Bloomington hosts a multitude of public art displays. Best of all-- no entry fee!
The Great Outdoors:
Public Art Tour: Explore Bloomington for sculptures on the B-Line Trail, creations in the parks, and even talented graffiti on electrical boxes!
Nightlife: Bloomington’s nightlife is world-class—stroll down Kirkwood Avenue to sample any one of the great bars in the area. Rarely a cover and always an exciting time!
IU Campus Tour: See for yourself why Thomas Gaines named IU one of the most beautiful college campuses in The Campus as a Work of Art. IU has 1,933 acres of flowers, trees, and green spaces, and Gothic buildings built with Indiana limestone.
Bloomington Rail Trail (Between South Rogers and Old State Road 37): Nature lovers will enjoy the 1.8 miles of walking, running, biking on Bloomington's Rail Trail.
B-Line Trail: The B-Line Trail is the most significant economic development project on the City’s agenda. With an array of public art pieces, including its signature limestone sculpture Bloomington Banquet (pictured above), the B-Line is the very best way to get across the downtown, enjoy Bloomington’s artistic sensibility and experience the community’s natural beauty.
For a list of Bloomington's numerous parks, click here.
Indoor Wonders:
Lilly Library (1200 E. 7th Street): The Lilly Library at IU contains rare books, manuscripts and special collections.
Mathers Museum of World Cultures (416 N. Indiana): Take a tour of the world at the Mathers Museum of World Cultures with special exhibits and programs showcasing the diversity of countries all over the world.
The John Waldron Arts Center (122 S. Walnut): For a quality display of arts and crafts by local and regional artists, check out the Waldron Arts Center.
IU Art Museum (1133 E. 7th Street): IU's acclaimed art collection showcases art from all angles.
Sofa Gallery (1201 E. 7th Street): IU's contemporary art center Sofa features the work of IU students, local and regional artists.
First Friday of the Month Gallery Walk (Downtown Bloomington): Check out Bloomington's nine participating art galleries on the first Friday of every even month. The walk includes a wealth of artwork in each gallery ranging from sophisticated to funky!
For a list of all of Bloomington's great downtown galleries, click here.
To Eat:
The Green Bean (410 W. 4th Street): Serving all vegetarian food and drink at a low price, The Green Bean creates delectable sandwiches, baked goods and vegan carrot cake muffins. They also have free wi-fi!
Hinkle's (206 S. Adams): A classic Bloomington hamburger staple, Hinkle's grinds their own meat and also serves deluxe pork tenderloin and chicken sandwiches.
The Bloomington Bagel Company (113 N. Dunn): For a tasty variety of bagels and schmear, look no farther than BBC. If you can answer their daily trivia question, you win a free bagel!
Buffa Louie's (114 S. Indiana): Eat at one of the favorite wing restaurants of IU sports superstars. Buffa Louie's boasts great wings at a reasonable price, and the occasional live performance.
