WELCOME! WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT THE KURT VONNEGUT MUSEUM AND LIBRARY

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Winter Hours: October 1 to March 31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Summer Hours: April 1 to September 30, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays through Wednesdays; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.

Holiday hours for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve will be 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.

CLOSED on major holidays (New Year’s Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas)

CLOSED the SECOND WEDNESDAY of every month for Staff Organization Day (12/11, 1/8, 2/12, 3/11, 4/8, 5/13, 6/10, 7/7, 8/12, 9/9, 10/14, 11/11, 12/9)

ADMISSION: 

  • KVML Members: FREE
  • Adults: $12
  • Active Military, Veterans, and Seniors: $11
  • Children (ages 5-17) & College Students with ID: $7
  • Pre-school (ages 4 & under): FREE
  • Blue Monday Special – FREE for All on First Monday of Every Month!

  • NOTE: January 20, 2020 – MLK DAY – FREE ADMISSION ALL DAY!

PARKING: Free parking accessible from both the Indiana Ave. and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. St. entrances. Additional metered parking is available on Indiana Ave.

CONNECT WITH US

CONTACT US:

Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library
543 Indiana Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46202

[email protected]
(317) 652-1954

FOLLOW US:

Join the conversations on social media

Kurt Vonnegut shared his views and wit with so many. We’d like to engage with you too. Please lend your voice to our social media channels: Facebook and Twitter and Instagram.

Dreams Come True! We Are Grateful!

KURT VONNEGUT’S NEW “FOREVER HOME” OPENED NOVEMBER 9, 2019!

Thank you to the many volunteers, donors, vendors, community partners, and others who made our Grand Opening and VonnegutFest a huge success! What a great day of meaningful and entertaining programming! We are here to provide our guests a wonderful visit, thanks to you. Indianapolis City-County Council President Vop Osili changed his busy schedule to make sure to be able to attend our event. Thank you, Vop! His entire speech was wonderful, here’s an excerpt:

On a day, in a week, and in a month where I know many will be reaching for their favorite Vonnegut quotes, I’m reflecting today on one of my own. Kurt Vonnegut once wrote, “The death of a library, any library, suggests that the community has lost its soul.” And in the anticipation of this afternoon’s events and the opening of this incredible facility, I’ve been wondering—if Vonnegut was right about that, does that mean perhaps the opposite is also true? If the death of a library suggests that a community has lost its soul, does the birth—or rebirth—of a library help a community find its soul? Are we here to cut a ribbon this afternoon? Or are we perhaps here to tap the well of our city’s collective soul?

I’d be hard-pressed to call this afternoon a mere ribbon cutting. As we stand in this spot that brings together the writings and legacy of Kurt Vonnegut with this city’s tradition of jazz, which he loved so much, and this uniquely hometown café, and so much beautiful art inspired by Vonnegut’s own work, I believe we are driving a nuanced and needed tap into the well of Indianapolis’ soul. As Midwesterners, we so often fool ourselves into thinking that culture and art belong to the coasts; we become habituated to looking “out there” for the treasure of talent and overlook our own rich artistic and cultural traditions.

But Kurt Vonnegut always understood the fallacy of that outward focus. “All my jokes,” he once said, “are Indianapolis. All my attitudes are Indianapolis. My adenoids are Indianapolis. If I ever severed myself from Indianapolis, I would be out of business. What people like about me is Indianapolis.”

I am grateful to Vonnegut and this museum and library for helping us all see what is Indianapolis. 

If you were not able to join us this past weekend, please come see us soon. We can’t wait to show you around.

The desire to grow and improve is ever present!

Thank you for supporting our Kickstarter campaign to bring Unstuck in Time: A New Slaughterhouse-Five Exhibition to the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library. Thanks to 350+ contributors, we raised the nearly $40,000 needed. We are grateful!

“Free Speech 50” Sponsors (It’s not too late to join this list!)

The Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library opened at 543 Indiana Avenue November 9, just in time for VonnegutFest! One of our permanent exhibitions focuses on Freedom of Expression. You are invited to become one of 50 donors (individuals or corporations) to contribute $500 to support the creation of phase one of this important educational exhibition. Donor names will be displayed at the exhibit and highlighted in future newsletters and select event programs. Thanks to those who have already donated:

  • Anonymous Gift in Honor of Brett Stoker
  • Theresa and Terrian Barnes
  • Sharon D. Battista
  • The Charles Bruce Foundation
  • Craig and Andrea Carmichael
  • Dr. David A. and Mrs. Mary F. Cory
  • Nicholas Croce
  • James Forest Day on behalf of Montana Wildhack
  • DePauw University Libraries
  • Juliet and Alan Duncanson
  • Valerie Elliott
  • Mary Lee Gambone
  • Matthew and Anne Gillingham
  • Gregory & Appel Insurance
  • Sarah Harrell and Kristin Cutler
  • Paige Christine Harrington
  • Heartland Hemp and Supply Co.
  • James Lucas Jones and Jennie Jones
  • David and Mimi Lepreau Jose
  • Victor R. Jose
  • Katz.Korin.Cunningham
  • Matthew Knoy
  • The Lafave Family
  • Marshal A. Miller
  • Frank Noge
  • John and Lisa Nolan
  • Brock Noseworthy
  • Mark Pfaff in honor of Daniel W. Pfaff
  • Mark Remington
  • Patrick Rummel
  • Stephanie Salter and Gabriel Fenoglio
  • Bonnie Schall
  • Kimann and Mike Schultz
  • Sherwin Williams (Downtown Location)
  • Kurt Simerman
  • Candace and Neil Teixeira
  • Kevin Toner and Susan Toner

Join us! Call KVML CEO Julia Whitehead (317) 652-1954 to learn how you can help make history with your contribution. Click here for more info and a donation form. Thank you for your support!

