A living museum , also known as a living history museum , is a type of museum which recreates historical settings to simulate a past time period, providing visitors with an experiential interpretation of history. It is a type of museum that recreates to the fullest extent conditions of a culture , natural environment or historical period , in an example of living history .
63-809: Conner Prairie is a living history museum in Fishers, Indiana , United States, which preserves the William Conner home. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places , and the museum recreates 19th-century life along the White River . The museum also hosts several programs and events, including outdoor performances by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and summer camps . The property and William Conner house were purchased by pharmaceutical executive Eli Lilly in 1933 or 1934. With
126-513: A fur trade camp with a log cabin , as well as Lenape trades such as pottery , cooking, gardening, hunting , games, beading , weaving , and more. Visitors can learn how the Lenape Indians lived in Indiana , hunting and trapping animals to trade with European fur traders. There are tomahawk throws once every day and pendant-making once a day in the summer as well as bracelet-making with beads in
189-525: A master's degree is not usually required, a background or degree in history, public history , museum studies , or education is beneficial. The average salary for full-time museum workers in the United States was $ 44,430 in 2019. A large part of the competencies acquired by the interpreter are gained through experience and on-the-job-training at each individual site. The main interpretative technique of living history museums, aside from exhibitions, are
252-773: A slavery reenactment experience in which students as young as 12 years old would participate in a recreation of the Underground Railroad . In 2003, the program won the national award for Excellence in Programming from the American Alliance of Museums , as well as the national Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History in 2012. However, organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and academics have criticized
315-523: A $ 10,000 prize in a ceremony at the White House. The museum opened another exhibit in June 2011, "The 1863 Civil War Journey: Raid on Indiana". This exhibit documents Morgan's Raid with live action, video, and interactive activities. The installation and design of the exhibit required a $ 4.3 million investment. The museum grounds are divided into several sections in which different historical eras are recreated in
378-659: A background in history, public history, museum studies, or education, and conduct significant historical research in order to effectively and accurately provide interpretation to the public. Freeman Tilden, a National Park Service Interpreter known as the father of interpretation, wrote Interpreting Our Heritage in 1957. His book is one of the first comprehensive instructional texts on the subject of interpretation and outlines six basic interpretative principles that are still taught today in interpretive training sessions nationwide. The six principles of interpretation are: Scholars and museum professionals have done significant work exploring
441-545: A button, hammering in a nail, or molding a piece of metal. Animal Encounters is a functioning barn on Conner Prairie grounds across from the Conner House. It houses more than eighteen kinds of chickens, goats, sheep, cows, ducks, and horses. Children and adults can learn about the different aspects of the barn and the animals it houses by using all five senses. The barn's activities include milking goats and cows, collecting eggs from chickens, and shearing sheep. Built in 1823,
504-528: A certain idealized image. One such example is Wichita's Old Cowtown Museum, which in its small, rural representation of Wichita resembles Western movies and Wild West myths more than the bustling urban city that Wichita quickly became. This living history narrative developed because of the availability of small historical buildings and inaccurate replicas, prodding from the city, and the influence of Hollywood. Museum professionals must grapple with these issues of conflicting audience and institutional needs which impact
567-454: A constantly changing past. It additionally was affirmed by the ALHFAM that they also support Dr. Scott Magelssen's idea that living history museums produce history as others do, such as teachers in classrooms, authors in monographs, and even directors in film. Hoosier Hoosier / ˈ h uː ʒ ər / is the official demonym for the people of the U.S. state of Indiana . The origin of
