Exhibit explores New Harmony's rich history

Photo: iuipublichistory

The town of New Harmony is located on the banks of the Wabash River, near the Illinois border in Indiana’s southwestern corner. The town’s origins date back to the turn of the nineteenth century, when the first utopian society was founded in 1814. A second society followed in 1825.

A new exhibit, “New Harmony: Echoes of Utopia,” is on view at the Indiana Historical Society in Indianapolis. It focuses on how the Harmonists and Owenites left their mark on the town’s cultural landscape, as well as the intellectual and political development of Indiana in the nineteenth century.

The exhibit was created by IU Indianapolis Public History MA student and IHS Exhibits Intern Amanda Von Ruden.

“It was such a cool experience to be hands-on researching and writing an exhibit at the Indiana Historical Society. Being able to take all of my research knowledge from undergrad and apply it to a real-world project was one of the best experiences I could have asked for,” says Ruden. “The team trusted me from the start and supported me when questions arose. I truly did not feel like ‘just an intern,’ and I was fully a part of the team. This experience will forever help me in my future career as a public historian.”

The exhibition explores the rich history of New Harmony, Indiana, a town on the banks of the Wabash River that was home to two nineteenth-century utopian societies. Founded in 1814 by George Rapp, the Harmonists envisioned a spiritually centered, communal way of life. Later, Robert Owen established a second utopian community grounded in socialism and intellectual pursuits.

Although Owen’s experiment ended in 1827, the legacy of both the Harmonists and Owenites continued to shape Indiana’s cultural, intellectual, and political landscape—a story brought to life in this exhibition.

“New Harmony: Echoes of Utopia” can be seen on the fourth floor of the Indiana Historical Society, 450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis 46202. For more info, visit www.Indianahistory.org  

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