Escapees March-April 2024

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Prairietown is a settlement offering a fantasy look at what it might have been like in Indiana at this time in history. There are several homes where women prepare meals and work on handicrafts, including quilts and embroidery, and do other household chores. It is 1836, and as the docent explained earlier, the homes are new to the town. She shows me a quilt made from scraps of material given to her by the other community women while a younger woman practices her embroidery skills. Prairietown has blacksmith and pottery shops, an inn, a doctor’s of fi ce, a store, a carpentry shop and a schoolhouse. It’sa fi ctional look at the past, and the docents carry out their narratives with expertise in acting and history as they present fi rst-person impressions of the people of Prairietown. At the inn, three women gather in the kitchen to eat the lunch they prepared over an open fi re.Using an eating knife, they enjoy a pie dessert and chat with visitors explaining how they prepare the meals and a little bit about the inn. It is fun to visit this fi ctional village. Everything matched the period nearly two centuries ago, including chores, animals, objects and routines. Guests can study in the one-room schoolhouse, help with tasks or watch a tradesperson at work. WhenYouGo Conner Prairie spans more than 1,000 wooded acres. I spent more than four hours there and wished I had spent the entire day, or even carved out two days, to visit all the attractions and chat more with the interpreters. There is also an 1816 Lenape Indian Camp where guests learn about the life, culture and relationship between the Lenape Indians and the early American fur traders. Beyond Prairietown is the 1863 Civil War Journey where, on July 13, 1863, Confederate General John Hunt Morgan and his forces crossed the Ohio River into Indiana. You’ll cross a covered bridge and step into the Southern Indiana town of Dupont as if it was shortly after this raid. Along the way, you’ll meet resi dents, experience immersive presentations and gather supplies for the Soldier’s Aid Society. There are several other attractions to explore including hiking trails and special play areas for young visitors. Conner Prairie, a Smithsonian Institute Af fi liate, is an excellent and fun way to learn about Indiana and Amer ican history. The historical interpreters are outstanding and offer another dimension to learning. Conner Prairie is open year-round. For more informa tion, call 800-966-1836 or visit the website. Article and photos by Marilyn Jones, Guest Contributor

A carpenter works on his latest piece of furniture.

William Conner House was the beginning of Conner Prairie.

High in the sky on the 1859 Balloon Voyage. PHOTO COURTESY CONNER PRAIRIE

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March/April 2024 ESCAPEES Magazine