As one of the top attractions in Indiana, the Indianapolis Museum of Art connects visitors to a world of creativity. Its collection of more than 54,000 works of art spans 5,000 years and includes works from the world over. In the last few years, the art museum in Indianapolis completed a massive expansion project, adding 164,000 square feet and renovating 90,000 square feet of existing space. The expanded museum was outfitted with the extensive Clowes Special Exhibition Gallery. And the 600-seat Tobias Theater, nicknamed the Toby, also was renovated. This venue brings talks, performances, and films to the Indianapolis museum.

Each day, a variety of regularly scheduled tours introduce the permanent collection, and tours of the special exhibits are offered as well. Significant holdings in works from Africa, Europe, Asia, and modern pieces complement the new collection of the decorative arts from the Renaissance to today. The newest collection includes English porcelain from Wedgwood, American glass by Louis Comfort Tiffany, and metalwork from Paul Revere. Many of the works in the Eiteljorg Gallery of African Art are displayed out in the open, while the European galleries feature painting, sculpture, prints and home decor items from the twelfth through the early twentieth centuries, including works by Old Masters and Impressionists as well as artists of the modern era. The collection of American art is quite varied; visitors to this Indianapolis museum can see work by Native Americans, American modernists including Georgia O'Keeffe, Impressionists, and creations by The Hoosier Group.

The art museum in Indianapolis also features more than 150 acres of lovely gardens and grounds and plans to open 100 Acres: the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park, one of the largest contemporary art parks found anywhere. This urban oasis, scheduled to open fall 2009, borders the White River and will be in work in progress as new art is unveiled each year.

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Visitors to the Indianapolis Museum of Art also can admire the Oldfields-Lilly House, a historic estate on the IMA grounds. The American Country Place mansion is surrounded by formal gardens, designed by the Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm, who designed many of America's best known parks and gardens. Today, visitors can admire the allee with the towering trees and the beautiful Ravine Garden Within the estate, visitors will find furnished historic rooms, many of which reflect the 1930s when the Lily family lived there, as well as interactive exhibits and samples of businessman J.K. Lilly's world-renowned collections of books, gold coins, and miniatures.

Admission to Indianapolis Museum of Art as well as the house and gardens is free, although there may be a fee, at times, to see the special exhibits that come to this art museum in Indianapolis. Visitors also can enjoy meals at the museum café or savor fine dining at Puck's, a partnership between the museum and the famed chef, Wolfgang Puck. A number of gift shops are found throughout the Indianapolis museum.

This Indianapolis museum is one of the many attractions in downtown Indianapolis. The home of the Indy 500, the state's capital city is also features the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis Zoo at White River State Park, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art, and NCAA Hall of Champions, all located near each other and a variety of Indianapolis hotels. Indiana vacation packages that include Indianapolis are sure to be packed with fun.