630-501: A costumed historian will say that "I am making cornbread". Third-person interpretation does not limit the costumed historian to a particular historical character or time period and maintain a working knowledge of both the past and present. Instead, they represent a gender, status, and occupation. Plimoth Plantation employs third-person interpretation at the Wampanoag Homesite where, although dressed in historically accurate clothing,
693-643: A history professor at Fisk University , argued for a connection to the Methodist minister Rev . Harry Hosier ( c. 1750 –May 1806), who evangelized the American frontier at the beginning of the 19th century as part of the Second Great Awakening . "Black Harry" had been born a slave in North Carolina and sold north to Baltimore , Maryland , before gaining his freedom and beginning his ministry around
SECTION 10
#1732872769069756-472: A large part in its presentation. Visitors can talk to soldiers from the 103rd Indiana Regiment and residents of Dupont, who share their views of the war and Morgan's raid. Reenactors of Union and Confederate units may be present, painting a more in-depth portrait of the raid. Prairietown is a recreated 1836 pioneer community. Unlike the Civil War Journey, Prairietown is not an actual Indiana settlement but
819-421: A living history activity and the piece of the past it is meant to re-create. A major difference between living history museums and other historical interpretation is that at living history sites, the interpretation is usually given in the first-person present, versus the third-person past narratives given at other sites. Living history museums seek to convey to visitors the experience of what it felt like to live in
882-618: A living timeline. Staff in historical clothing demonstrate the way early inhabitants of the area lived. They explain their lifestyles in character while performing chores such as cooking, chopping wood, making pottery, and tending to animals. Visitors are often invited to join in the activities. The museum's main building, the Welcome Center, contains the entrance lobby, ticket-sales counter, "Create.Connect" (history and science exhibits), Discovery Station/Craft Corner indoor play area, banquet hall, and gift shop. The gift shop sells pottery made by
945-417: A modern point of view. On June 6, 2009, Conner Prairie opened its 1859 Balloon Voyage, which allows visitors to take 15-minute rides in a tethered balloon to a height of 377 feet (115 m). The balloon is filled with 210,000 cubic feet (5,900 m) of helium and is 105 feet (32 m) tall, making it the world's largest tethered gas passenger balloon. Its gondola can carry up to about twenty people, and
1008-504: A newspaper titled The Hoosier . In 1900, Meredith Nicholson wrote The Hoosiers , an early attempt to study the etymology of the word as applied to Indiana residents. Jacob Piatt Dunn , longtime secretary of the Indiana Historical Society , published The Word Hoosier , a similar attempt, in 1907. Both chronicled some of the popular and satirical etymologies circulating at the time and focused much of their attention on
1071-664: A part of the Civil War; children can board a replica steamboat and play in the water area. The Civil War Journey is set in Dupont , a southern Indiana town which was invaded by Confederate raiders in 1863. Visitors can stop by the Mayfield and Nichols dry-goods store, the Porter family home, a telegraph station, a soldiers' camp and a field hospital. Although much of the Civil War Journey is presented with modern technology, historic interpreters also play
1134-409: A post office in the county's early days. Conner lived in the house until 1837. William and Elizabeth's children and their families (or their tenants) continued to live in the house until its ownership left the family in 1871. During the 1860s, Conner's Lenape children with Mekinges Conner (his first wife) unsuccessfully attempted to gain title to the family's Indiana land. Subsequent owners lived in
1197-467: A recreation of what such a settlement may have been like in the early days of Indiana statehood. In addition to several homes, Prairietown has blacksmith and pottery shops, an inn, a doctor's office, a store, a carpentry shop, and a schoolhouse. Visitors arriving early in the day can help with morning chores, and all visitors are invited to play a role in Prairietown society with a character card found at
1260-562: A six-columned porch overlooking the White River (the porch was removed in a later renovation). Lilly donated the house and farm to Earlham College in 1963, and it became part of Conner Prairie. In 1980, the house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The Conner House has undergone additional restoration, and is preserved as representative of an 1820s home. Its function as a house museum continues to evolve. "The 1863 Civil War Journey: Raid on Indiana" documents Morgan's Raid ,
