In 1925, Mary Stewart Carey and her co-founders worked so quickly to start a children's museum in the Circle City that the Indianapolis Star likened their progress to Jack's fast-growing beanstalk from the famous fairy tale.

"No one doubts, even at this early stage, that the Indianapolis children's museum plans will develop into an attractive building, filled with the things children love to examine and learn thereof the story," the June 21, 1925, article read.

For the collection, Carey asked children to donate or loan "unusual gifts," like semi-precious stones, shells, fish mounted on boards, pottery and pressed wildflowers. The founders then installed those items in the institution's first home inside the carriage house at the Propylaeum in the Old Northside neighborhood and opened to

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