As Stranger Things—the Netflix science fiction, mystery, fantasy, adventure series that has captivated the nation for the better part of a decade—enters its fifth and final season, our team of curators gathered items from our collection of more than 130,000 objects to create our own “Museum Things” case that gives a nod to the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana. This time capsule of real artifacts offers a nostalgic glimpse at the series’s 1980s setting. Or maybe we’ve opened another portal to the Upside Down. We’re not sure.

You might want to take a chill pill so you don't wig out when you see this radical case of totally tubular objects.

These cone-shaped light bulbs provided a festive burst of colorful light in the dark winter nights. 

 Of course, they also come in handy if you ever need to communicate with anyone in the Upside Down. 

This object represents two key features of `80s culture:

• Radio Shack was the go-to destination for all things tech—whether you needed batteries, speakers, or the latest gadget to impress your friends. If you were a kid in the `80s, chances are you spent plenty of time browsing its aisles.
• Before smartphones and group texts, walkie talkies were the ultimate way to stay connected. They weren’t just toys—they were a symbol of independence and adventure. They gave kids the freedom to roam without losing touch, and they made every backyard feel like a mission control centerWith a push of a button, you could talk to your friends across the neighborhood—or, in the case of Hawkins, across dimensions. 

Another object that represents two key features in`80s popular culture:  

• After vinyl albums and long before the advent of digital music, albums were primarily available as cassette tapes. You could listen to them in your home stereo or your car stereo. Or, you could pop it into your Walkman (or other portable cassette player), and listen to it wherever you would go! 
• Master of Puppets is the critically-acclaimed third album from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame heavy metal band Metallica. Since its release in 1986, Master of Puppets has become a certified eight-time platinum album by the Recording Industry Association of America. That's more than 8 million copies sold! 

We hope this doesn’t give away too much, but the title song to Master of Puppets plays a pivotal role in the dramatic climax of season 4.

We’d also like to note that the author may…or may not…have head-banged to this album while writing this post.  

In 1982, the Tourism Office of the Indiana Department of Commerce launched a new regional tourism campaign: “Wander Indiana.” It highlighted many of the fun things to do and explore in Indiana.  

 
From commercials with a catchy jingle, to visitors guides, to promotional pins and other merchandise, the phrase “Wander Indiana” showed up all over the state. And from 1984–1987,  it even showed up on Hoosier license plates.

The third-generation Chevrolet Camaro entered production in 1982. It was found in many high school parking lots across the nation because of its coolness factor. In Stranger Things, Billy might have been a jerk, but his car was totally tubular!! 

These frozen waffles were a breakfast table staple throughout the decade. When you heard someone say, “L'eggo my Eggo,” you knew exactly what they were talking about.



And we all know who loves her Eggos in Stranger Things!

Originally released in 1974, Dungeons & Dragons—commonly referred to as “D&D”—is a fantasy tabletop roleplaying storytelling game where you create your own characters and a Dungeon Master leads you through magical realms of fantastic creatures, legendary battles, and epic adventures. The box set on display is the 1981 Basic Set revision. Its contents included: 

• 64-page rule book
• 32-page adventure module—a prepackaged guide that outlines a specific scenario, story, and challenges for a Dungeon Master to use—B2: The Keep on the Borderlands 
• A set of six dice, each with a different number of sides—four (d4), six (d6), eight (d8), 10 (d10), 12 (d12), and 20 (d20) 

Take a closer look at what was included in this box set.

You’ll find this Stranger Things inspired portal…we mean, case…on Level 1 of The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. It’s in a corner between the Rube Goldberg Ball Machine and an area known as Volunteer Central. If you’re having trouble locating it, stop by our Concierge. They’ll be happy to point you in the right direction! This case will be on displa through the end of 2025! 

 You can go deeper into the cultural nostalgia by visiting the American POP exhibit on Level 2, which features significant pop culture artifacts from the worlds of fashion, comics, music, television, and film! In Carousel Wishes and Dreams on Level 2, you can sit down and play a video game like Pac-Man or Super Mario Bros. While you’re here, take a few moments to explore Memories, Wonders, and Dreams: Stories from 100 Years, a once-in-a-century exhibit featuring a mix of never-before-seen items, beloved museum icons, and artifacts from past exhibits 

 All of this—and more—is included with admission.