Indianapolis Souvenirs That Aren't Tacky: 12 Picks Locals Actually Buy in 2026
An honest guide to Indianapolis souvenirs worth carrying home — twelve picks from Mass Ave, Fountain Square, the City Market and the Speedway, not airport checkered flags.
Indianapolis Souvenirs That Aren't Tacky: 12 Picks Locals Actually Buy in 2026
Quick answer: For Indianapolis souvenirs that don't feel like airport filler, go local and specific: St. Elmo cocktail sauce, a sugar cream pie, Mass Ave prints, a Sun King glass, a Vonnegut Museum book, and a 3D Indianapolis skyline with Salesforce Tower and Monument Circle ($34.99–$74.99).
What makes a souvenir tacky
A souvenir becomes tacky when it could be from anywhere. "I ❤ Indy" mugs and checkered-flag bottle openers are interchangeable with every other city's version. The test locals use is simple: would someone from Indianapolis actually keep this on display? Everything below passes that test.
12 Indianapolis souvenirs locals actually buy
1. A 3D Indianapolis skyline sculpture. Salesforce Tower, OneAmerica Tower, the Statehouse dome and the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in matte black. It is the skyline locals see every day from I-65, made into a desk or shelf piece. See the Indianapolis model.
2. St. Elmo shrimp cocktail sauce. The steakhouse has been open since 1902. The bottled sauce is the souvenir everyone from Indy recognizes.
3. A sugar cream pie. Indiana's official state pie. Buy one chilled and bring it home the same day.
4. Mass Ave gallery prints. Small prints of Indianapolis landmarks from Massachusetts Avenue shops are affordable and frameable.
5. Fountain Square maker goods. Ceramics, candles and screen prints from the neighborhood's makers feel personal, not mass-produced.
6. Sun King Brewing glassware. A downtown brewery since 2009 and a local favorite.
7. Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library goods. A "So it goes" print or a signed reprint for the reader in your life.
8. Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum finds. Vintage-style Indy 500 posters beat any gas-station checkered flag.
9. Newfields museum shop goods. Robert Indiana's LOVE design is the city's best-known artwork.
10. Long's Bakery donuts (to eat on the way out). Not a souvenir that lasts, but the one locals tell you not to skip.
11. Indianapolis City Market pantry goods. Local honey, sauces and spice mixes in a market open since 1886.
12. Throwback Pacers gear. ABA-era designs read as real fandom, not a recent purchase.
The one to buy if you only buy one
Food is gone in a week and clothes go out of style. The Indianapolis skyline sculpture is the pick that still looks right on a shelf in ten years, and it ships in three to five business days if you'd rather not pack it.
Related: Best Indianapolis souvenirs · Unique Indianapolis gifts under $100
FAQ
What is the best non-touristy souvenir from Indianapolis?
A 3D Indianapolis skyline sculpture or a bottle of St. Elmo shrimp cocktail sauce. Both are specific to Indy and recognized by locals.
Where do locals shop for Indianapolis gifts?
Massachusetts Avenue, Fountain Square, Broad Ripple and the Indianapolis City Market are where independent shops and makers sell local goods.