Just A Hoosier Girl

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Santa Claus Indiana Christmas Now and In July

Plan a Family Holiday in Santa Claus Indiana

SUMMARY

When the town of Santa Fe had to change it's name to get a post office, little did the folks know changing it's name to Santa Claus , would put the town on the map.

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The tale of Santa Claus Indiana started when the town made application for a post office.

Source: Courtsey Tripadvisor

The name made the town

Santa Claus Indiana was established in 1849 in Spencer County Indiana. The town’s original name was 'Santa Fe'. In 1856 the town applied for it's first post office. The Postal Service rejected the town of Santa Fe’s first application for services based on the fact the name ,'Santa Fe' were already taken. The town held a meeting to establish a new name. There were several heated meetings designed to give the town a unique name. The town finally settled upon the name Santa Claus Indiana. This name was so unique that no other town in the country bore the name Santa Claus at the time. The exact process by which the town people selected the name Santa Claus is lost to history

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Santa Claus Indiana -

Santa Claus, IN, USA

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The North Pole Via a Cornfield

On May 21, 1856, the post office was officially established under the name Santa Claus Indiana. John Sphect was the first postmaster. In 1895 the town changed the name Santa Claus to one word,Santaclaus’. The name of the town went unnoticed by the general public until the 1920s.

Postmaster James Martin promoted the idea of a Santa Claus postmark, in the 1920s. To take advantage of this unique situation the town again changes its name from one word Santaclaus to the current Santa Claus Indiana. It was the only Santa Claus Indiana allowed to keep the name because of the amount of mail that that name generated for the local post office. The amount of mail generated by the name Santa Claus and the desire of people to be see postmarks from that town created huge logistical problem

Since 1914 the town has received so many requests for children for replies from Santa Claus, that a group of volunteers answers many of thousands of requests for replies from Santa. The local post office also produces a one-of-a-kind postmark that is designed every year by a local high school student. It is used only during the month of December.

The town gained the attention the town gained the attention of many nearby entrepreneurs. This was a result of the town’s efforts to answer Santa’s mail. The town was featured in italicized Ripley’s believe It or Not cartoon strip in 1929.

Statue of Santa outside the Santa Claus Museum and Village

Source: courtesy of Tripadvisor

Santa Claus Thrives

Milt Harris and Carl Bennett were entrepreneurs, who competed to establish Christmas based amusements in Santa Claus Indiana in the early 20th century . These amusements included a 22 foot statues of Santa and candy castle,. Local toymakers sponsored a series of village scenes r based on fairytales. This all increased the popularity of it’s of visiting Santa Claus Indiana. This led to the establishment of the Santa Claus town newspaper and Chamber of Commerce.

In 1949 a theme park called Holiday World was established.. Today Santa Claus Indiana is home to many attractions that can be seen all year long. it is home to the Santa’s Candy Castle. Frosyt’s Fun Ctr., Christmas Lake golf course, Splashing Safari and Holiday world.

Holiday World offers rides for all ages. Splashin Safari is one of the state's best theme parks.

Source: courtsey Tripadvisor

Frosty's is a great place for pizza and ice cream

Source: Courtesy Trip Advisor

This golf course is rated best of the top 75 public courses in America.

Source: Courtesy Trip Advisor

This inn provides Christmas themed lodging all year long

Source: Courtesy Trip Advisor

Holiday World and Splashin Safari provide great value for a family theme park getaway!

Source: Courtesy Trip Advisor

A great family holiday, any day!

There are some attractions are family are not going to want to miss in a visit Santa Claus Indiana. Holiday World and Splashing Safari feature th wooden roller coaster called the Voyage. The water park Splashing Safari features the world’s longest water coaster called the beast. The Santa Claus Land of lLights features a bright light show about Rudolph the red nose reindeer. This is the world’s largest campground light display. For the golf lover, Christmas Lake golf course is one of the best 75 public golf courses in the country.

There are numerous places for your family to eat in Santa Claus Indiana. St. Nicks Café features home cooked meals in a Christmas atmosphere. During the warm summer months, you will want to visit from we want to visit Frosty’s Fun Center for pizza and ice cream. After a busy evening thewill want to visit, the Jingle Bell Rock Family Sports Pub for a drink and great pub appetizers.

There are many fun places for your family to stay in Santa Claus Indiana whether you’re visiting during the warmer summer months or for Christmas getaway. You can stay at Lake Randolph Campground and RV Resort. They offer a number of family themed reaction activities on site. You can also stay at the Santa’s Lodge a Christmas themed motel. Your family can also enjoy the seclusion of lakeside cottages called Santa’s cottages a few miles from the theme park.

Even if you are planning to visit Santa Claus Indiana for a day.; you will want to check out the holiday theme shopping opportunities. The Santa Claus Christmas Store features indoor and outdoor lights ,Christmas yard art ,and anything you would need for a great Christmas holiday celebration. Kringle Place features several Christmas craft stores and holiday food store.. The Evergreen Flower and Holly Tree shop features flowers and gifts for every occasion. Santas Candy Castle is a great place to buy all kinds of Christmas confections.

