Glide through the Park and experience a scenic tour of our 250-acres of green spaces, waterways, wildlife, and more! Tours past all of the Park’s attractions, Indianapolis Historic Central Canal (Cultural District), and more. The gliding adventure includes a training session, use of a safety helmet, and the mobile experience of a lifetime. Reservations are required. Call 317-253-1910 or 317-569-0879 to reserve your one-of-a-kind gliding adventure in White River State Park!
Explore White River State park, miles of biking paths, and the Historic Central Canal with our fleet of pedal-powered recreational bicycles and boats. Bike rentals are located next to The Wishard Growing Place Indy Slow Food Garden at White River State Park and boat rentals are located on the Historic Central Canal Walk at the corner of Ohio and West streets (canal level adjacent to Indianapolis Firehouse #13). Enjoy affordable fun for the whole family!
Salute America's greatest heroes at this memorial celebrating the more than 3,400 Americans who have received our country's highest award for military valor. While listening to stirring stories of courage and heroism recorded by Medal of Honor recipients, you can search the memorial's etched glass (waves or sails) to find names of heroes from more than 15 conflicts dating back to the Civil War. Please check-in at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society website for more information and a full archive of recipients (searchable by various catagories).
From Celebration Plaza greenspace stroll west across Historic Old Washington Street Pedestrian Bridge to arrive at BisonPlaza - before Indianapolis Zoo's large iron gate back entrance. Nestled amid seasonal foliage with a magnificent metal bison art statue, this plaza garden creates a unique environment.
Have questions about your visit? Want to buy a Park Pass? Check-in just off Washington Street in the "heart" of the Park. You will find a Park and city concierge, brochures, gift shop, maps, public restrooms, and more. Please call 800-665-9056 or e-mail receptionist@wrsp.in.gov with your with your comments. See you soon where there is more to do than YOU ever knew!
Jog, rollar blade, Segway, or walk along this 1.5-mile (3-mile round trip) canal that runs from the White River through the Park, then heads east and then north to 11th Street and Historic Buggs Temple (with Creation Cafe and Euphoria). For fun on the water during the warmer months, enjoy a gondola ride with Old World Gondoliers or rent a kayak or pedal boat at our Wheel Fun Rentals!
The restored 1870 Indianapolis Water Comapny pumping station provided the first public water service for Indianapolis and is included on the National Register of Historic Places. The Historic Pumphouse is currently home to the Park's administrative offices. To the west and overlooking the White River, is a pavilion containing a memorial to Michael A. Carroll, Frank McKinney, Jr., Robert Welch, and John Weliever. These four civic leaders were killed during a 1992 Park business trip when the airplane carrying them crashed.
Originally built in 1833 as a part of the National Road (U.S. 40), this bridge is now a pedestrian crosswalk linking the Park's western attractions like the Indianapolis Zoo & White River Gardens and River Promenade to the eastern attractions on the other side of the White River. Also, the bridge is home to our biennial "Sculptures in the Park" program (started in 1999) to showcase Indiana (and regional) artists. This two-year program makes art accessible and free to all visitors of the Park. The sculptures are for sale by the associated artists.
This picture-perfect destination honors the founding of Indianapolis in 1820. Pioneer John McCormick, one of the first settlers of Indianapolis, built his cabin where the White River and Fall Creek meet. McCormick's Rock overlooks the White River to the west, White River State Park attractions to the east, IUPUI and NIFS to the north, and more Park attractions and greenspaces to the south.
Experience Indiana’s past – brand new – at the History Center. Virtually time travel through the state in Destination Indiana and step into historic photographs in You Are There. Stop in at the William H. Smith Memorial Library. Shop for Indiana-inspired books and gifts at the Basile History Market and eat lunch on the canal or “under the stars” at the Stardust Terrace Café, featuring food from Hoaglin To Go. Visit http://indianahistory.org.
by Aaron Lee Benson—Jackson, Tennessee
The Ultimate Eternal Bow expresses the artist’s belief that humans must face the extreme limits of knowledge and the understanding of truth, and live life in this humbling way. According to the artist, humans are extremely limited in the ability to “know truth,” much less “understand truth.” Viewers are to enter the sculpture from the west. They will be rewarded with a complete view of the piece and a new perception of the world. Artist Aaron Lee Benson is a professor of fine arts in sculpture at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, and also serves as chairman of the University’s Art Department. He works mostly with clay, producing large-scale architectural forms and figurative, narrative monoliths. $33,000.
by Brian McCutcheon—Indianapolis, Indiana
Artist Brian McCutcheon’s artwork stems from the concept of masculinity and how it is portrayed through work and heavy equipment. The Uploader specifically relates to Indianapolis, signifying the city’s ongoing construction projects and growth. The piece is a modern representation of labor, but also addresses traditional notions of rendering, like those of more conventional sculptures. McCutcheon currently lives in Indianapolis and teaches at the Art Institute of Chicago. He received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Cranbrook Academy of Art and Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Colorado State University. His work has been exhibited across the nation and around the world. $65,000.