***Please note that this An Indiana Gem: The Indianapolis Soldiers & Sailors Monument Guide will be updated and recirculated periodically to reflect the most up-to-date information. This travel guide was most recently updated as of July 2026.***

In August 2024, I had the incredible opportunity to visit a free Indiana gem: the Soldiers and Sailors Monument located within the heart of downtown Indianapolis. This monument pays tribute to Hoosiers who are currently serving and have served the United States and is an excellent affordable way to explore the city of Indianapolis. This guide will give you insights into visiting the Indianapolis Soldiers and Sailors Monument.

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

An Indiana Gem: The Indianapolis Soldiers & Sailors Monument Guide

***Please note that the Indianapolis Soldiers and Sailors Monument is currently closed for repairs until further notice.***

Table of Contents

About The Indianapolis Soldiers & Sailors Monument

Getting There

Admission

Accessibility Note

My Experience 

About The Indianapolis Soldiers & Sailors Monument

The Soldiers & Sailors Monument is located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis literally in the center of its well-known Monument Circle. Originally built to honor Indiana’s Civil War Veterans with its construction starting in 1888 and opening on May 15, 1902, now the Soldiers and Sailors Monument honors all of Indiana’s Veterans who served prior to World War 1, including the Civil War, the Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812. The Soldiers & Sailors Monument is well-known for its 360-degree view of downtown Indianapolis via its observation deck 275 feet up.

When visiting, visitors can not only explore this incredible monument paying tribute to those who served but also enjoy the city’s War Memorial Plaza National Historic District, which the Indiana War Memorials Foundation’s website gives visitors a glimpse into.

See more information on planning your visit here.

Getting There

The Soliders and Sailors Monument is located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. To get to the Indianapolis Soldiers and Sailors Monument, visitors can easily find parking nearby at one of the many parking garages or parking options as well as use Uber or other rideshare apps. 

Address: 1 Monument Cir, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Admission

The best part about the Soldiers & Sailors Monument?!?!? It has FREE admission to all guests during its hours of operation which are “from dawn to dusk”, as listed on the Indiana War Memorials Foundation’s website. I truly admire how accessible this monument is to all who come to visit, just like other fellow monuments in the United States such as the Washington Monument in Washington, DC. 

Accessibility Note

To reach the top of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument to the observation deck, one must climb a few flights of narrow and twisty stairs even if you take the elevator up most of the way, which may not be the most accessible to all. There are railings on each side of the stairs. The elevator is also pretty narrow and can fit up to four people in it at a time, which may be nerve-wracking for some people.

My Experience

Upon admission inside, which is spectacular on the outside, too (!!!!!), you have the option to either climb to the top or take the elevator to the top to reach the observation deck. I ended up climbing up about half of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument *before* I climbed back down and took the elevator up the rest of it – LOL! However, I was in for a TREAT when I reached the observation deck (!!!). I was able to see MUCH of the Indianapolis skyline (and beyond!), including the Indiana State Capitol, the stadium where the Indianapolis Colts play, and the well-known Salesforce Tower. Truly, I had a GREAT time getting to see Indianapolis literally from up in the sky!

Wrap-Up

I truly enjoyed getting to visit this monument and getting in a half a tower climb in while at it. I had never experienced something neat and free like the Soldiers & Sailors Monument before and it was a REAL treat! While this monument is fun to visit and explore Indianapolis in a unique way like never before (and free to do so!!), it is also important to remember who it honors: our pre-World War 1 Veterans.

XOXO – Katie <3