Conner Prairie Blog

The Importance of the White River

September 29, 2023
Areal view of the White River

History, for many, brings to mind the seemingly endless list of names and dates we memorized during our years in school.  I’m not going to bore you with names and…

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How Do We Know That People Actually Learn at Museums?

September 11, 2023

You may be like me in that every time you go to a new city you want to see a local museum (or maybe that’s a me thing). While you’re…

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Exploring History Through Conner Prairie’s Chautauqua Series

August 2, 2023
Stereograph Of Madison, Indiana Chautauqua – July, 1901

Stereograph of Madison, Indiana Chautauqua – July, 1901 In 1878, the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC) was founded to provide those who could not afford the time or money…

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A Wallet’s Journey from a dark cellar to Conner Prairie’s Collection

June 5, 2023
Reviewing the wallet for the collection

The Wallet’s Journey Every donation starts with a phone call or an email. Or, when someone walks through the front door of the museum with a box of old stuff.…

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Why LGBTQ+ Pride Matters Every Month

June 1, 2023
Indy Pride rallying at the Statehouse for Transgender rights

I vividly remember the first time I stood up to a bully. I was in fifth grade and the bully just happened to be my teacher. She had taught at…

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Celebrating the life of Pat G. Rooney

May 25, 2023

“I have a long-standing appreciation and love of this place, its glorious landscape, the history which visitors of all ages experience, and the grateful realization that our ancestors survived so…

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Taste the Past: Sharing Meals and a Rich Heritage

May 15, 2023

While I was growing up in rural Northwest Ohio as part of a farming family, life seemed to revolve around food. Meals were the time when everyone took a break…

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Spending Time in Nature for Mental Health Awareness Month

May 9, 2023
Photo of flowers

Before I sat down to write today, I took a walk outdoors. I felt the sunshine on my face, heard and felt the whistle of the wind blowing through the…

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Happy National Volunteer Week!

April 19, 2023
Volunteer

I have the best career in the world. I get to oversee the Adult Volunteer Crew for Conner Prairie. Working with this amazing group of diverse individuals who freely give…

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Birding at Conner Prairie

March 27, 2023

What motivates you to spend time outside? Perhaps it’s a sunny day and you want to take a walk with friends or family. It could be that you’ve been spending time on…

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Partnering to Support Quality Early Learning Experiences

March 9, 2023

Conner Prairie is a landmark in central Indiana. It is a beautiful example of quality play-based experiences and is a natural partner for Child Care Answers (CCA). Together, we saw…

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Staff Recommendations: Women Who Inspire

March 8, 2023

This year’s national Women’s History Month theme is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.” Who inspires you to pursue truth and reflect on the human condition? Is it an inspirational…

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The Lingering Power of Love

January 12, 2023

What comes to mind when you think of Martin Luther King Jr. Day? Is it his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, his contributions to the civil rights movement, or…

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The Powerful Magic of Play at Playtime on the Prairie

December 12, 2022
Children playing at playtime on the prairie -

When was the last time you played? I mean really played. The kind of playing that takes you back to a time and a place in your childhood where you…

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The Importance of Holiday Traditions

December 6, 2022

It’s the most wonderful time of the year as Conner Prairie has been transformed into a winter wonderland for A Merry Prairie Holiday. Our grounds are now full of thousands…

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Inventing the Holidays

December 1, 2022
father and daughter at spark!Lab

As you are decorating your home and wrapping presents, you might begin to wonder about the origins of all the things that make our holidays merry and bright. They, just…

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Reasons the Power of Philanthropy Provides Endless Opportunities

November 14, 2022

Happy National Philanthropy Day! Each year on November 15, community organizations around the country celebrate the importance of working together for the common good. Today, we reflect on the power…

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Wooly Warmth and Comfy Cattle: Winter on the Prairie

November 9, 2022
Photograph of Cattle in winter

There’s a chill in the air and frost covers the ground each morning. The brightly colored leaves have fallen from the trees and the fields have been harvested. The Headless…

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Conner Prairie’s Land and Its Impact on Fishers

November 4, 2022
William Conner House

Known as one of the best living history museums in the country, Conner Prairie is demonstrative of Fishers’ history and Indiana history as a whole. The museum was built around…

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The impact of Native American Heritage Month

November 1, 2022
Image of Lenape Indian camp

Native American Heritage Month became official in the United States in 1990 after Congress and President George H. Bush signed a resolution that designated November as the first National American…

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Who AREN’T We Serving?

October 25, 2022

While planning guest experiences at Conner Prairie, I think about the phrase: “Who aren’t we serving?” When we have a public program or create a new guest experience, I think…

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13 things to do in the fall in Hamilton County Indiana

October 17, 2022

Our Adventure is Everywhere contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Affiliate Program. If you make a purchase using one of their Amazon or other…

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Habitat provides nature experience in a new way

August 24, 2022
People experiencing Habitat

One of the coolest things about working at Conner Prairie is being able to experience and enjoy nature daily. I love both stopping to look at the tiniest wildflowers and…

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New Smithsonian-Affiliated Exhibit Cultivates the Power of Ideas

August 8, 2022
Kids at spark!Lab

What if I told you that anyone could be an inventor? What would you say? Some might say, “Oh geez, aren’t inventors, like. . . really, really smart? Don’t they…

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The impact of our new Smithsonian-affiliated exhibits

July 25, 2022

A Q+A with Dr. Richard Kurin Dr. Richard Kurin, Smithsonian Distinguished Scholar and Ambassador-at-Large, focuses on strategic direction, institutional partnerships, public representation, philanthropic support and special initiatives at the Smithsonian.…

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The Power of Field Trips Provide Learning Opportunities

July 7, 2022
Family riding 1859 Balloon Voyage

What do you think of first when you think of field trips? Whatever it was that first came to mind, that is learning. Be it the taste of a sack…

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Investing in the next generation

July 5, 2022
Family playing with the wooden stilts

At Conner Prairie, we strive to inspire curiosity and foster learning for kids of all ages. We invest in the next generation. And we’re able to do that through high-quality,…

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In The Name Of Love, Conner Prairie At Indy Pride

June 17, 2022

Although Conner Prairie is a living history museum, that does not mean that we stay in the past. As a part of Conner Prairie’s mission values, we continually look for…

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The Impact of the Conner Prairie Alliance

June 1, 2022

I joined the Conner Prairie Alliance in 2009. At the time, my daughter Katy was a new youth interpreter, and I wanted to support the museum’s mission, particularly its outreach…

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The Influence of the White River for a Better Tomorrow

May 25, 2022

It starts with a trickle and ends with a roar. The Upper White River Watershed starts its 2,752 square mile journey in Harrisville, traversing sixteen counties and flowing through the…

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