Free art in Indianapolis
Indianapolis Museum of Art Northwest of downtown, view permanent European, Asian, African and contemporary collections (left) on 152 sculpture-dotted acres. Also on the grounds: The 22-room Lilly house provides a look at life on a country estate in the early 20th century.
Indianapolis Art Center The center offers interactive exhibitions and artist demonstrations, both indoors and in a 12-acre creativity park.
Memorial wall
Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial, Indianapolis A glass wall (left) in White River State Park honors recipients of the nation's highest military tribute. Each day at dusk, the memorial's sound system plays recorded stories of medal winners and the conflicts in which they fought.
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Soldiers' tributes
Indiana War Memorials, Indianapolis Climb 330 steps to the top of the 1902 Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (left) for a 360-degree view of Indy (or ride the $1 elevator). Also nearby are the Indiana War Memorial Museum, Indiana War Memorial Plaza, Veterans' Memorial Plaza, USS Indianapolis Memorial, University Park and American Legion Mall -- all free.
For fossil lovers
Falls of the Ohio State Park, Clarksville You can see one of the largest naturally exposed fossil beds along the Ohio River in Clarksville (about 100 miles southwest of Cincinnati, just across the river north of Louisville, Kentucky).
Fossil collecting is not allowed, but you can explore up to 220 acres of fossil beds. Naturalists lead hikers across the beds from June through October, when the river is low and you can see the imprints of creatures from more than 380 million years ago.
For a fee, you can also visit the blufftop Interpretive Center, which shows a movie recounting the area's history.
Hiking in Richmond
Whitewater Gorge Park Trail, Richmond A popular 3.5-mile hiking trail goes through downtown Richmond (about 75 miles east of Indianapolis) to Thistlewaite Falls, a bird sanctuary, vertical cliffs, Happy Hollow, Weir Dam and an old flour mill.
Know of other free things to enjoy Indiana? Add them in the Comments section below!
