Whether you grew up glued to Saturday morning cartoons or still treasure your first action figure, Indiana has a place for every kind of pop culture fan. Across the state, museums, shops, and galleries keep the magic of our favorite characters alive. Here are some standout locations where nostalgia and fandom collide.
Superheroes
Elkhart’s Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum (N) houses the world’s only comic book and superhero museum. Want to stand inches away from a life-size Iron Man suit? Curious how comic art evolved from the Golden to Modern ages? Here, every Saturday morning cartoon merges into one glorious shrine to caped crusaders. To the northwest, Heroes Gallery (N) at Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets in Michigan City celebrates iconic American superheroes from the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s with a collection of character art, statues, vintage arcade games, memorabilia, and more.
Relive the Biff! Pow! Zap! of old-school superhero TV series at Logansport’s Fiberglass Freaks’ Batman Museum (N). This two-story tribute to Batman includes screen-accurate sets, props, and enough memorabilia to make Adam West proud. They also build licensed replicas of the 1966 Batmobile.
If your fandom of choice involves time travel, sonic screwdrivers, and a blue police box, Camby’s Who North America (C) is delightfully niche, thoroughly charming, and one of the most uniquely specific sites for Dr. Who enthusiasts.
From superheroes to super shelves, The Toy Pit (C) in Indianapolis is the kind of place you walk into promising you won’t buy anything and leave clutching a vintage Star Wars figure, a Godzilla you just had to have, and a Dragon Ball Z statue glaring confidently from a new spot on your desk. As Indy’s largest and longest-running toy store, it’s a nostalgia overload with enough action figures to start your own multiverse.
Speaking of collections that demand a quest log, Kokomo’s Geek Street (C) is a downtown block full of delights. Comics, games, figurines, books, antiques, records, and novelties await at Kokomo Toys & Collectibles, Comics Cubed, Kingdom Cards & Games, Outhouse Records, Chapter 2 Books, and the Kokomo Antique Mall.
Comic Quest (S) in Evansville is a comic and game lover’s paradise, with aisle after aisle of graphic novels, tabletop games, and collectibles just begging to come home with you.
Fun & Games
For gamers of all kinds, Gen Con (C) in Indianapolis is an absolute must! The largest and longest-running game convention, this event attracts tens of thousands of people from across the globe. You can dress up in any kind of otherworldly costume, play games with fellow fans, and find new games. You may even discover a new favorite!
Pop Culture Icons
Standing tall in their communities, these roadside sculptures pay tribute to pop culture and sci‑fi icons. Indiana visitors can stop to salute the likenesses of modern and vintage characters alike.
In Bloomington, the future birthplace of Star Trek: Voyager character Kathryn Janeway, you’ll find the Captain Janeway Statue (S), a bronze bust honoring actress Kate Mulgrew’s role that rests atop an Indiana limestone base at 308 W. 4th St. (janewaystatue.com).
Swing down to Oolitic for the Joe Palooka Statue (S), a towering tribute to the 1930s–1980s comic‑strip heavyweight champ who once punched his way into America’s heart. The 20,000‑pound stone sculpture was created by the Indiana Limestone Company and stands at 109 Main St. (limestonecountry.com).
The Wabash-based company Metal Source has made several scrap-metal titans that you can meet in person. The Transformers Brawl, Optimus Prime (7870 N. U.S. Hwy. 27, Decatur), Megatron, Hound, stand guard like sci‑fi sentinels across the state. They even have Bumblebee, and Marvel's Incredible Hulk on display in their hometown along with a pair of Star Wars Walkers at 1733 S. Wabash St. that signal to passersby that the Force is with them. These towering sculptures are the sort of thing that make road trips memorable and make your friends ask, “Wait, where was that again?”
Meet the Cast
Brawl - 904 Summit Ln., Bedford
Megatron - 116 E. 9th St., Peru
Hound - 1605 Riverfork Dr., Huntington
Bumblebee - 1750 Mill St., Wabash
The Incredible Hulk - 1945 S. Wabash St., Wabash
