The Exhibit
The railroad changed the face of the West forever and Jingle Rails brings that story to life. The exhibit is a series of trestles, bridges, tunnels and trains that wind through detailed replicas of both the city of Indianapolis and Western landmarks. Eight trains wind through the elaborate landscape, including lighted passenger trains, trains with vintage posters and advertisements on their sides and freight trains.
Highlights of the Exhibit Include:
Exhibit Landmarks
The landmarks were created with natural materials by Paul Busse and his company, Applied Imagination. They are incredibly detailed and realistic. Indianapolis landmarks featured in the display include the Eiteljorg Museum, Monument Circle (lit up for the holiday season), Chase Tower, Union Station and even Lucas Oil Stadium. The stadium's roof is open and football commentary can be heard coming from inside. After leaving the city, the tracks wind their way through national parks, passing famous sites including Mount Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, Golden Gate Bridge, Yosemite Falls, the Rocky Mountains and Mesa Verde. Native American villages, pony express stations, hot air balloons and covered bridges dot the landscape.
Review of the Event
Jingle Rails is a beautiful holiday exhibit. Not only is it an amazing sight to see such a large-scale train exhibit, but the tiny lighted trees and greenery sprinkled throughout the natural landscape truly evokes holiday spirit. I attended the exhibit for the first time with my husband, our four-year-old son and our infant son. The exhibit is large and one could spend awhile there, taking in all the amazing details and enjoying the scenery. While I tried to take it slow, I was constantly being rushed forward by my son to see the next thing. I think we saw the entire exhibit in about twenty minutes.
After touring the holiday exhibit, we took time to see the entire museum. While the Eiteljorg offers a beautiful selection of Western and American Indian Art, it is not for young children. Our son grew impatient quickly and we received a few stares from security guards when he became too loud. So while Jingle Rails is a thrilling exhibit for younger children, the rest of the museum won't be able to hold their attention. For school-aged children, the museum is stocked full of educational information and an excellent resource for history lessons. In our case, our child was just too young. If you have young children, you will have to decide if the trip to the museum is worth it for one exhibit. I highly recommend
Event Information
Jingle Rails runs through January 6, 2013 and is free with regular museum admission. Admission is $10 for adults; $9 for seniors and $6 for children. Children four and under are free.
