The Conner Prairie Alliance recently held their annual Holiday Luncheon at the Bridgewater Club in Carmel. During the luncheon, the Alliance presented Conner Prairie President and CEO, Ellen M. Rosenthal with a $65,000 gift in support of Conner Prairie’s upcoming 1859 Balloon Voyage, an interactive exhibit that commemorates the nation’s first air mail delivery, launched from Lafayette, Indiana in 1859, a pioneering event in aviation history and very important part of Indiana’s history. The exhibit is an immersive and interactive learning experience thatculminates in a voyage 350 feet above the rolling prairie onboard a tetheredhelium-filled balloon, opening June 2009.
The Conner Prairie Alliance is a women’s voluntary organization dedicated to supporting museum activities and fundraising. Comprised of 25-35 full members and approximately 50 associate members, the group manages The Apple Store, a seasonal foods and crafts shop whose proceeds support Conner Prairie’s educational programming. This passionate group is recognized at Conner Prairie for donating countless hours, hard work and valued funds to the museum. Since its inception 25 years ago, the Alliance has raised over $1 million for Conner Prairie’s programs and donates approximately 18,000 hours of volunteer service per year.
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Conner Prairie, a nationally acclaimed outdoor history museum located at 13400 Allisonville Rd. in Fishers, Indiana, is in the greater Indianapolis area, six miles north of I-465. Museum Center and indoor exhibits open year-round; outdoor historic areas – Lenape Indian Camp, 1836 Prairietown, 1886 Liberty Corner, Conner Homestead – open April-October. Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day, New Year’s Eve and Day. Open in April, Thursday-Sunday; May-September, Tuesday-Sunday; October, Wednesday-Sunday; November, Thursday-Sunday; December, Tuesday-Sunday; January-March, Thursday-Sunday. Special programs offered year-round. General admission: April-October, $12/adult, $11/senior, $8/youth ages 2-12, under 2/free; November-March: $4/person, under 2/free. Memberships available. Museum Shop open year-round – closed Mondays. For information, call 317.776.6006 or 800.966.1836 or log onto www.connerprairie.org.to verify hours and admission costs for special events and programs, or to make reservations.