The 1859 Balloon Voyage is the first new time period-based experience Conner Prairie has proposed since the opening of 1886 Liberty Corner in 2001. The new exhibit is planned to open in June 2009, pending a text amendment to its zoning ordinance.It will provide guests with an interactive experience in early flight methods and scientific discovery that culminates in a voyage on a tethered 19th-century-style balloon.
This new experience places museum guests in Lafayette, Ind., in August 1859 and is based in part on the little-known attempted flight of a piloted balloon from there to New York City. The voyage involved John Wise, a scientific pioneer in the exploration of manned flight, and 123 pieces of mail. When winds blew in the wrong direction, the balloon landed in Crawfordsville, Ind. The mail was ultimately delivered to New York City by train, and the first airmail delivery was deemed a success by the U.S. Postal Service. 2009 marks the 150th anniversary of this significant historical event.
Advisor to the project, Tom Crouch, Ph.D., Senior Curator of the Division of Aeronautics at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum, said of Conner Prairie’s plan, “I have been waiting for years for someone to try something like this in a solid historical setting. All in all, it seems like a wonderful way to introduce visitors to the earliest chapter in the history of flight in America.”
Conner Prairie was founded by Eli Lilly with a vision “to connect people with history in ways books cannot.” Ellen Rosenthal, Conner Prairie President and CEO, said the 1859 Balloon Voyage will carry out Lilly’s vision by allowing guests to actually experience the recreation of a notable event from the past. “People will be surprised to learn that Indiana was the site of a key event in American aviation history,” she said. “The 1859 Balloon Voyage will bring it to life in a way that is fun, exciting and educational for guests of all ages.”
About Conner Prairie
Conner Prairie, a nationally acclaimed outdoor history museum located at 13400 Allisonville Rd. in Fishers, Ind., is in the greater Indianapolis area, six miles north of I-465. Conner Prairie is one of the most innovative and interactive outdoor history museums in the country and inspires curiosity and fosters learning about Indiana’s past by providing engaging, individualized and unique experiences. With hundreds of scenic acres, more than 35 costumed residents and guides, 40 historic buildings and more than 100 farm animals, there is plenty to explore and discover. For information, call 317.776.6006 or 800.966.1836 or visit www.connerprairie.org for more information.
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