1323-474: A space, or portraying a historical character, they are also involved in the research process that aides the site interpretation. Full-time staff interpreters develop public programs, tours, and write scripts for interpretative panels, pamphlets, and videos. They often work closely with the curatorial and educational staff to collaborate on ideas about collection tours, school tours , educational programs, and site interpretation. Supervisors are also responsible for
SECTION 20
#17328727690691386-429: A tavern in the foothills of southern Indiana. One was cut and a third Frenchman walked in to see an ear on the dirt floor of the tavern, prompting him to slur out "Whosh ear?" Two related stories trace the origin of the term to gangs of workers from Indiana under the direction of a Mr. Hoosier. The account related by Dunn is that a Louisville contractor named Samuel Hoosier preferred to hire workers from communities on
1449-524: A variant spelling of his name (possibly influenced by the "yokel" slang ) during the decades after his ministry. According to Washington County newspaper reports of the time, Abraham Stover was Colonel of the Indiana Militia. He was a colorful figure in early Washington County history. Along with his son-in-law, John B. Brough, he was considered one of the two strongest men in Washington County. He
1512-419: Is an indoor attraction, open year-round, that "Celebrates Hoosier Innovation". This attraction offers activities such as building a windmill , experimenting with circuits , building a model plane, and building a chain reaction . The area consists of smaller exhibits that explore wind energy at the turn of the century, flight in the early 1900s, rural electrification in the 1930s, and the role of science during
1575-526: Is no accepted embodiment of a Hoosier, the IU schools are represented through their letters and colors alone. The term is universally accepted by residents of Indiana and, as of 2017, is also the official demonym used by the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO), making it the only GPO-recommended demonym of any US state that is not directly formed from the state's name. Before 2017, the GPO-recommended demonym for
1638-516: Is the summer home of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra . The Friday-Saturday Symphony on the Prairie concert series attracts over 100,000 concertgoers per year, a substantial portion of Conner Prairie's visitor count. There are tables and chairs set up on the prairie and there is an option to bring a blanket and sit on the grass. For 20 years, Conner Prairie hosted the "Follow the North Star" experience,
1701-617: The Cumberland River , and the Cumberland Gap . Nicholson defended the people of Indiana against such an association, while Dunn concluded that the early settlers had adopted the nickname self-mockingly and that it had lost its negative associations by the time of Finley's poem. Johnathan Clark Smith subsequently showed that Nicholson and Dunn's earliest sources within Indiana were mistaken. A letter by James Curtis cited by Dunn and others as
1764-501: The French words for 'redness', rougeur , or 'red-faced', rougeaud . According to this hypothesis, the early pejorative use of the word Hoosier may have a link to the color red ("rouge" in French) which is associated with indigenous peoples , pejoratively called "red men" or " red-skins ", and also with poor white people by calling them " red-necks ". Humorous folk etymologies for
1827-548: The William Conner House is a two-story, Federal-style brick residence on the terrace edge of the west fork of the White River. It is believed to be one of the first brick buildings built in central Indiana. Seven of William and Elizabeth Conner's ten children were born in the home. The house was used as a meeting place for the Hamilton County commissioners, other county officials, and the circuit court, and contained
1890-450: The Indiana pioneers calling out "Who'sh 'ere?" as a general greeting and warning when hearing someone in the bushes and tall grass, to avoid shooting a relative or friend in error. The poet James Whitcomb Riley facetiously suggested that the fierce brawling that took place in Indiana involved enough biting that the expression "Whose ear?" became notable. This arose from or inspired the story of two 19th-century French immigrants brawling in
1953-549: The Indiana side of the Ohio River like New Albany rather than Kentuckians. During the excavation of the first canal around the Falls of the Ohio from 1826 to 1833, his employees became known as "Hoosier's men" and then simply "Hoosiers". The usage spread from these hard-working laborers to all of the Indiana boatmen in the area and then spread north with the settlement of the state. The story
Conner Prairie - Misplaced Pages Continue
