ISM) newest exhibit, Celebration Crossing. 

Last year was our first trip (in pajamas) to the ISM to watch The Polar Express in 3-D.

However, the rest of the museum was closed. Important fact.

The boys have been attempting to persuade me  that the exhibits come alive when no one is looking.  To see if their hypothesis was right, we traipsed around the entire Indiana State Museum recently. 

Several times. 

Until they finally wore out.  I suppose I should have allowed them to use the elevator.  We primarily climbed the stairs.  (Is that mean?)

What is at Celebration Crossing?

Located on Level 3 of the Indiana State Museum, vying for my children’s attention were dinosaurs on one side and, in contrast, the sparkle of Celebration Crossing before us.

At Celebration Crossing, children (and adults) may:

• ride the Santa Clause Express and spend some time discussing history with the train conductor.  And if you’re lucky, he just might give you a lifetime ticket to ride the Indiana State Museum Santa Clause Express.

• admire and discuss how time works (I remember being in awe of this time-keeping pendulum when I was a child!)

• meet Raggedy Ann (she is a Hoosier, you know) and take home a snowflake

• visit with Santa Clause (my children were not allowed to share with Santa Clause their 12 point list of why he does not exist. Classical Conversations is certainly helping improve their logical reasoning!)  However, I must admit their faces were certainly amusing when asked what they wanted for Christmas.  They surveyed Santa Clause with rather incredulous looks.  I think poor Santa shook his head after my chidden left his lap, wondering at the state of children’s imaginations today. 

• make crafts
• survey the old L.S. Ayres window display (this brought back memories for me).  As a child, going to the L.S.Ayres Tea Room with my mom was a BIG deal.  In fact, I told the kids that going there for Mother’s Day sure would be a nice treat.  Or maybe I could go there with my mom sometime soon (did you hear that Mom?  I know you read my blog!)
• make a giant foam marble run at Santa’s Playground

• admire the gorgeous setting of the Indiana State Museum

and seriously discuss how the evergreens are stabilized on the high window ledges (this type of dialogue happens when your sons’ dad is an engineer)

• eat at the AMAZING Farmers’ Market Café.  We sat in that corner window in the picture above.   (I’m really hoping they start serving Brickhouse Coffee there!)

• And if you still have time after all that, visit the other exhibits.  One particular exhibit was the surprise favorite, The Fiery Trail: Memorial Prints of the Civil War.  The boys were mesmerized by this collection of history depicted through artwork.

Plan on spending several hours at the Indiana State Museum.  Especially if you have older children; there is more than just the Celebration Crossing to enrich your Hoosier experience. 

• Cost: Adults $10, Children $5.50
• Hours:  10 AM to 5 PM
• Parking:  $3

Thanks Indy Geek Girls and the Indiana State Museum for this super fun day to spend out and about with my kiddos! 

What are you doing on New Year’s Eve?

Something to think about – spending New Year’s Eve at the Indiana State Museum’s family friend event . . . complete with a balloon drop.  I’m all for it!

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