The land that Muncie occupies originally belonged to the Munsee tribe of the Delaware Indians. Muncie became industrialized during the second half of the 19th C with the arrival of the railroad and the discovery of natural gas. Muncie is also home to Ball State University, founded in 1918, with contributions from the five Ball brothers.
Ball State University is located in Muncie. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs for local and out of state students. Ball State University boasts of pleasant campus grounds with a mix of classic and modern architecture. A walking tour map can be downloaded from the university's website.
Me's Zoo is located near Muncie in Parker City. This zoo boasts of numerous animals on a 50-acre farm. Visitors are treated to a unique experience where they are allowed to get up close to the animals and in many cases, touch them. With low admission costs the zoo bills itself as an affordable alternative to big zoos.
Address: Me's Zoo, County Road 500 South, Parker City, IN 47368, United States
Phone: 1 (765) 468-8559, Fax: 1 (765) 468-9014
The Minnetrista Cultural Center and Oakhurst Gardens are found in Muncie. This state of the art facility is designed to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of the region. Minnetrista's 40-acre campus includes beautiful gardens, a modern museum facility, an historic home, Nature Area, numerous sculptures, and a portion of the White River Greenway.
Address: Minnetrista Cultural Center and Oakhurst Gardens, 1200 North Minnetrista Parkway, Muncie, IN 47303-2925, United States
Phone: 1 (317) 282-4848, Fax: 1 (317) 741-5110
Hours:
9am-5:30pm; Sun:11am-5:30pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Easter - Christian
The Muncie Children's Museum is a great place for a family outing. Here children of all ages will find fun and interactive displays designed to educate. Some of the exhibits include Antique Auto, Dino Dig, Garfield Exhibit, Water Works, The Bat Cave, The Tree Slide, The Ant Wall, Barnyard, Career Corner, Post Office, Schoolhouse, along with 9 more.
The National Model Aviation Museum, located in Muncie, is considered the world headquarters for this hobby. The National Model Aviation Museum claims to have the largest collection of model airplanes in the entire world. During June, July and August visitors can walk out to the 1000-acre flying site to see members flying their miniature planes.
Hours:
March 5 to November 24: 8am-4:30pm; Sun:10am-4pm; Sat:10am-4pm