Just A Hoosier Girl: Bloomington

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.