(Fishers, IN) Discovery Station is Conner Prairie’s new indoor play and learning area for children and families. Hundreds of imaginations took flight and free-range play spontaneously occurred when Conner Prairie opened its newest experience area on July 20.

“When we began the planning process for what has become Discovery Station, we knew we wanted to provide interactive enjoyable experiences for children and to provide parents with the opportunity to either observe their children comfortably or learn and play alongside their children,” said David Allison, Discovery Station Experience Manager (aka Chief Fun Engineer). “Based on the reactions from families that visited during our opening weekend, I’d say we met our goal.”

Discovery Station is comprised of five different interconnected play and learning spaces that foster children’s imaginations. Children can pretend to dress up like a farmer and milk a (fiberglass) cow or harvest a garden. They can don an apron and run the cash register at the market or be a train conductor and collect tickets at the train station. Children can dress up in costumes of all kinds and transform themselves into Victorian ladies and gentlemen as well as farm animals such as chickens, sheep and horses.

“In the past few years we have talked to many families about the kinds of programs they would like to see at Conner Prairie. An indoor play space led their lists,” said Ellen Rosenthal, CEO and president of Conner Prairie. “We were delighted that the Conner Prairie Alliance’s support made it possible for us to create Discovery Station. We’ve worked hard to expand opportunities for families to learn together at Conner Prairie, and Discovery Station offers a new way for our youngest guests to engage history.”

“I wish there had been an interactive play area like Discovery Station close to our home when my children were growing up,” said Julie Smith, president of the Conner Prairie Alliance, the museum’s volunteer fundraising arm. “The Conner Prairie Alliance is committed to helping Conner Prairie create experiences that foster creative learning for children and families. We are thrilled to have been able to be a part of the creative process and to see first hand where our donation went and what the staff created.”

Discovery Station is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10am-5pm and Sundays from 11am-5pm now through September. In October it will be open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10am-5pm and Sundays from 11am-5pm. And even though the outdoor historic areas will be closed November through March, Discovery Station will remain open throughout the winter Thursdays through Saturdays from 10am-2pm and Sundays from 11am-2pm in an effort to provide a place where children can find fun ways to connect with Indiana history and parents of play groups can find a soft place to connect with each other and relax.

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Thanks to our sponsor – Conner Prairie Alliance
Discovery Station is made possible with the generous funding from the Conner Prairie Alliance