In Harmony Newsletter

SEPTEMBER 2022 Edition

Interim Assistant Director's Update
Last fall at a Historic New Harmony Advisory Board meeting, Provost Khayum shared his vision that all USI students would have an experience in New Harmony before they graduated. Spurred by his enthusiasm, members of the Advisory Board, the HNH team and USI faculty and staff came together to figure out how to fulfill that vision. Read more about the UNIV101 New Harmony Experience

ISMHS Update
Each year the New Harmony State Historic Site produces an exhibition in Thrall's Opera House on an aspect of The Golden Troupe. Hear from Jess as she shares some of the research she's completed for the next exhibition

Online Ticket Sales
We’ve listened to our visitors and have set up an online system for the purchase of New Harmony tour tickets. Learn how to purchase tour tickets in advance

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AUGUST 2022 Edition

Interim Assistant Director's Update
As summer winds down, I can’t help but look forward to my favorite season in New Harmony: fall. I’m ready for cooler temperatures, colorful leaves and Kunstfest. But before I get too ahead of myself, I thought I’d share what’s been happening in utopia this summer. Read more from Claire

A Reflection on Labyrinths
Last month, Dr. Del Doughty began his tenure as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at USI. His love of labyrinths quickly led him to New Harmony, where he walked the Harmonist Labyrinth. Read his reflection

NHGCA Update
The New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art recently completed the first stage of long-overdue facilities upgrades in the main gallery space! Learn more about these upgrades and the first exhibition in the new space

Natural Dyes in Harmonist Times
The Harmonists created, adapted and adopted the new technologies of their day giving them a competitive edge in the growing early American economy, particularly in textile manufacturing—wool, cotton and silk—and agricultural production. Read more from In Harmony guest writer Peggy Taylor as she shares more on the history of natural dyeing

Family Fun Month
Multiple organizations all over the country are promoting their sites and special features for the entire month including the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families. Learn more about the Blue Star Museum program

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JULY 2022 Edition

Interim Assistant Director's Update
July brings both joy and sadness when it comes to the Historic New Harmony Advisory Board. It means welcoming new excited supporters, but also saying goodbye to some fantastic members. Read more about the Historic New Harmony Advisory Board

Atheneum Maintenance Update
Work on the Atheneum roof started this week! As work continues, the entire roof, second and third floors will be closed off to the public, including the Clowes Theater and the 1824 town model. Learn more about the work being completed

ISMHS Update
On June 4, the Indiana State Museum hosted a beekeeping class in Community House No. 2 titled “Beekeeping 101.” Hear from Jess as she shares more about the program

Second Saturday Programming Continues
This year seems to be flying by! We’re now halfway through the year (and our New Harmony Second Saturday programing). As our first year participating in Second Saturday, we’ve worked hard on developing a new and exciting program each month. Learn more about upcoming Second Saturdays

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JUNE 2022 Edition

Interim Assistant Director's Update
Excitement is building in the HNH Office regarding our Lilly Religion and Cultural Institution Initiative planning grant. The survey is completed, results are being studied, site visits are being made and the possibilities seem endless. Read more about the planning grant process

The Atheneum
In March, Paul was contacted by a group of students from Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology in Xi'an, China. Their professor wanted them to have a deeper understanding of famous architects and their buildings. Read more about their work with the Atheneum

The Harmonist Brick Church and the “Door of Promise”
As we celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the "Door of Promise," learn more about the history of the Harmonist Brick Church in this month's History Lesson. 

NHGCA Update
Over the next few weeks, the gallery side of New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art will be closed for some exciting facilities upgrades. Learn more about these upgrades

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MAY 2022 Edition

Interim Assistant Director's Update
The HNH team has been incredibly busy, and we just didn’t get an April newsletter released. It felt weird not sitting down to write my monthly article, but it’s a new month and we’re ready to get back on track! Read more from Claire

“The Golden Troupe Superb Silver Band and Orchestra” Now Open in Thrall's Opera House
The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites is once again utilizing the space in Thrall’s Opera House to display a new exhibit on New Harmony’s Golden family. “The Golden Troupe Superb Silver Band and Orchestra” gives visitors an insight into the band that supported one of the most popular theatrical companies of the late 1800s.  Learn more about the exhibit

A Note from HNH’s Spring Student Worker
This semester, Hanna Clark, a senior at USI double majoring in political science and world languages and cultures with a focus in Spanish, assisted our team with the Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative II planning grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. Read more about how she helped

More Perfect Places: A Theatrical Celebration of the Past, Present and Future
More Perfect Places, a play inspired by New Harmony’s utopian history, also invites you to imagine what the future holds for this unique community. Free performances will take place at Thrall’s Opera House June 10-11, 2022. Learn more about More Perfect Places

