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Life on the Prairie

Life on the Prairie Conner Prairie is so much more than an elementary school field trip destination. So if you haven’t been there since you were a 4th grader, it’s…

Life on the Prairie

Conner Prairie is so much more than an elementary school field trip destination. So if you haven’t been there since you were a 4th grader, it’s time to give the interactive history park another spin.

At Conner Prairie, guests can experience pioneer Indiana, which means they can throw tomahawks in an Indian trading post, taste recipes from the past, help with chores in a Victorian farm community, or hold newly hatched chicks at the animal barn. They can even soar 350 feet above the landscape to experience the thrill of first-time flight in a helium-filled balloon.

 

Taste the Past.

Visit on a Thursday afternoon and bring your appetite. Taste the Past (a Food for Thought partner event) encourages Hoosiers to think and learn about food by experiencing it as it was grown, prepared and consumed in the 1800s.

“At Taste the Past you can see, touch, make and taste authentic 1800s food. What better way to teach kids that food is an integral part of every culture and that food traditions are an important part of family life?” said Ellen M. Rosenthal, president and CEO of Conner Prairie.

Taste the Past Thursdays are free with general admission and take place at 2 p.m. in Prairietown. If you’re interesting in sampling more period-specific food items during your visit, read Rosenthal’s “A Foodie’s Guide to Conner Prairie.”

The Sound of Summer.

Need a new spin on date night? Head up to Conner Prairie on a Saturday evening for Symphony on the Prairie. No matter where your musical interests lie—pop, classical, oldies—there’s sure to be a concert that fits your style. This year’s lineup includes a performance with Brandi Carlile, a tribute to Michael Jackson, as well as Tchaikovsky 5, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, and of course, the Classical Mystery Tour: Music of the Beatles. Check out the complete lineup and dates, here.

So, pack a picnic (you can BYOB or buy on the premises) and take in the sounds. Don’t leave without buying some of the famous kettle corn, though.

Visit Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for ticket information or call 317.639.4300. Prices are $21 per adult ticket ($26 at the gate); $10 per child, ages 2-12 ($12 at the gate).

 

Take Flight.

Experience aviation history and discover Indiana’s contribution to aviation at the 1859 Balloon Voyage. The exhibit celebrates John Wise’s first airmail delivery, via a gas filled balloon in Lafayette, Ind. In addition to soaring 350 feet in the air in a tethered, helium-filled balloon, visitors can experiment with the science and technology of ballooning and see how the balloon measures up against other modes of transportation at the time (think locomotives, steamships and ox wagons). 

Even if you’re not up for a ride, there’s plenty to do. The general admission ticket takes you to 1859 Lafayette on the day John Wise set flight, where you can see the streetscape, send a letter via airmail, inflate a balloon, and more. Click here  to learn more about the exhibit.

The balloon is weather dependent, so check the Conner Prairie website to be sure the balloon is flying before you go. Tickets are $15 per person ($12 for members). This price does not include the general admission charge.

Pick up a $5 discount coupon from presenting sponsor Rickers am/pm stores. (See the list of participating stores here.) Each coupon is good for up to six guests.

 

More to come…

Conner Prairie has announced that a new exhibit, set to open in spring, 2011, will replace Liberty Corner. Construction began in early June and a formal announcement about the new exhibit—which will cover a new time period for Conner Prairie—will be later this year. Stay tuned!


General admission to Conner Prairie:

Conner Prairie members and youth under 2: Free
Adult: $13
Senior 65+: $12
Youth 2-12: $9

Hours vary. Please check www.connerprairie.org for more info.