So for a family holiday that compares to none, visit Santa Claus Indiana where the Christmas spirit is alive everyday.

Lake Randolph Resort and RV Park offers a variety of family recreation throughout the year.

Source: Courtesy Trip Advisor

America's Christmas Hometown

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Visit 1830 Indiana At Conner Prairie

Original Conner house at Conner Prairie living history museum in Fishers, Indiana. Photo shot by Derek Jensen (Tysto), 2005-September-03

Early History of Conner Prairie

In 1930 Conner Praire was created as a living history museum to document pioneer life in 1830's Indiana. The William Conner how was restored and given to a trust associated with Earlham College. Earlham was a liberal arts school located in Richmond Indiana associated with the Quaker faith. Quakers founded many communities in Indiana including the nearby town of Westfield Indiana. Elli Lilly a pharmaceutical executive was committed to preserving the unique culture of the Hoosier State along the White River.

Lilly restored all of the out building related to the William Conner house and donated 1,,000 acres of surrounding farmland to the college. It was Mr. Lilly's intention that funds of the sale of the surrounding farm acreage be used to create an endowment to maintain the original Connor homestead as a museum for the area.

Students at Earlham college went a step further and in 1936 constructed an 1830 era reproduction of a pioneer village on the property.The reconstructed Prairie Town came complete with docents in period custom who told visitors about the experiences of living in early 19th century Indiana. Great pains were taken to find older Hoosiers who could give first hand accounts or a least second hand accounts of their experience of coming to the Indiana frontier as children. Local history and journal accounts of early residents of the area were used to achieve a truthful look at life on the Hoosier frontier. There was always an attempt to preserve and pass on the pioneer craft to future generations such a butter churning, pottery, and spinning.

In 1974 The Lilly Endowment transferred control of Conner Prairie over to Earlham College. The school continued to oversee Conener Prairie with a grant from Lilly Endowment until 1992. That year an independent trust was created and the college relinquished much of it's control of the museum . A local board of directors was created and the museum sought affiliation with other living history museums to increase it ability to provide new programs for the community. In 2009 Conner Praire became part of the Smithsonian Affiliations Program..Conner Prairie is also list of the National Register of Historic Places

Day Trip to Conner Prairie

Conner Prairie Today

In December of 2010 Conner Prairie received it greatest recognition to date. In a White Ceremony the Musuem received a $10,000 prize and was awarded the Nation Medal for Musuem and Library Service. One of the newest attractions that Conner Praire has introduced since the award is called the ,"The 1863 Civil War Journey". This exhibit features reenactments, audience participation, and other interactive events for the whole family.This Civil War educational event occurs every June and attracts visitors locally and out of state. Other popular event at Conner Prairie is the ,"Taste of the Past" focusing on the pioneer culinary experience and many other outdoor fairs.

Below are some highlights of a Conner Praire vist

William Conner House:

The Willam Conner House was built in 1823. It is considered son of the first brick building in central Indiana. It was the seat of local governemten as the first county commisioners of Hamilton County gathered there when the county as legal entity. William Conner lived in the house until 1837. The family continued to occupy the house until 1874. It was not only a residence but the first offical post office in Hamiltion county Indiana. In 1980 the home was fully restored to it pre civil War condition and now is listed on The National Registrer of Histroric Places.

The William Conner House is considered to be the first brick building built in the central Indiana. After being built in the year of 1823 it is restored and preserved in Conner Prairie and it was also as meeting place for the country commissioners. Though Conner lived in the house until only 1837 but his family lived till the year 1874 and it has also has been used as post office in the early days of Hamilton Country. In the year of 1980, the William Conner House was listed National Register of Historic Places after when Eli Lilly purchased it in the year of 1935.

1863 Civil War Journey:

During this event Priaire Town ages a couple of decades and become the village of Dupont in Southern Indiana. The reenactments and events of this exhibit recall Morgan's Raid by the Confredracy in 1863 into the state of Indiana.

1836 Prairie town:

During most of the year Prairie Town exists as a recreation of an early Indiana pioneer village. Pairie Town seeks to recreate life in a lively village that boasts a school house, black smith shop, general store, and school house. Praire Town is fictions , but memoirs and views with older residents of the area were used to recreate as much as possible the unique character of central Indiana in the years of early statehood. Conner Praire was created when the early years of the state had been less than a 100 years before the Museum founding.

Conner Prairie also set its recreated pioneer community in the year of 1836 and unlike of Civil War Journey, Prairie town is not an actual settlement. Unlike civil war it’s a fictitious recreation of what such settlement must have been in the early days of Indiana statehood. Prairie town has a blacksmith shop, doctor’s office and schoolhouse. Employees help the visitors in understanding the happenings at the Prairie town of Conner Prairie.

1859 Balloon Voyage
Visitors can ride in the largest threaded gas passengers balloons in the world to commemorate the first airmail delivery by John Wise in 1859. The balloon can hold up to 20 passengers and goes up 110 m. The ride is about 15 minutes in length,This event only occurs when weather is permitting and those interested should contact the museum for schedules and fees.