Promised Land as Proving Ground

The whole story is waiting to be told
Coming soon

Immerse yourself in the many ways African culture influenced what’s known today as “American” culture. Have an unforgettable personal encounter with the traditions, challenges, and decisions of early Hoosiers.

Promised Land as Proving Ground logo
Extended Cuts of Promised Land as Proving Ground Videos
What is the Promised Land?

Subscribe to get the latest news and program updates at Conner Prairie.

Community Partnerships
  • Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis
  • Anthony "Baba Tony" Artis
  • Center for Africana Studies & Culture at IUPUI
  • Living Word Baptist Church
  • Green Thumb Garden Patrol
  • Indianapolis Garden Club
  • Purdue Extension Master Gardeners
  • Spirit and Place
  • Witherspoon Presbyterian Church

FAQ

When does Promised Land as Proving Ground Open?

Promised Land as Proving Ground will open in summer 2023. Because the immersive experience will be interwoven throughout Prairietown and other areas of Conner Prairie, guests will see and get to experience a few elements — including the Origins Cabin and an immersive, augmented reality experience.

What does Promised Land as Proving Ground Mean?

As a free state, Indiana represented a Promised Land for some African American families, filled with economic opportunities, independence, and freedom from racism, racial violence, and other forms of oppression. It also served as a Proving Ground for this freedom, a place to develop African American faith and challenge American democracy.

Why did Conner Prairie create this experience?

Promised Land as Proving Ground is the beginning of an intentional evolution to achieve Conner Prairie’s mission of inspiring curiosity and fostering learning through engaging and individualized experiences for everyone. We are committed to telling the stories of all Hoosiers in a way that is historically accurate, comprehensive, and inclusive.

How is Promised Land as Proving Ground Different from Conner Prairie’s Other Exhibits?

This is the first time Conner Prairie has created an experience that tells the whole story of Indiana’s history. It moves away from a first-person narrative to encourage present-day dialogue and conversations about the impact of the African American community on Indiana’s past and its present.

What will guests experience when they visit Promised Land as Proving Ground?

When fully open in 2023, the exhibit will incorporate audio-visual components, experiential, hands-on and augmented reality in order to deliver an immersive experience where guests are encouraged to interact and ask questions about African American history and culture in Indiana.

What will I experience inside the Origins cabin?

Guests will experience an audio-visual theatrical presentation. For those with sensory sensitivities, moderate noises and lights from the video will occur during this presentation.

Is the Origins Cabin wheelchair accessible?

The paths leading into the Origins Cabin and the exit path from the cabin are both wheelchair accessible.

Explore our guest expectations

Promised Land as Proving Ground is funded in part by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment, Inc.