Now the two institutions are coming together againg to present a exhibit at the airport’s KIND Gallery titled “Memories, Wonders, and Dreams: Stories from 100 Years”—a centennial tribute to the world’s largest children’s museum.
The exhibit is located post-security in Concourse A at IND and will be showcasing a curated selection of objects and photographs from the museum’s vast archive and collection through January 26.
Travelers flying into Indianapolis International Airport (IND) will notice that the airport’s central terminal currently looks like a basketball court.
The WNBC All-Star 2025 game is taking place in Indianapolis on July 18 and 19, and the airport is marking the occasion by covering the public Civic Plaza with a replica floor image of the official WNBA All-Star basketball court.
The basketball court appliqué features 19 stars from the Indiana state flag, the Indiana Fever team colors, all of the WNBA teams’ logos and the WNBA’s three-point line. The court will be in place until July 21.
No pick-up basketball games are allowed while the faux court is in place, but there are some events planned.
The line-up includes a “Run the Court” social media contest with a chance to win a scheduled game of HORSE on the court floor.
Other events include community “Zumba on the Court” (July 8), performance jump roping with the Indy Air Bears (July 10), Kicasso Shoe Painting (July 11), the HIPOK9 Trick Dog Show (July 14), and the Young at Heart Senior Line Dancers (July 16).
For travelers who do want to shoot some hoops, there’s a traditional arcade-style Pop-A-Shots in the Pacers Courtside Club restaurant in the Civic Plaza year-round that’s free to play during the restaurant’s operating hours.
The exhibit honors Hoosier natives and state institutions with significant roles in aviation history and is located in the IND Bag Claim, near Carousel 3.
The list includes the first flight at Kitty Hawk, the Apollo 11 mission, Amelia Earhart, the Tuskegee Airmen and Rolls Royce.
Here’s a sample of the people, places and achievements honored in the exhibit:
Wilbur Wright, a Millville, Ind., native flew the first airplane flight in 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
Margaret Hamilton, from Paoli, Ind., invented software engineering and wrote the code for the Apollo 11 mission, helping to put Neil Armstrong on the moon in 1969.
Lewis A. Jackson, an Angola, Ind., native combined his aviation skills with his education degree to become the Director of Training for the 99th Pursuit Squadron of Tuskegee Airmen during World War II.
Col. Harvey Weir Cook, a Wilkinson, Ind., native, a military hero, and the namesake of the Indianapolis International Airport campus, was instrumental in educating the public in the 1930s about the history of flight and aviation via his radio show sponsored by Pennant Syrup.
Purdue University. Amelia Earhart joined the staff in 1935 as the “Counselor on Careers for Women” and during her four years there encouraged many women to join Purdue’s aeronautics engineering program.
Through the end of 2024, the airport’s KIND Gallery, on Concourse A, is hosting an exhibit created by the museum that honors the late writer, artist, teacher, and Indianapolis native Kurt Vonnegut.
Like the dowtown museum, the Vonnegut exhibit at the airport tells the story of Vonnegut’s life and explores some his influences, from his upbringing in Indianapolis to his time as a prisoner of war during World War II to his journey to becoming a beloved writer of the 20th Century.
One of his typewriters is on display, along with photos, artwork, personal effects and, of course his books.
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“Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God.”
Vonnegut gave those words to the character named Bokonon in his book, Cat’s Cradle.
“Kurt loved flying into Indy,” said Vonnegut Museum Founder and CEO Julia Whitehead. “Now to have his life, works and memory on exhibit prominently in the best airport in the country is a beautiful way to honor and share his legacy.”
Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) has a new interactive mural, titled “Fly With Us,” by local artist Matthew McDowell that invites passengers to take pictures with their mural ‘wings.’
Now introducing an interactive experience at RNO! When you #FlyRNO, we encourage you to strike a pose and capture the moment. Inspired by the beautiful Reno-Tahoe landscape, muralist Matthew McDowell brought to life Nevada symbols and the act of taking flight. #FlyWithUsRNOpic.twitter.com/hjLmAsVUad
— Reno-Tahoe Int’l Airport (@RenoAirport) June 15, 2023
Indianapolis artist Brenna McCarty has been commissioned to create a new art piece that will be the first permanent art installation since the new terminal opened in 2008.
Scheduled to be installed this fall, the new artwork will be a 40’ by 100’ hanging sculpture representing unity and global connection.
It will be suspended above the escalators and stairs leading into the Baggage Claim area of the terminal, so should be hard to miss.
This mural by Tasha Beckwith honors Indianapolis hair-care entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker, who is credited as being the first female self-made millionaire in America.
These Lounge-Like Chairs
These powered privacy chairs are usually seen in airline lounges. At IND you’ll find them in a gate hold area.
This Free Pop-a-Shot Basketball Game
At IND’s pre-security Civic Plaza, the Indiana Pacers Courtside Club celebrates the local Indiana Pacers basketball team. Adjacent to the restaurant is a free pop-a-shot basketball game.
This Bookstore
Airport concessionaire Hudson does a nice job with its Ink-branded shop selling books, magazines, and gifts in IND.
These Cute and Corny Souvenirs
Souvenir shopping is one our favorite things to do at airports. IND shops don’t disappoint.
Hundreds of airports around the world use Twitter as one of their tools to share news and updates with the public.
The social media site is in flux (to say the least) at the moment. But for now, it’s still a great way to find out at a glance what some of our favorite airports are up to.
And, as part of its 60th anniversary year, Dulles International Airport (IAD), reminded us of the mobile lounges that were used to transport passengers between the terminals and their planes.
