Conner Prairie President Ellen M. Rosenthal and I, Tim Crumrin, director, experience delivery, recently attended a meeting to discuss the initial planning for Indiana's bicentennial of statehood in 2016. It brought to mind that many understand that Conner Prairie is one of the longest-occupied and documented sites in the state. But, that it has a long history of presenting history is not so well known.
The first effort came in 1927 with the placement of a stone marker celebrating William Conner's settlement, which served as the host for the committee that chose the site of Indianapolis as the future state capital. The stone still stands just to the right of the welcome center main entrance.
More importantly, 2010 marks the 75th anniversary of an event that foreshadowed an element of modern Conner Prairie. On May 17, 1935 Eli Lilly opened the grounds to host a history pageant. Three scenes were re-enacted: the signing of the Treaty of St. Mary's in 1818, which led to the removal of the Lenape Indians from Indiana, the first trial in Hamilton County, which was for illegally selling liquor and the choosing of the state capital.
To modern eyes, these scenes before "a capacity crowd on the hillside of a natural amphitheatre," today's Lenape Camp and symphony areas, seem quaint and almost laughable. The costumes ranged from coonskin caps to Victorian frock coats (see photo). The language veered from the melodramatic to the frankly racist. The overall attitude was unabashed celebration of an almost mythological past.
But its true importance is that 75 years ago, those involved were trying to make history come alive. It was interactive and participatory, as when a hat was passed to help pay the fine of the defendant convicted of selling liquor illegally. They were following Eli Lilly's goal to "[not] merely create a museum, but... to give to future generations historical understanding not to be found in books. What their eyes see they will never forget."
In essence, that is the cornerstone upon which Conner Prairie is built.