The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis Unwraps a Rolling Celebration for Its 100th Birthday

In true party fashion, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis put a massive bow on its 100th birthday celebration—literally. On May 6, the museum unveiled a 60-foot-long Birthday Bus, decked out in vibrant centennial-themed wrapping paper and topped with a giant bow, as part of a partnership with IndyGo.

The big reveal took place at a special “unwrapping” event where museum staff, President and CEO Jennifer Pace Robinson, and the museum’s beloved dinosaur mascot Rex ceremoniously peeled back 16 rolls of festive wrapping paper to unveil the colorful, custom-designed bus. The occasion marked not only the bus’s debut but also its first official mission: delivering more than 100 birthday cake kits to the Mid-North Food Pantry.

“We are thrilled to debut our centennial year Birthday Bus in partnership with IndyGo,” said Robinson. “The Birthday Bus symbolizes our commitment to creating powerful learning experiences for children in every corner of Indy, and we can't wait to see the smiles it brings as it travels through the city.”

The bus is hard to miss as it rolls through Indianapolis on IndyGo’s Red and Purple Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines. With a stop conveniently located at 30th and Meridian—right outside the museum—families can easily hop on board for a ride packed with cheer.

Jennifer Pyrz, President and CEO of IndyGo, shared in the excitement: “The Children’s Museum is an Indianapolis institution, and what better way to celebrate the museum’s 100th birthday than with a fun centennial design covering one of our BRT buses spreading birthday cheer throughout the city.”

The celebration also served a deeper purpose. Staff from The Children’s Museum and IndyGo personally delivered 104 birthday cake kits to the Mid-North Food Pantry during the inaugural ride. These kits included shelf-stable essentials like cake mix, frosting, and candles—items that are rarely donated but can make a world of difference in helping families celebrate special milestones.

The museum is continuing the spirit of giving by collecting shelf-stable birthday cake ingredients through December 6. Donations of cake mix, canned icing, and candles can help them keep the joy going throughout the year.

The Birthday Bus will continue its route on the Red and Purple lines through August 17, offering both a unique transit experience and a rolling tribute to a century of learning and fun.

Catch a glimpse—or better yet, take a ride—and be part of the celebration that’s bringing smiles across Indianapolis.