FAQs

From West Street, turn east on New York Street and take the first right into our lot.

It’s free on a first-come, first-served basis with paid admission to the History Center, a visit to the William H. Smith Memorial Library or a $9 purchase at the Basile History Market or Stardust Terrace Café.

The Stardust Terrace Café on our Canal level has a great menu by Jonathan Byrd’s. Current hours are:

Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Yes. The History Center is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The History Market is also open Tuesday through Saturday. The IHS also occasionally offers programs and hosts performances on Sundays and Mondays.

Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day

You can visit the William H. Smith Memorial Library at the History Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and talk to our helpful staff. You can reach them at the reference desk at (317) 234-0321. For more about our family history services, click here.

Yes! We can make prints or digital copies of most of the images seen in our Digital Image Collection (or ask about other items not yet scanned). E-mail us at visualcollections@indianahistory.org to place an order or for more information.

Though we can’t provide monetary appraisals of any kind to the public, we can provide referrals to a number of appraisers who can assess the likely value of an item for a fee.

For questions concerning the donation or sale of manuscript, printed or visual materials, please call (317) 234-0321.

Our library has many sources to help uncover the history of a house, including city directories, local histories, photographic and architectural collections, and maps.

You’ll need to contact the Indiana Historical Bureau through www.in.gov/history or by calling (317) 232-2535.

Please contact the Indiana Landmarks at (317) 639-4534 or visit www.indianalandmarks.org.

Our Local History Services department maintains a contact list of county historians, historical societies and genealogical societies here.

We maintain a list of speakers, interpreters and presenters who will come to your organization to speak. Click here, to find the right person for you.