2016-489: The United States – 25 miles (40 km), from Lafayette to Crawfordsville, Indiana – of 123 letters and 23 circulars. Sunset and nighttime flights are made on weekends when the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra plays its Symphony on the Prairie summer series. The balloon ride is weather-permitting, and does not operate in high winds. With the rest of the park, it is open from April to October. The Lenape (Delaware) Indian Camp recreates bark and cattail -mat wigwams and
2079-438: The aim of connecting "people with history in ways that books cannot," Lilly restored the house, and opened it to visitors. The property was initially known as Conner Prairie Farm. Lilly appointed resident Vern H. Fisher manager. By 1940, Lilly had added several structures to the property, including a still, a loom house, and a trading post. After Fisher's death in 1942, Tillman Bubenzer was appointed farm manager until 1977. The farm
2142-477: The balloon (manufactured by Aerophile ) can lift up to 4.5 tons. It is one of five such balloons in the United States. An educational exhibit accompanies the balloon ride, recreating a Lafayette street and including hands-on, interactive elements that teach the historical context and technology of ballooning . The attraction is based on the August 17, 1859, trip by John Wise , who made the first airmail delivery in
2205-506: The board of directors and the college about the museum's governance and the college's financial policies. The dispute culminated in Earlham's dismissal of the museum's president and board of directors in June 2003. The Indiana attorney general intervened and, after a lengthy and contentious dispute, a settlement was reached in which Earlham resigned as trustee of the charitable trust, the Lilly endowment
2268-514: The book Shanties from the Seven Seas by Stan Hugill, in reference to its former use to denote cotton -stowers, who would move bales of cotton to and from the holds of ships and force them in tightly by means of jackscrews . A Hoosier cabinet , often shortened to "hoosier", is a type of free-standing kitchen cabinet popular in the early decades of the twentieth century. Almost all of these cabinets were produced by companies located in Indiana and
2331-496: The character being portrayed. Since the interpreters are representing a historical character during a particular time period, their knowledge and therefore how they interact with the public, is limited to their designated character and historic time period. For example, interpreters at the English Village at Plimoth Plantation are first-person interpreters who portray some of the original residents of Plymouth Colony. For example,
2394-444: The costumed historians speak from a modern perspective about Wampanoag history and culture. For example, a costumed historian will say that "They ate a healthy, seasonally varied diet that included corn, beans, squash, fish, venison, fruit, and vegetables". Both first- and third-person costumed historians participate in demonstrating and performing daily tasks and crafts of the time period. Most interpreters at living history sites have
2457-569: The different interpretation styles, how the museum presents and explains the role of the costumed historian, and how the interaction between visitor and costumed interpreter impacts the visitor's overall museum experience. Jay Anderson, in his 1984 book, Time Machines: The World of Living History, defines living history as an “attempt by people to simulate life in another time” and stresses its importance within American culture. He argues that living history museums function as powerful “time machines” that transport visitors both mentally and emotionally into
2520-528: The earliest known use of the term was actually written in 1846, not 1826. Similarly, the use of the term in an 1859 newspaper item quoting an 1827 diary entry by Sandford Cox was more likely an editorial comment and not from the original diary. Smith's earliest sources led him to argue that the word originated as a term along the Ohio River for flatboatmen from Indiana and did not acquire its pejorative meanings until 1836, after Finley's poem. William Piersen,
2583-678: The end of the American Revolution . He was a close associate and personal friend of Bishop Francis Asbury , the "Father of the American Methodist Church". Benjamin Rush said of him that "making allowances for his illiteracy, he was the greatest orator in America". His sermons called on Methodists to reject slavery and to champion the common working man. Piersen proposed that Methodist communities inspired by his example took or were given
Conner Prairie - Misplaced Pages Continue
