Visitors can enjoy activities, tours at central Indiana locations on June 20
INDIANAPOLIS — In celebration of Juneteenth, the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites will offer free admission on Saturday, June 20, at its 12 locations across the state, including the four locations in central Indiana.
The Indiana State Museum and the Levi and Catharine Coffin, T.C. Steele and Whitewater Canal state historic sites will welcome visitors from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in honor of the holiday, which is recognized federally on June 19 and commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States following the Civil War. The museum system’s free days are supported by the Lacy Foundation.
At the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis, the Juneteenth Saturday Celebration will offer a wide variety of family-friendly activities, vendors, entertainment and more. The event is supported by Katz, Sapper & Miller, the Indy Arts Council and the City of Indianapolis.
All three floors of the museum will be open for attendees to explore, including Legacy: The Black Experience where visitors can chat with a museum curator and get up close with newly added artifacts that share important stories of Indiana’s past. Visitors can see a special showing of the documentary “The Tuskegee Airmen: Return to Ramitelli” then join a discussion with modern-day pilots focused on the legacy of America’s first Black military aviators.
Cultural performances will take place throughout the day, highlighting African dance, Double Dutch jump rope and folk music. Families can express their creativity through a collaborative abstract mural, watch demonstrations by local artists and browse vendor booths offering art, jewelry, food and more.
The Juneteenth Saturday Celebration will also include a health and wellness fair supported by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, where visitors can connect with community partners, find service providers, and enjoy giveaways and activities designed to help them be healthy and get active. Family members can receive free on-site health screenings from the Marion County Health Department and children and adults will receive free bike helmets (while supplies last) from Riley Children’s Health at Indiana University Health. Attendees can also meet the therapy dogs from Paws & Think and enter for the chance to win $250 toward a college savings account from Indiana529.
At the Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site in Fountain City, visitors can take a guided tour of the Coffins’ home to see what life was like for the Quaker couple as they supported the Underground Railroad. Among many highlights in the modest house, which became known as “the Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad,” visitors can peer inside a narrow cubby on the second floor that once concealed freedom-seekers as they made their way north on the Underground Railroad. Guided tours are available at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
At T.C. Steele State Historic Site in Nashville, visitors can take a guided tour to see the charming home, known as the House of the Singing Winds, that the renowned impressionist artist shared with his second wife, Selma. Inside the large studio, guests can also get up close to a rotating selection of Steele’s original paintings. Guided building tours are offered at 10:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Additionally, visitors take a self-guided hike to discover the outdoor studio, featuring a wagon modeled after Steele’s own traveling studio, and explore the site’s expansive natural surroundings, including the real locations that inspired Steele’s artworks.
At the Whitewater Canal site in Metamora, attendees can visit the Grist Mill to see real grain grinding demonstrations and purchase freshly ground corn. Families can explore the transportation discovery space to learn how Hoosiers used to get from place to place. Visitors can also explore the town’s rich canal history and learn about the crucial role canals played for the transportation of people and goods in early America. Mill demonstrations take place at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Tours are available at the historic sites on a first-come, first-served basis, and advance registration is required by calling the sites directly. For more information about Juneteenth offerings at other Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites locations across the state, visit IndianaMuseum.org.
About the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites
The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites is a museum system with 12 one-of-a-kind locations across the state that ignite wonder, inspire curiosity, reveal stories and create connections. The museum, located in White River State Park in downtown Indianapolis, serves as a central hub offering immersive experiences for visitors of every age and interest — from art and architecture, to history and culture, to science and nature. The historic sites stretch north to the shores of Sylvan Lake, south to the banks of the Ohio River and many places in between. Learn more at IndianaMuseum.org.
