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1836 Prairietown

Step back in time and join a bustling community where people, animals, objects, and daily routines are exactly the same as they were over 150 years ago.

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OPEN 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

1836 Prairietown

Step back in time and join a bustling community where people, animals, objects, and daily routines are exactly the same as they were over 150 years ago.

Places To Explore > 1836 Prairietown > Learn More About Prairietown

Meet the Citizens of Prairietown



In this fictional-yet-historically-accurate-town, you'll find an interesting mix of individuals with differing views on religion, politics and daily life. Get to know them a little better before your next visit, and also find out more about Prairietown's fate!


Doc Campbell and His Wife Welcome You to Prairietown. 

Dr. Campbell is the founder of Prairietown. He wields influence and power and is something of a social elitist. He started Prairietown as an investment, a way to make himself some money, but he is also a very charming and smart man. Because of his role in town, many of Prairietown’s residents owe the doctor money and may resent him. In fact, the rumor is he married Mrs. Campbell for money! The doctor has plenty of land for sale to the public and is interested in attracting young families to settle in town.

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Mrs. Zimmerman, a widow, runs the Golden Eagle Inn for Dr. Campbell. She may inwardly disagree with the good doctor on operational issues, but would never jeopardize her job by saying anything within his earshot. Mrs. Zimmerman lives at the Golden Eagle Inn with her sons, daughter, and daughter-in-law. The family came to Indiana from Pennsylvania and brought many of their German heritage traditions with them.

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Meet the Whitakers.

Most everyone in town is indebted to Mr. Whitaker, the owner of the store, and must be friendly to him to get a good deal. The store is a vital part of Prairietown, making goods from all over the world available to its citizens – at a price, of course!

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Mr. Curtis, the town blacksmith, is an important part of the Prairietown community. He and his family made the long journey to Indiana from New York and have found the western frontier to be different in many ways. As Methodists, Mr. Curtis, his wife, and sister Mary abstain from hard spirits and the family does not think singing – outside of church – to be proper.

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Drop by the Barker's Pottery Shop.

Isaac and Jonathan Barker are potters, a trade passed down to them by their father. Since every household in Prairietown uses pottery in one form or another, the Barker Brothers and their shop are very successful. Though they may hold the most credit in Mr. Whitaker’s store, the Barkers are rarely found socializing with the Prairietown upper crust – the family prefers the simpler things in life and might be considered a bit uncivilized by some of the town’s other citizens.

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