2646-402: The entrance. Prairietown aims to demonstrate what day-to-day life was like for residents of frontier Indiana. Historic interpreters in period clothing, presenting first-person impressions of the people of Prairietown, offer a unique perspective. Although these interpreters will not discuss events (or inventions) after 1836, blue-shirted museum employees can help visitors approach Prairietown from
2709-410: The extensive training of new staff members, volunteers, and interns. As a career, historical interpretation positions do not usually require the applicant to have a specific degree or background. Prospective employers are looking for interpreters who have good communication skills and are comfortable speaking in front of large audiences. They should also possess strong research and writing skills. While
2772-402: The house until 1934, when Eli Lilly Jr. purchased Conner's former farm and the then-dilapidated house. Lilly, president and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company and president of the Indiana Historical Society , intended to restore the house and turn it into a museum. Local architect Robert Frost Daggett and contractor Charles Latham supervised the home's stabilization and restoration and the addition of
2835-401: The longest raid of the Civil War behind enemy lines and the only Civil War battle event in Indiana. Using live action, video, and other interactive activities, the Civil War Journey documents the raid through the eyes of historical figures Attia Porter, Confederate brigadier general John Hunt Morgan , and Albert Cheetham. Visitors can walk through a reconstruction of the town of Dupont and be
2898-459: The museum's costumed staff in addition to more conventional souvenirs. Conner Prairie has several permanent attractions and a number of semi-regular events, including monthly programs such as "Taste the Past", a Headless Horseman ride in the autumn, candlelight tours, and a country fair . It hosts American Civil War reenactments , Hearthside Suppers, and Christmas events and dinners. Create Connect
2961-467: The overall structure of living history. Living history museums have also been criticized for their ability to teach, particularly from those that believe "living history is antiquarian, idyllic, or downright misleading." In response to this question, the Association for Living History, Farm, and Agricultural Museums (ALHFAM) has stated that they distinguish between an unchanging past and an interpretation of
3024-436: The past for a unique learning experience. Anderson divides the recreated historical experience enacted at living history museums into three categories based on their purpose and outcome: educational for museum purposes, research for archaeological inquiries, and recreation for entertainment. A major concern at living history museums is the idea of authenticity. Living historians define authenticity as perfect simulation between
3087-399: The past. Critics of living history museums argue that replication of past states of mind is impossible, and therefore living history is inherently inaccurate. The relative authenticity of living history farms varies significantly. At its best, they most accurately reflect the past appropriate to the time period while at their worst they may portray gross inaccuracies in an attempt to portray
3150-473: The public. He also transferred 1,371 acres (555 ha) of surrounding farmland to the college, suggesting that Earlham could sell the land and use its proceeds for the museum. Earlham elected to retain the farmland and expand the museum, constructing an 1836 village (Prairietown) with funds provided by Lilly for the purpose. The museum grew in scope and popularity, and attendance increased by 22 percent from 1975 to 1976. In 1999, tensions began to develop between
3213-522: The reenactment, saying it "presents a sanitized version of history, lacks depth in connecting the impact of slavery to present day race relations, and can traumatize children, specifically children of color." In 2019, Conner Prairie announced they would "reimagine" the experience in response to the criticisms. The program was subsequently canceled altogether. Living history museum A costumed historian has many roles and responsibilities at historical sites. In addition to conducting tours, interpreting
SECTION 50
#17328727690693276-454: The space race of the 1950s and 1960s. The area is usually facilitated by a blue-shirt staff member, but may occasionally have a first-person interpreter dressed in costume. Makesmith Workshop's theme changes through the seasons. In the winter, it focuses on textiles ; in the summer, it turns to metalworking ; and in the spring and fall it changes to woodworking . Children of all ages can participate in basic trade activities such as sewing on
