A true trip to the past is what Conner Prairie can offer to all those who are able to visit the farm that is located just northeast of Indianapolis. This cultural attraction has the honor of being featured in a historically renown Smithsonian magazine. This provides more national recognition of the Indianapolis region which is a wonderful aid in economic development.
The May issue of the monthly magazine features a four-page article on Conner Prairie, the living history museum in Hamilton County.
“We were thrilled to get a call from the magazine last year saying they were sending a reporter,” said Ellen Rosenthal, president of Conner Prairie. “But now that the story is out and Conner Prairie is featured so prominently and in such a positive light, we’re even more pleased. Our members who subscribe to the magazine received it first and called with words of congratulations.”
Smithsonian has a circulation of 2 million and is published by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
The last time Smithsonian covered anything local was 1987, when Indianapolis hosted the Pan Am Games and the magazine ran a major piece on the city’s downtown revitalization and use of sports as an economic development tool. What brought Smithsonian back to Central Indiana? An “accessible route to time travel,” Webster said in his article, which acknowledged the more than 200,000 visitors that visit Conner Prairie annually, from April to October.
“Each year, as we consider ideas for inclusion in our annual Destination America features, we search for stories with substantial range,” said Smithsonian Senior Editor Kathleen Burke. “Conner Prairie – with its unique regional identity, sense of place, commitment to preserving our American heritage and imaginative re-creation of several chapters in American history – constituted a perfect choice for Smithsonian.”
“Conner Prairie is a cultural leader not only in Central Indiana but in the country,” said Brenda Myers, executive director of the Hamilton County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Recognition like a Smithsonian article not only helps Conner Prairie, it enhances the positive reputation of the entire Central Indiana region.”
Click here for a link to the article. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/da-frontier.html
Conner Prairie’s historic areas opened for the 2008 season on April 1. While many peer institutions across the country continue to experience attendance declines, Conner Prairie is witnessing gains. In 2007, the museum experienced a dramatic 21 percent increase in general admission attendance and the highest membership levels in Conner Prairie’s history.
Visit www.connerprairie.orgfor more information.
