White River State Park Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids White River State Park
Indianapolis skyline from White River State Park.
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Type	State Park
Location	Marion County, Indiana, United States
Nearest city	Indianapolis
Area	250 acres (100 ha)
Created	1979; 46 years ago (1979)
Operated by	White River State Park Development Commission
Visitors	3.0 to 3.5 million (in 2009)
Status	Open all year

White River State Park is a cool place in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It's one of seven special "cultural districts" in the city. The park covers about 250 acres (1 square kilometer) on the western side of downtown.

This park is home to many exciting attractions. You can visit the Indiana State Museum and its IMAX Theater. There's also the Indianapolis Zoo and White River Gardens. Art lovers can explore the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. Sports fans will enjoy the NCAA Headquarters and Hall of Champions. Other highlights include the Medal of Honor Memorial and Victory Field, where the Indianapolis Indians baseball team plays. The park also has Military Park and hosts concerts at the Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn.

Park History and Development
- Fun Places to Visit
Images for kids
See also

Park History and Development

White River State Park is a special park right in the city of Indianapolis. It's different from the other state parks in Indiana because it's managed by its own group, not the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Work to improve this area started in the late 1980s. People became interested in the Indiana Central Canal again. This canal was first planned in the 1830s to help ship goods across Indiana. However, the project ran out of money, and only the part in Indianapolis was ever dug. Even though it wasn't used for shipping, the canal area has been fixed up. Now, it's a lively cultural center in the city.

Fun Places to Visit

Here are some of the cool places you can visit inside White River State Park:

Historic Pumphouse

This building opened in 1870. It was the first place to pump water for the city of Indianapolis. It closed in 1969. Later, it was added to the National Register for Historic Places in 1980. After being fixed up, it reopened in 1981. Today, it serves as the park's main office and Visitors' Center.

White River State Park Visitors' Center

The Dr. Frank P. Lloyd Sr. Visitors Center opened in 2003. It's a great place to start your visit. You can get information about all the attractions here.

Indianapolis Zoo

The Indianapolis Zoo was the first big attraction in the park. It opened in 1988. You can see many different animals from all over the world here.

White River Gardens

Opened in 1999, White River Gardens is next to the zoo. It features beautiful outdoor gardens and a large conservatory. It's a peaceful place to enjoy nature.

Historic Washington Street Pedestrian Bridge

This bridge first opened in 1916. It was part of the National Road, a famous route across the U.S. In 1999, cool art sculptures were added to the park.

NCAA Headquarters & Hall of Champions

The NCAA moved its main office to Indianapolis in 1999-2000. The NCAA Hall of Champions Museum is also here. It celebrates college sports and athletes.

Indiana State Museum

The Indiana State Museum opened in 2002. It tells the story of Indiana's history, art, and science. You can learn about dinosaurs, famous Hoosiers, and more.

IMAX 3D Theatre

This theater opened in 1996. It's Indiana's only IMAX theater. It shows amazing 3D movies on a giant screen. It's the largest IMAX screen in Indiana.

Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial

This memorial opened in 1999. It honors brave people who received the Medal of Honor. This is the highest award for military heroism in the U.S.

Military Park

Military Park has a long history. Indianapolis had its first Fourth of July party here in 1822. The first Indiana State Fair was held here in 1852. During the Civil War, it was a camp for soldiers. Today, it hosts many events, festivals, and outdoor concerts.

Indiana Historical Society

The Indiana Historical Society was founded in 1830. It's a neighbor to White River State Park. It opened its building in 1999. It collects and shares stories about Indiana's past.

Eiteljorg Museum

The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art opened in 1989. It was the park's second big attraction. It shows art and history from Native American cultures and the American West. In 2005, the museum got bigger. It added more galleries and spaces for learning and events.

Victory Field

Victory Field opened in 1996. It's the home stadium for the Indianapolis Indians baseball team. They play games from April to September. The Indians are a Triple-A team, which is one step below Major League Baseball.

White River State Park Concert Series

The park started its summer concert series in 2004. It began with a temporary stage called the "Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn." This venue could hold 7,500 people. It has been named one of the top outdoor concert venues in the world many times. In 2019, construction started on a new, permanent concert venue. This new place, called "The Amphitheater at White River State Park," will have 3,000 permanent seats. It will also have a lawn area for 4,500 more people. It was planned to be finished in June 2020.

Indiana Cross Country Arena

This arena opened unofficially in 2008. It's a place for cross country running events. The park worked with many groups to create this space. It helps promote health and outdoor activities. It hosts races for middle school, high school, and youth teams.

Images for kids

Indianapolis skyline from White River State Park.

White River State Park facts for kids

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