INDIANAPOLIS–You can enjoy a journey from Indiana to the west, all inside one of your state museums. Jingle Rails, an annual tradition celebrating its tenth year at the Eiteljorg Museum, has added new scenes this year to make the journey even more memorable, said museum spokesperson Bryan Corbin.

“The new scenes which have been added include the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We have a botanical miniature speedway track, including the pagoda, scoring pylon, grandstand, Yard of Bricks, Goodyear blimp,” said Corbin. That includes race sound effects and cars that go around the track.

Jingle Rails is a fantasy representation of an imaginary model train journey that starts in Indianapolis and goes out west, keeping with the museum’s western art theme.

“The Spanish colonial missions of the southwest,” are also new additions. “Such as the Alamo and several others which are famous landmarks.”

Corbin said the Museum has also added the Fifth Third Bank building to their downtown Indianapolis model.

“Within the space of one room you will see miniatures representing many landmarks of the western United States: Mount Rushmore, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Aspen Ski Resort, several of the national parks.”

He said the miniatures are built by Applied Imagination, in Alexandria, Kentucky. “They do what’s called botanical architecture”. Corbin said the miniatures are made of all-natural materials.

You’ll be able to see Jingle Rails through Jan. 20, with hours extended to 8 p.m. the Monday before Christmas and the Monday before New Year’s.

 

photo courtesy Eiteljorg Museum