Introducing our newest, fun gadget in the terminal 👓💦
Tomorrow starting at 10 to 11 am, we’ll give free cleanings to the first 5 passengers who say “hey” to our friends at @opticwash.
— Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (@AUStinAirport) November 7, 2022
Take a calming pause with our latest exhibition, “PRESENT” by Ian Patrick O’Connor. Using large-format film photography, the artist creates images using the urban environment, color, & space, to evoke an overall sense of well-being. #ArtsatMIA 📰: https://t.co/GKEr50GHk4pic.twitter.com/SBVldQUy5M
Holly Jolly Jetway is back! 🎅 ✈️ Don’t miss your chance to see Santa’s special stop at IND on Saturday, November 26. Gather the whole family for an afternoon of games, crafts, and festive fun. Registration opens on November 11. #HollyJollyJetway#SantasINDTownpic.twitter.com/CmGAM0lvhh
— Indianapolis International Airport (IND) (@INDairport) November 7, 2022
Last weekend, hundreds of pilots and aviation enthusiasts converged on Tampa Executive Airport (VDF) for the 2022 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Regional Fly-in. The annual two-day event brought in 170 aircraft! ✈️ pic.twitter.com/sssE5L8nJA
#ICYMI Coke and the Detroit Red Wings teamed up to bring smiles to the faces of DTW customers and staff. Two former Red Wings players, Drew Miller and Jason Woolley, talked to fans and even signed notebooks and hockey pucks. Thank you @Coke & @DetroitRedWings! pic.twitter.com/zYPc3dqeMT
— Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (@PHXSkyHarbor) November 7, 2022
The first of its kind! We introduced the Mobile Lounge to the world when we opened in 1962. Back then, they were used to transport passengers between the Main Terminal and their aircraft which were parked out on a jet ramp. #Dulles60pic.twitter.com/UpIPPGLWYq
Indianapolis International Airport (IND) hosted a Poetry Day this week with poetry readings and live music in honor of National Poetry Month.
But there’s poetry at IND year-round.
A video exhibit on Concourse A features a selection of poems by Mari Evans, one of the founders of the Black Arts Movement.
A poem by Mari Evans is one of the six poems featured in a series of 14 floor-to-ceiling glass panes in the concourses. The mural collection, The Indiana Windows, is the work of British artist Martin Donlin, who created the poetry-inclusive mural series using more than 2,000 hand-blown panes of glass.
Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is all spruced up to welcome nearly 100,000 visitors to town for the College Football National Playoff Championship. Festivities will be taking place all weekend leading up to the Jan. 10 championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The stage is set and we're ready to welcome nearly 100,000 fans to Indy for #CFBPlayoff National Championship game! 🏈 🏆 Starting tomorrow through Tuesday, January 11, we will have live local music from 2 – 4 p.m. in Civic Plaza in addition to art, décor, and lots more! pic.twitter.com/rZ0dWcZIEq
— Indianapolis International Airport (IND) (@INDairport) January 7, 2022
In addition to lots of fun signage and pop-up souvenir spots, IND will be hosting live music performances in Civic Plaza by Indy musicians from January 7 to 11 from 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
There’s also a photo opp site set up outside the Ground Transportation Center featuring a goalpost mural with 3D effects.
And the 22 For 22 poster show is on display in Civic Plaza through Jan. 11. The exhibit features poster art by 22 graphic artists and illustrators from Central Indiana and focuses on a theme of common football phrases.
Fans are invited to bid on framed 24×36 prints of their favorite designs through Sunday, January 9. Proceeds go to Teach Indy.
A few months back, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) joined the list of airports offering mobile food ordering. The OrderSEA program works with the Grab and At Your Gate programs, offering pick-up and gate delivery options from more than 16 airport food outlets.
As a bonus, some travelers who order gate delivery find the At Your Gate delivery person accompanied by a Gita-branded robot like the one at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) named Nom Nom.
Now that it has been on site a while, SEA wants the Gita robot to be part of the permanen team. So they’re asking the public to help choose a name.
Have any ideas?
Share your creative robot names! 🤖 With a few months under its tires, our OrderSEA food delivery robot wants its own special SEA identity. So it’s time for a new name and we need your help. Learn how to submit a name idea and read our naming guidelines → https://t.co/pN1tcUvs08pic.twitter.com/uOAdguu0ef
Called Zoom Zone and located in Terminal B between Gates 24 and 25, the 600-square foot space was created with support from Zoom (Zoom Video Communications Inc.) and has an aviation theme.
Features of the Zoom Zone include a Pin Screen, a Bird Climber, a Zoom Plane, and a Kinectic Butterfly. There’s also an Alphabet Airplane that invites kids to open airplane window shades and discover objects representing destinations.
Zoom Zone is officially OPEN! 🥳 The lovely folks of @Zoom, @PurpleMuseum and @HenselPhelps made this aviation-themed play space possible, and they joined us today for a joyous ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside City Councilmember @RaulPeralez.
— San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) (@FlySJC) October 28, 2021
Nature Photos at IND Airport
Camouflaged Spider by Ronda Hamm
Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is hosting a new photography exhibition titled Indiana, Naturally through December 2021 in both the Ticketing Hall and in cases in Concourses A and B. The exhibition is part of a larger, ongoing cultural collaboration between the Indianapolis Airport Authority and the Arts Council of Indianapolis. Here are a few of the images. See more here.
Blue Sky Coreopsis by Jeanette Jeanette JaskulaZalman Wainhaus, Somewhere Silent
