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Indiana State Museum
The Indiana State Museum is a museum located in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The museum houses exhibits on the science, art, culture, and history of Indiana from prehistoric times to the present day.
The original collection began in 1862 as a cabinet of curiosities collected by State Librarian R. Deloss Brown. In 1869, the Indiana General Assembly enacted a law that provided “for the collection and preservation of a Geological and Mineralogical Cabinet of the Natural History of this State”. Under the Department of Geology and Natural Science, the collection was placed in the charge of a state geologist, who was hired on a two-year term and assigned the task of surveying, organizing, and labeling the collection. Over the years, the collection grew mostly unchecked as the natural history collection increased and miscellaneous cultural items, many relating to the recent Civil War, were added forming an entirely new category of collections.
The museum's collection remained on display on the third floor of the Statehouse until 1919, when it was moved to the basement to make room for the Indiana Department of Conservation. When the collection was placed in the basement of the Statehouse, it fell into a state of decline for almost 45 years, where inadequate protection and preservation of items resulted in many specimens disappearing or becoming unusable. The neglect led to the museum completely closing once in the late 1920s and again in the early 1960s.
During the administration of Governor Harold W. Handley (1957–1961), the legislature authorized a Museum Study Commission to examine the State Museum, its collections, and its programs, and then propose recommendations for the future of the museum. The commission recommended that the State invest in the construction of a new facility as the Statehouse was no longer an adequate or appropriate location for the museum. The Museum would require relocation if it wished to continue its purpose of educating visitors about the history and culture of Indiana.
Planning for the new location of the museum occurred largely during the administration of Governor Matthew E. Welsh (1961–1965), whom with the help of Donald E. Foltz, director of the Indiana Department of Conservation, vetted the recently vacated Indianapolis City Hall as a possible site for the museum. The old City Hall was originally designed in 1910 by Rubush and Hunter and some refurbishments would be needed make it home to a museum. In 1963, the state leased the old City Hall building and began renovations, officials dedicated and formally opened the new museum site in 1967. The museum displayed exhibits concerning Indiana's cultural and natural history through collections of Indiana art, political memorabilia, natural history specimens, geological materials, and Native American artifacts.
In 1976, the Indiana State Museum received accreditation from the American Association of Museums, now known as the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). An AAM accreditation signifies a mark of excellence to the museum community and recognizes a “museum’s commitment to and demonstration of, the professional standards for education, public service, and collections care.”
This new location of the museum attracted a new and enthusiastic audience which led to an increase in significant donations of artifacts to the collections. The museum collection began to outgrow its Old City Hall space by the late 1970s. The Museum was again on the search for a new home.
In 1979, the Indiana General Assembly created the White River State Park Development Commission to create a new state park to celebrate Indiana, and hosting a new site for the Indiana State Museum fit ideally with the commission's plans. The museum board approved a move to the White River State Park area in 1984.
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Indiana State Museum
The Indiana State Museum is a museum located in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The museum houses exhibits on the science, art, culture, and history of Indiana from prehistoric times to the present day.
The original collection began in 1862 as a cabinet of curiosities collected by State Librarian R. Deloss Brown. In 1869, the Indiana General Assembly enacted a law that provided “for the collection and preservation of a Geological and Mineralogical Cabinet of the Natural History of this State”. Under the Department of Geology and Natural Science, the collection was placed in the charge of a state geologist, who was hired on a two-year term and assigned the task of surveying, organizing, and labeling the collection. Over the years, the collection grew mostly unchecked as the natural history collection increased and miscellaneous cultural items, many relating to the recent Civil War, were added forming an entirely new category of collections.
The museum's collection remained on display on the third floor of the Statehouse until 1919, when it was moved to the basement to make room for the Indiana Department of Conservation. When the collection was placed in the basement of the Statehouse, it fell into a state of decline for almost 45 years, where inadequate protection and preservation of items resulted in many specimens disappearing or becoming unusable. The neglect led to the museum completely closing once in the late 1920s and again in the early 1960s.
During the administration of Governor Harold W. Handley (1957–1961), the legislature authorized a Museum Study Commission to examine the State Museum, its collections, and its programs, and then propose recommendations for the future of the museum. The commission recommended that the State invest in the construction of a new facility as the Statehouse was no longer an adequate or appropriate location for the museum. The Museum would require relocation if it wished to continue its purpose of educating visitors about the history and culture of Indiana.
Planning for the new location of the museum occurred largely during the administration of Governor Matthew E. Welsh (1961–1965), whom with the help of Donald E. Foltz, director of the Indiana Department of Conservation, vetted the recently vacated Indianapolis City Hall as a possible site for the museum. The old City Hall was originally designed in 1910 by Rubush and Hunter and some refurbishments would be needed make it home to a museum. In 1963, the state leased the old City Hall building and began renovations, officials dedicated and formally opened the new museum site in 1967. The museum displayed exhibits concerning Indiana's cultural and natural history through collections of Indiana art, political memorabilia, natural history specimens, geological materials, and Native American artifacts.
In 1976, the Indiana State Museum received accreditation from the American Association of Museums, now known as the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). An AAM accreditation signifies a mark of excellence to the museum community and recognizes a “museum’s commitment to and demonstration of, the professional standards for education, public service, and collections care.”
This new location of the museum attracted a new and enthusiastic audience which led to an increase in significant donations of artifacts to the collections. The museum collection began to outgrow its Old City Hall space by the late 1970s. The Museum was again on the search for a new home.
In 1979, the Indiana General Assembly created the White River State Park Development Commission to create a new state park to celebrate Indiana, and hosting a new site for the Indiana State Museum fit ideally with the commission's plans. The museum board approved a move to the White River State Park area in 1984.