Step back in time at Conner Prairie. Conner Prairie is a living history museum located in Fishers, Indiana. I first visited this wonderful place when I was in third grade and let’s just say that was quite a while ago. I felt like I had stepped into my favorite Little House on the Prairie books. I love Conner Prairie as much today as I did then. Now I take my son to experience 5 different times in history as well as look at baby lambs and other animals. We also enjoy the many special activities at Conner Prairie throughout the year especially The Headless Horseman event.
Conner Prairie features five themed historic areas to explore: Lenape Camp, Conner Homestead, 1836 Prairietown, 1859 Balloon Voyage and 1886 Liberty Corner.
1816 Lenape Camp: Dance to the sound of the water drum and gourd rattle in Conner Prairie’s earliest historic area. Experience the lives of the Lenape, or Delaware, Indians and strike a deal with the fur traders. Challenge your friends to the tomahawk throw and see who can hit the bullseye.
Petting a lamb at Conner Prairie
William Conner Homestead and Animal Encounters Area: Peek into William Conner’s world when you visit his homestead. Explore the first floor of central Indiana’s first brick home, where the fur trader and Indiana statesman lived with his family. Meet animals up close in the large timber-frame barn, see what’s simmering in the Loom House, dip a candle and stroll through the heirloom gardens. Visit in the spring to see the baby lambs.
1836 Prairietown: Experience what life was like in 1836 Indiana when you visit Prairietown, a pioneer village bustling with activity. Jump in and help with chores, lend a hand to the town carpenter and feel the heat from the blacksmith’s forge! Try your hand at pioneer games or visit with the town folk and trade stories. My son enjoyed sitting in the one room school house figuring out math problems given by the teacher.
Go up in the balloon at Conner Prairie
1859 Balloon Voyage: Discover one of the earliest chapters of aviation history at Conner Prairie’s newest historic experience. Experiment with the science and technology of ballooning, then soar 350 feet above the landscape in a tethered, helium-filled balloon and see the world like John Wise did! I have yet to try this out, although my son went up in at during Conner Prairie adventure camp. He really enjoyed it and thought it was cool.
1886 Liberty Corner: Help the Zimmermans around the farm and learn about life in 1886 Indiana. Each chore is a great way to work as a team to get a project done! Before you leave, stop in for a lesson at the local school, run the bases on the historic baseball field or try a fun pioneer game.
Special Events
Conner Prairie offer many classes and activities for all ages. One activity we participated in when my son was younger was Prairie Tykes. Prairie Tykes is for children age 2-5 year of age. Programs are offered bimonthly. This is a wonderful time for children. There was a story, songs, games and a craft. They even had a cookie. We went for the Easter Egg Hunts a few times and it was wonderful when it was warm and sunny and the kids were running about looking for eggs. I totally recommend Prairie Tykes.
Conner Prairie Camp
Conner Prairie Summer Camps: My son has attended for four years now and absolotely loves it. He is normally not a kid who gets dirty. When he comes home from camp he has blue paint on his face from playing capture the flag. He’s been swimming and canoeing in the river and pond and hiking in the woods. I feel very secure in sending him there as there is not access to outsiders who can just wander in. Campers do visit historic areas, however they spend quite a bit of time doing activities away from the main area. I think the thing I like most about the camp besides the fact my child enjoys it so much is it is like one of those camps kids used to go stay all night at. However, here you get to pick up your kids at the end of each day. I’m just not ready for overnight camp yet — maybe I’ll never be.
Other special events include Headless Horseman (read about it in it’s own post), Civil Wars Days, Glorious Fourth, Country Fair, Follow the North Star, Gingerbread Village, Hearthside Suppers, Marsh Symphony on the Prairie and more.
