EXPLORE
Indiana War Memorial
The Indiana War Memorial— unequivocally the crown jewel of the War Memorial Plaza National Historic District—was built to honor Hoosier veterans of World War I.
Today, through the Indiana War Museum, it also conveys the contributions and sacrifices of Hoosier service men and women from the Revolutionary War through recent peacekeeping operations and conflicts.
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday,
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission to the museum is free, although donations are appreciated.
Enter through main entrance at 55 East Michigan Street. Get directions
Special features and exhibits in the three-floor building include:
THE ELI LILLY CIVIL WAR EXHIBITION is now open at the Indiana War Memorial Museum. The exhibition has a number of new items on display that have never before been on display to the public.
ON JULY 30, 2020, THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL, its highest civilian honor, to the Final Crew of the USS Indianapolis CA 35 during a ceremony at the Indiana War Memorial. The Congressional Gold Medal is on display at the Indiana War Memorial Museum in the USS Indianapolis Exhibition.
MUSEUM PORTRAYING INDIANA’S MILITARY HISTORY in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, the Gulf War, the War on Terror in Afghanistan and Iraq, and various peacekeeping operations around the world
SHRINE ROOM, a symbolic and solemn space designed with materials from all the Allied nations of WWI to commemorate the “war to end all wars”
EXHIBITS featuring thousands of weapons, uniforms, medals, artillery, vehicles, models, military equipment, and other artifacts. A few highlights include:
- Battle control center of the fast attack nuclear submarine USS Indianapolis
- AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopter, a Vietnam War era helicopter
- Desert Storm Humvee
BATTLE FLAG COLLECTION, of over 400 battle flags, from the Mexican War to the Persian Gulf War
USS Indianapolis CA35 Radio Room that gives a glimpse of the history of U.S. Navy radio equipment
THE EXTERIOR OF THE INDIANA WAR MEMORIAL is also richly adorned with historical significance. It was designed to closely resemble the appearance of the original Mausoleum, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Each side of the building has six columns, with six sculpted figures representing courage, memory, peace, victory, liberty and patriotism. The Pro Patria statue on the south steps of the memorial aptly communicates all that the memorial stands for with its Latin meaning, “For country.”
Fast Facts
The Garrison Flag, the largest flag at an outpost or military base, hangs in the Shrine Room.
The Indiana War Memorial is 210 feet tall.
The names of Hoosiers who participated in WWI are listed throughout the building.
The Shrine Room was dedicated on Armistice Day in 1933.
General John J. Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe in WWI, laid the cornerstone of the Indiana War Memorial on July 4, 1927.
The same poet who wrote the quotations on the Lincoln Memorial wrote quotations featured in the Shrine Room.
There are over 400 battle flags in the IWM collection, including more than 300 Civil War flags. They are rotated for display on a regular basis.