Monument Circle is the heart of Indianapolis, the round plaza at the center of the city's 1821 plan from which the main streets radiate, and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument at its center is the city's defining landmark. Built of Indiana limestone and formally dedicated on 15 May 1902, it rises 284 feet and 6 inches, topped by the bronze figure of Victory, and it honours Hoosiers who served in the wars up to the late nineteenth century. Sculpted groups, fountains and pools ring its base, and the Circle around it is lined with handsome buildings, among them Christ Church Cathedral and the Hilbert Circle Theatre, home of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Inside, an elevator carries visitors most of the way up to the observation deck, followed by 31 steps, for a view over the whole Mile Square; you can also climb all 331 steps. The plaza is free and open at all hours, and it is the city's gathering place for celebrations. In the holiday season it becomes the Circle of Lights, when the monument is strung with lights and transformed into what locals call the world's largest Christmas tree.
Visiting the observation deck: entry to the inside of the monument costs about $10 for adults and about $5 for seniors and children aged 5 to 18, with children under five, military personnel and veterans free; admission includes the elevator or the stairs to the deck. Opening hours inside are limited and the official sources disagree, with one listing only Fridays and another Thursday to Sunday, so check the Indiana War Memorials website or social media before you go. Below the monument, the Col. Eli Lilly Civil War Museum tells the story of Indiana in the Civil War.
Circle of Lights 2026: the 64th Circle of Lights lighting takes place on Friday 27 November 2026, the day after Thanksgiving, with free festivities from 5 to 8pm, including live music, vendors, Santa and food trucks, and the lights switched on before 7pm. Through December, SPARK Holidays on the Circle brings hot cocoa, performances and Santa visits to the north side of the Circle each Saturday and Sunday.
Getting there: Monument Circle is at the center of downtown, within a ten-minute walk of most downtown hotels, and the guided and audio walking tours both pass through it. It is a good spot for photographs at dusk, when the monument is lit. The Indiana War Memorial and its museum are a short walk north along Meridian Street.
What to expect
The experience
A free public plaza around a towering limestone monument, with a small-fee observation deck and a Civil War museum inside on limited days.
Best time
Dusk, when the monument is lit, and late November or December for the Circle of Lights.
How long
Thirty minutes to walk the Circle, an hour with the observation deck and museum.
Tips
Check the inside opening days before going, bring a few dollars for the deck, and come back after dark in the holiday season.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Every first-time visitor, photographers and anyone wanting a view over downtown.
- Families
- Children love the elevator ride and the lights at Christmas, and under-fives go free inside.
- Couples
- Come at dusk in December for the Circle of Lights, then have dinner nearby.
- Pair with
- The Indy Walking Tours walk, the Indiana War Memorial and the Indiana State Museum.
- Time needed
- Half an hour to an hour.
Good questions
Can you go up the Soldiers and Sailors Monument?+
Yes, an elevator carries you most of the way to the observation deck, followed by 31 steps, or you can climb all 331 steps. Opening days inside are limited, so check before you go.
How much does it cost to go up the monument?+
Inside admission is about $10 for adults and about $5 for seniors and children aged 5 to 18. Children under five, military personnel and veterans go free.
When is Circle of Lights 2026?+
The lighting is on Friday 27 November 2026, with free festivities from 5 to 8pm. The lights are switched on before 7pm.
How tall is the Soldiers and Sailors Monument?+
It stands 284 feet and 6 inches tall. It was formally dedicated on 15 May 1902.
Is Monument Circle free to visit?+
Yes, the Circle and the outside of the monument are free and open at all times. Only the inside and the observation deck charge admission.
