Conner Prairie: Indiana's 'living history' museum
Published: Apr 21, 2009
Learn to build a canoe, chop wood, throw a tomahawk and milk a cow — and have a great time doing it! It's all at Conner Prairie.
Conner Prairie, 21 miles from downtown Indianapolis, is a “living museum” that gives visitors genuine first-hand experience with the details of daily life on the American frontier.
For vacationers and Hoosiers alike — especially families with young children — Conner Prairie is an unforgettable experience. Skilled "interpreters" in historic costume and always in character, teach visitors via interactive lessons, classes and workshops.
Conner Prairie is named after William Conner, an Indiana statesman and fur trader who inhabited the land in the early 1800s and built the grand Conner House that still stands today. A hundred years later, Hoosier philanthropist Eli Lilly purchased the property and put it on the path to becoming one of the nation’s premiere living history attractions with more than 360,00 annual visitors.
Spread over 800 acres, Conner Prairie features daily year-round exhibits and a series of outdoor events throughout the warmer months, including a popular "concert under the stars" performance series by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
At 1836 Prairietown, guests can dip candles, feel the heat from a blacksmith's forge as he works and attend a lesson in the local schoolhouse. The 1816 Lenape Indian Camp features a Native American wigwam, lessons on effective tomahawk throwing and the fine art of dugout canoe construction.
New for the summer of 2009 is the 1859 Balloon Voyage. Guests will learn about the contribution that technology pioneer John Wise made to the development of this flying machine, as well as a brief history of American ballooning.
Those less prone to acrophobia might want to cap off the experience with a ride in a helium-filled balloon tethered to the ground but which will lift up to 350 feet.
A memorable visit to Conner Prairie calls for advance planning. Basic admission is inexpensive, but it's the extras – classes, day camps, workshops and special meals – that make the difference.
Fees range from $40 to more than $200. Special "Hearthstone Suppers" are $55 per person. It’s all outlined on the Conner Prairie website. Look for special vacation package deals on the site. They offer good values for multiple purchases.
- by Jim Brown , Indianapolis Reporter for HelloMetro
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