Opportunity to Donate

January 20

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration – FREE ADMISSION TO KVML ALL DAY! Join us in celebration of the life and legacy of the great Civil Rights Activist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

January 28

Launch Party: The Year of Civic Engagement at the Kurt Vonnegut Museum

Lasana Kazembe, assistant professor of Urban Teacher Education and Africana Studies at IUPUI, kicks off KVML’s 2020 theme of Civic Engagement with a talk centered on building awareness of implicit racial bias and implementing anti-oppressive practices rooted in equity, justice, and social transformation. Come post your own 2020 Civic Engagement Goal at the KVML. Tickets on Eventbrite.

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February 7

Arlene’s House of Music and Imperial Lounge presents live music by Premium Blend, an Indianapolis Jazz Fusion band featuring Jared Thompson (Bandleader/Saxophone), Ryan Taylor (Guitar), Steven Jones (Keyboard/Keyboard Bass), and Brian Yarde (Drums). Sponsored by Sun King Brewery. Tickets on Eventbrite.

February 13

75th Anniversary of the Firebombing in Dresden

On the 75th anniversary of the firebombing of Dresden and the eve of the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage, celebrate women veterans. Hear a history of women in the armed services and take part in an art exhibition and poetry reading by female vets. Hosted by former Indiana Poet Laureate Shari Wagner and Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs women’s coordinator Laura McKee. Tickets on Eventbrite.

February 14

Vonnegut’s Valentines Party

Bring your favorite dance partner for a lovely evening of film and dance, starting with a screening of Long Walk to Forever, based on a Kurt Vonnegut short story, followed by a lively dance lesson with event sponsor Arthur Murray Dance Studio of Avon. Tickets on Eventbrite.

February 19 

What People Like About Hoosiers: Civic Engagement

Whether it’s Kurt Vonnegut, C-SPAN founder Brian Lamb, United States Senator Richard Lugar, or many others, there is a history of Hoosiers making things better for the next generation. As Vonnegut put it: “What people like about me is Indianapolis.” Join the discussion with historian William Selm and David Wilkie, a former senior staff member to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee In Washington, D.C. under Senator Lugar. Tickets on Eventbrite.

February 29

The Future of Writing: An Afternoon with Dave Eggers

Join KVML founder and CEO Julia Whitehead and bestselling writer Dave Eggers for a discussion about Dave’s literary work, including his work with youth writing programs around the world from 4 to 6 pm at the Madam Walker Legacy Center, 617 Indiana Avenue. Come share your ideas about how youth writing can be improved in our community. A book signing follows. Bring your favorite Dave Eggers book or purchase his books at the event. Students, their parents or guardians, and educators: this event is free to you. Please email [email protected] org to register. For all other attendees, tickets are $5 on Eventbrite.

March 12

Lonesome No More – Suicide Prevention Training

Join us for our second Lonesome No More – Suicide Prevention Training of 2020. CYC-A certified youth worker and mental health advocate Madeline Zielinski and private therapist Brittney Lee will discuss how to recognize signs of distress, initiate difficult conversations, and connect with resources in our community. Admission is free. Sign up here on Eventbrite.

March 21

KURTCON 2020

Calling all Vonnegutians! Join our annual convention of Trafaldamorians at KURTCON. Bring your own Kurt collectibles to show off at this memorabiliafest. No artifact or archive is too big or too small. Show off your dog-eared first edition of Slaughterhouse-Five, your sleeve of Kurt tattoos, or a whole collection of unusual tchotchkes. Cart it all to KURTCON at the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library from 11 am to 4 pm, where we’ll have our collection on display, as well as that of KVML historian Bill Briscoe. Or just come to take it all in. We’ll have prizes for the rarest object and more. Grab an advance admission ticket here on Eventbrite, and we’ll be in touch to make sure we’re ready to showcase your treasure.

Slaughterhouse-50 Art Exhibition by L.A. Artist Lance Miccio

Don’t miss our current Slaughterhouse-50 art exhibition, now through the end of the year. L.A. based artist Lance Miccio spent the last three years painstakingly working on fifty unique paintings based on the text from Kurt Vonnegut’s classic novel Slaughterhouse-Five. From Billy Pilgrim to those crafty little Tralfamadorians to the beautiful Montana Wildhack, you don’t want to miss this exhibition! Lance also has posters and postcards of his work in our gift shop and online.

Become a member of the Karass!

Donate to KVML and help us continue to bring Kurt Vonnegut and his ideals to the world.

Your support helps fund our new building and programs such as Banned Books Week, VonnegutFest, Teacher Workshops, School Outreach, and so much more. Please consider donating today.

Karass Membership

About Kurt Vonnegut

Kurt Vonnegut is a renowned author who took an unflinching look at the world, tempered with a satirical eye and sardonic sense of humor. In a career spanning over 50 years, Vonnegut published 14 novels, three short story collections, five plays, and five works of non-fiction. He is most famous for his darkly satirical, best-selling novel Slaughterhouse-Five, which turned 50 years old in 2019.

Learn more!