The Indiana Story begins long before there was an Indiana—about 12 to 20 billion years ago. This first chapter of the Indiana Story traces the history of the state from a geological perspective. It 
shows us how constant, slow change—interrupted by sudden, bold transformations—creates the setting, the characters and the context for Indiana’s Story.
Find out how the continents developed over millions of years through a multimedia globe or use the 3-D map to study the rock composition in our own state. Interactive exhibits in this gallery even explore time and earthquakes.
Jump into a fun exhibit that lets you “Make a Quake.” A real seismograph shows you how big a tremor you can make.
Check out the “Squishy Earth” in this gallery for an up-close look at the layers of the earth—the solid metallic inner core, the liquid outer core, the plastic-like mantle and the brittle crust that floats on the mantle below.
The gallery also includes the R.B. Annis Naturalist’s Lab with a hands-on classroom that introduces visitors to the natural world around them. Drop by the lab to see if you can figure out the difference between a rock and a fossil.