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When people ask me what I do for a living, I sometimes struggle to explain. Saying, “I manage the livestock and agriculture experiences at Conner Prairie,” just feels lacking because what my team does here at Conner Prairie is so much more than can be summed up in a simple sentence.  When people find out…

Of all the fun activities that campers enjoy at Conner Prairie Adventure Camp, shooting archery is always among the most popular. Over a given summer, thousands of campers will send tens of thousands of arrows zipping towards a foam target. Of all those arrows, only a few will hit the bullseye. If so few kids…

Some of my earliest memories of family revolve around gardening.  I remember “dancing” in the seeds as I followed behind my dad as he planted; snapping green beans for the quarts of beans my mom canned each year. I would dig for the buried treasure that was homegrown potatoes and harvest sweet corn that went…

Twenty-five years ago, the American Academy of Poets launched National Poetry month. Since 1996, April has been a time to celebrate and explore the wonder of words that is the poem. Poetry is often perceived as difficult, by writers and readers alike, but we’ve subconsciously adopted bits of poetry as a part of our cultural…

HSE Teacher-in-Residence Amy Murch teaches Archery to HSE 4th graders. Pre-Covid. Photo Credit: Unknown Here at Conner Prairie our mission is to be, “….a unique historic place that inspires curiosity and fosters learning by providing engaging and individualized experiences for everyone.” One of the ways we fulfill that mission is by our incredible partnership with…

Since April 22, 1970, Earth Day has been a traditional celebration regarding the protection of our natural environments. A beautiful day dedicated to the thoughts and understandings of just how important nature’s systems are in all of our lives. A day meant to educate and celebrate all of the flora, fauna, and the many living…

Spring arrives at Conner Prairie in spurts. One day the sky is impossibly blue and the sun is shining. The next week it storms and the sleet hits my face. Two weeks after the big snow storm I stepped outside the front door of Facilities and saw 125 sandhill cranes overhead flying north. I knew…

The old adage “if only these walls could talk” holds a lot of weight when one walks past the historic buildings that have been assembled on the Conner Prairie grounds. Those buildings have seen more stories than we will ever know, and for the William Conner house this is especially true. William Conner did not…

So much of life is made up of everyday, predictable routine. For some it’s humdrum. For others, events that happen dependably at the same time every week are a source of peace and comfort. Routine creates a sense of normality and frees us from the anxiety of figuring out how to schedule our work and…

Come join other adventurers who travel back in time at Conner Prairie to watch our skilled craftsmen ply their trades. Will you explore Prairietown to see Mr. McClure in his carpenter’s shop, or a blacksmith at work at the Curtis forge? Where does your curiosity lead? Are you coming to watch one of our skilled…

Like many historical institutions across the country, Conner Prairie is working hard to fight the battle against systemic racism. In June of 2020, as many organizations and individuals were looking inward to determine “what is DEAI” in this organization, and how can we deepen our commitment to it, Conner Prairie developed the Diversity, Equity, Accessibility,…

Self-advocacy is critical in leadership – especially for women. Learn how confidence, honesty, and integrity can help you become a great leader.

Spend your spring break exploring

Madam CJ Walker forged a new path in Indianapolis “I had to make my own living and my own opportunity. But I made it! Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.” Madam C.J. Walker Earlier this year, Netflix released a miniseries about the life of Madam C.J.…

Before long, our beautiful Indiana autumn will turn into an Indiana winter. Start your day off right by heading to Conner Prairie for a quick jaunt around our beautiful grounds!  10:30am –  Begin your day in an uplifting way – soaring above the trees, 370 feet from the ground on our 1859 Balloon Voyage. From…

Is there a more classic pairing than autumn and covered bridges? Enjoy a perfect fall experience featuring a couple of Central Indiana’s most prized bridges, starting at Conner Prairie! 10am: Soak in mid-morning sunshine as you venture out to Conner Prairie’s Howe Truss style covered bridge. Named Cedar Chapel, it was built in 1884, brought…

September 25, 2020 When Karen and I got the good news that our son Dan had proposed marriage, and the even better news that Hillary said “yes”, we soon began to consider where we would host the rehearsal dinner.  As soon as we saw Conner Prairie’s newly-renovated Chinese House and the adjoining Bluffs, we knew…