The spotlight is shining even brighter on Indianapolis this week. Not only is the NFL's championship game taking place, but Forbes.com contributor Larry Olmsted ranked The Children's Museum of Indianapolis as the best children's museums in the United States.
"This honor for The Children's Museum comes during a very exciting time as we showcase the best of our city on a world stage," said Dr. Jeffrey H. Patchen, president and CEO, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. "We are proud to be recognized as a leading institution among children's museums for our work to create extraordinary learning experiences across the sciences, arts, and humanities that transform the lives of children and families. This ranking demonstrates another example of Indianapolis as a world-class city and we are proud to bring this recognition to our city and the museum."
According to the Olmsted, "A good museum can be a real lifesaver, and in some cases, the very best can even be the cornerstone of an entire vacation." In the article, Olmsted writes that at The Children's Museum "families could easily spend two days exploring this Indianapolis behemoth, frequently ranked the best children's museum in the United States," and that "in most cities its signature Dinosphere exhibit would be an entire museum unto itself, but this is just one of many major exhibitions."
A contributor to Forbes.com, Olmsted writes that he has "been traveling the world as a journalist and passionate lover of all things fun for nearly 20 years" and "loves every kind of travel - active, cultural, and leisurely."
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is ranked with 11 other children's museums including the Boston Children's Museum, the Brooklyn Children's Museum, COSI: Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio, and The Strong Museum in Rochester, NY.
In 2011, The Children's Museum celebrated a record-breaking year with an attendance record of 1.27 million visitors. The annual Haunted House also brought in a 20-year record of more than 65,000 visitors during its late-October run. The museum was also ranked as a top 10 museum by several leading news outlets including AOL Travel News, Parents Magazine, and WomansDay.com.
The Children's Museum was also honored with new awards including the Governor's Arts Award, the 2011 Accessibility Award from the Indianapolis mayor, and an ARTI Award presented by the Arts Council of Indianapolis recognizing local businesses, corporations, and individuals for their extraordinary commitment to the arts.
For more information about The Children's Museum, visit the website at childrensmuseum.org.
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
Raw Video: Passed Out Man Robbed