3339-607: The state was "Indianian". In addition to "The Hoosier's Nest," the term also appeared in the Indianapolis Journal 's "Carrier's Address" on January 1, 1833. There are many suggestions for the derivation of the word but none is universally accepted. In 1833 the Pittsburgh Statesman said the term had been in use for "some time past" and suggested it originated from census workers calling "Who's here?". Also in 1833, former Indiana Governor James B. Ray began publishing
3402-545: The story into the Congressional Record in 1975, and matches the timing and location of Smith's subsequent research. However, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been unable to find any record of a Hoosier or Hosier in surviving canal company records. The word "hoosier" has been used in Greater St. Louis as a pejorative for an unintelligent or uncultured person. The word is also encountered in sea shanties . In
3465-598: The term "hoosier" have a long history, as recounted by Dunn in The Word Hoosier . One account traces the word to the necessary caution of approaching houses on the frontier. In order to avoid being shot, a traveler would call out from afar to let themselves be known. The inhabitants of the cabin would then reply "Who's here?" which – in the Appalachian English of the early settlers – slurred into "Who'sh 'ere?" and thence into "Hoosier?" A variant of this account had
3528-486: The term remains a matter of debate, but "Hoosier" was in general use by the 1840s, having been popularized by Richmond resident John Finley's 1833 poem "The Hoosier's Nest". Indiana adopted the nickname "The Hoosier State" more than 150 years ago. "Hoosier" is used in the names of numerous Indiana-based businesses and organizations. "Hoosiers" is also the name of the Indiana University athletic teams . As there
3591-514: The use of costumed interpreters or historians. Costumed historians make history come alive through interactions that formulate social, cultural, and political connections with the past. There are two different types of costumed interpretation utilized at living history sites: first-person and third-person interpretation. In first-person interpretation, the costumed historian portrays a specific historical character. The historian adopts speech patterns, mannerisms, worldviews, and attitudes appropriate to
3654-637: The use of the word in the Upland South to refer to woodsmen, yokels, and rough people. Dunn traced the word back to the Cumbrian hoozer , meaning anything unusually large, derived from the Old English hoo (as at Sutton Hoo ), meaning "high" and "hill". The importance of immigrants from northern England and southern Scotland was reflected in numerous placenames including the Cumberland Mountains ,
3717-422: The winter. Conner Prairie offers many different types of summer camps including, Adventure Camp, Science Camp For Girls, Science Camp For Boys, Archaeology Camp, Photography Camp, Maker Camp, and Art Camp. In this camp, participants use diverse media to create various types of art. Preschool on the Prairie, which opened Fall 2019, is held in the president's house and is suitable for children ages 3–5. The museum
3780-576: Was allocated between Conner Prairie and the college, and the museum became independent. Conner Prairie has a board of directors , and maintains its finances and endowment fund. In 2009, it joined the Smithsonian Affiliations program. After restructuring, the museum had an endowment of $ 91 million and an operating budget of $ 9 million by 2011. On December 17, 2010, Conner Prairie received the National Medal for Museum and Library Service and
3843-522: Was always being challenged to prove his might, and seems to have won several fights over men half his age. After whipping six or eight men in a fist fight in Louisville, Kentucky, he cracked his fists and said, "Ain't I a husher", which was changed in the news to "Hoosier", and thus originated the name of Hoosier in connection with Indiana men. Jorge Santander Serrano, a PhD student from Indiana University , has also suggested that Hoosier might come from
SECTION 60
#17328727690693906-400: Was told to Dunn in 1901 by a man who had heard it from a Hoosier relative while traveling in southern Tennessee . Dunn could not find any family of the given name in any directory in the region or anyone else in southern Tennessee who had heard the story and accounted himself dubious. This version was subsequently retold by Gov . Evan Bayh and Sen . Vance Hartke , who introduced
3969-469: Was unprofitable and depended on Lilly's support. In 1964, Lilly transferred the house and its outbuildings to a charitable trust of $ 150 million. Earlham College , a Quaker liberal-arts college in Richmond, Indiana , was named as trustee. In transferring the property to the college, Lilly provided an endowment for its operation and continued to offer support with the provision that the property would be open to
#68931