Discover Indianapolis Scavenger Hunt
Discover the Crossroads of America with a scavenger hunt across downtown Indy. Circle the Soldiers and Sailors Monument at the heart of the city, paddle the Canal Walk, dance with Ann on Mass Ave and roll past brick-paved Lockerbie Square. Compact, walkable, full of Hoosier surprises. Indy is yours for the afternoon.
Stops on this hunt
The geo-tagged checkpoints that anchor this route. You can rearrange, replace or remove any stop after using the template.
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1
Monument Circle
Navigate to Monument Circle in the heart of downtown and check in at the base of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument.
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2
Indiana State Capitol
Walk west on Market Street to the Indiana State Capitol building and check in at the east entrance.
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3
Canal Walk
Walk north to the Canal Walk along the old Central Canal and check in at the Walnut Street stairs or the pedalboat dock.
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4
Mass Ave
Walk or rideshare east to Massachusetts Avenue (Mass Ave) and check in by the Ann Dancing LED sculpture.
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5
Lockerbie Square
Walk south through Mass Ave to Lockerbie Square historic district and check in on one of the brick-paved residential streets.
Challenges (20)
Indianapolis kick-off
The hunt begins! Find a classic Indy backdrop (a limestone facade, the Monument in the distance, a checkered flag) and take a group photo with the whole team in shot.
Checkpoint: Monument Circle
Navigate to Monument Circle in the heart of downtown and check in at the base of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument.
Soldiers and Sailors pose
The Soldiers and Sailors Monument is the unofficial symbol of Indianapolis. Step back to the outer ring of the Circle, line the team up and take a group photo with the full monument behind you.
Trivia: Monument dedicated
The Soldiers and Sailors Monument was dedicated on May 15 of what year?
Answer: 1902
Trivia: Indianapolis founded
The state legislature adopted the name "Indianapolis" for the new state capital in what year?
Answer: 1821
Checkpoint: Indiana State Capitol
Walk west on Market Street to the Indiana State Capitol building and check in at the east entrance.
Capitol dome portrait
The Indiana State Capitol's limestone facade and rotunda dome dominate the western edge of downtown. Find an angle on Capitol Avenue where the dome and the entrance fit together and take a squad photo with the building filling the frame.
Checkpoint: Canal Walk
Walk north to the Canal Walk along the old Central Canal and check in at the Walnut Street stairs or the pedalboat dock.
Canal Walk paddle photo
The Canal Walk has pedalboats, kayaks and Segway tours along its three-mile loop. Rent a pedalboat per squad (or photograph the boats from a bridge) and take a squad photo with the team on or by the canal.
White River sculptures
The Canal Walk feeds into White River State Park, dotted with public art and the Eiteljorg Museum facade. Find a striking sculpture or the NCAA Hall of Champions facade and take a squad photo with it.
Checkpoint: Mass Ave
Walk or rideshare east to Massachusetts Avenue (Mass Ave) and check in by the Ann Dancing LED sculpture.
Ann Dancing photo
Julian Opie's Ann Dancing is the animated LED figure that has become a Mass Ave landmark. Find her on the corner and take a group photo where the team mirrors the dance pose.
Mass Ave mural pose
Mass Ave is lined with murals and small public-art pieces. Find a colourful mural (the Vonnegut self-portrait is a favourite) and take a group photo where the team matches a colour, gesture or shape from the artwork.
Checkpoint: Lockerbie Square
Walk south through Mass Ave to Lockerbie Square historic district and check in on one of the brick-paved residential streets.
Brick street walk
Lockerbie Square has the city's best-preserved 19th-century brick streets and gas lamps. Find a stretch where the bricks lead the eye, walk the team toward the camera and take a group photo with the lamps and bricks centred.
Trivia: Indy 500 first run
The Indianapolis 500 has been run almost every year since its inaugural race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In what year was the first Indy 500?
Answer: 1911
Trivia: First Indy 500 winner
Who won the inaugural running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 30, 1911 (last name)?
Answers: Harroun / harroun / Ray Harroun
Indiana classic taste
Order an Indiana classic (a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich, sugar cream pie, a Sun King beer) from any local spot and take a photo with the whole team taking the first bite at the same time.
Local Indianapolitan tip
Convince a local Indianapolis resident to share a tip about the city. Take a photo with your impromptu guide and remember the tip.
Indianapolis finale
Final challenge. Find a beautiful Indy spot (Monument Circle at dusk, the Canal Walk at golden hour, a Lockerbie brick lane) and take an amazing closing group photo. Cheers from the Crossroads of America!
Frequently asked questions
Three to four hours covers Monument Circle, the State Capitol, the Canal Walk, Mass Ave and Lockerbie Square at a relaxed pace. The downtown core is compact (everything sits within a one-mile radius of Monument Circle), so most groups walk the entire route without rideshare. Bike-share is a fast alternative on the Cultural Trail.
It is worth a separate half day, not a stop on the downtown hunt. The Speedway sits about fifteen minutes west of downtown, and the on-site museum and Kiss-the-Bricks experience take an hour or two on their own. Plan it before or after the hunt, especially around the May race weeks. Two trivia challenges on the hunt cover the 500 instead.
The Cultural Trail is an eight-mile bike and pedestrian path that links downtown's cultural districts (Mass Ave, Fountain Square, Indiana Avenue, the Wholesale District, White River State Park). It runs right past most of the hunt's checkpoints, so renting a Pacers Bikeshare and riding the trail between stops is a smooth way to do the hunt.
Monument Circle is the natural starting point: it is the geographic centre of downtown, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument anchors any photo and you can walk to the Canal Walk, State Capitol and Mass Ave from there in ten minutes. The Circle Centre Mall parking garage two blocks south is the easiest place to park.
Yes. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is the largest in the world and sits just north of downtown if you want a longer day, the Canal Walk is pram and pedalboat friendly, and Mass Ave's public art is accessible to all ages. No alcohol stops are required.