NHGCA Update
On April 30, New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art opened “Residence VI,” an exhibition featuring ceramics by recent New Harmony Clay Project (NHCP) artists-in-residence. Learn more about the artists included in this exhibition 

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MARCH 2022 Edition

Interim Assistant Director's Update
While names like George Rapp and Robert Owen dominate our historical record, the women of New Harmony played just as an important role. From Gertrude Rapp and Frances Wright to Mary Emily Fauntleroy and Jane Blaffer Owen, this town wouldn't be what it is today without them and others. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, I wanted to share with you a few of those women who I greatly admire. Learn more about the New Harmony women I admire

Museum Shop Update
Welcome back to another season with Historic New Harmony! As we start this new season, there are some new items in the museum shop that are definitely worth checking out. Read more about what's new

NHGCA Update
Visualizing Spaces opens March 12 (New Harmony’s Second Saturday), featuring work by regional and national artists examining ideas around what utopia is, and for whom. Learn more about the artists included in this exhibition 

Adventures through the Archives
As a new manager of the Indiana State Museum’s historic sites in New Harmony, it has been my duty for the last four months to inventory, photograph and catalogue the thousands of artifacts the state museum stores in Community House No. 2. Read more about Jess' favorite artifacts

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FEBRUARY 2022 Edition

Interim Assistant Director's Update
We’re often asked if things are slow when the tour season ends and winter arrives. The truth is, not at all! The first few weeks of the year are all about preparation for the next tour season and the year ahead. Things have seemed especially busy this time around, as we have so many exciting things happening at HNH. Read more about what's happening

HNH Welcomes New Student Worker
In late January, HNH welcomed a new student worker. Hanna Clark, a senior at USI double majoring in political science and world languages and cultures with a focus in Spanish, will be assisting our team with the Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative II planning grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. Learn more about Hanna

Devout & Disciplined: Harmonists in New Harmony, 1814-1824 on Exhibit on USI's Campus
Devout & Disciplined: Harmonists in New Harmony, 1814-1824, shares the continuing story of religious separatists seeking refuge in America from the strict formation of the German Lutheran Church. The exhibition includes artifacts from the Working Men's Institute and Historic New Harmony collections. Read more about this exhibition

NHGCA Update
In spite of snow days and COVID outbreaks, Vanessa Viruet’s solo exhibition PAÑUELXS is up and on view through March 5, 2022. Hear more from Iris as she shares what's next

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DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022 Edition

Interim Assistant Director's Update
When this year started, there were still a lot of unknowns as to what we’d be able to accomplish, but after weathering the storm of 2020, the Historic New Harmony team felt prepared to take on whatever came our way. We were ambitious as we began planning our 2021 season, and I’m happy to report that very little of what we planned did not come to fruition. Read more about we accomplished this year

A Look Ahead
As you read in Claire’s report on our activities and programs in 2021, the Historic New Harmony team was busy and is looking ahead to 2022 which shows no sign of stopping! At the top of our “To Do” list is embarking on a new strategic plan. This will inform our direction, priorities and engagement for the next five years. Learn more about what we have planned for 2022

Christmas Traditions
The way we celebrate Christmas had changed dramatically throughout the years. Read more about how New Harmony residents have celebrated in the past

NHGCA Update
The new year will start with a short break at the Gallery with PAÑUELXS opening January 22. Learn more about this upcoming exhibition

Robert Owen 250th Creative Writing Contest
Our Robert Owen 250th Celebration is coming to an end, which means our second and first place winners are now published! Read all the winning pieces

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NOVEMBER 2021 Edition

Interim Assistant Director's Update
When I sat down to write my update this month, I was at a bit of a loss. Not because I had nothing to report—quite the opposite in fact. The HNH staff has been so busy in the last month wrapping up our daily tour season and our Robert Owen 250th celebration, hosting Water/Ways and even looking ahead to next year (you’ll hear more details about what we have planned in next month’s newsletter). I just couldn’t decide what to share and then it hit me... Read more about what HNH is thankful for this year

NHGCA Update
The NHGCA continues its partnership with the New Harmony Clay Project with Filled Up 2: A Ceramic Cup Show. Learn more about the latest exhibition

New Harmony State Historic Site Welcomes Site Coordinator
On October 25th, Jess began her tenure at the New Harmony State Historic Site. Learn more about Jess

Robert Owen 250th Creative Writing Contest
Our third place winner is all the way from England! Read Barry Carter's poem here

Museum Shop Update
Written and illustrated by the talented Marsha Bailey and produced by the Kiwanis Club of New Harmony, this coloring book is full of important New Harmony scenes. Read more about this new coloring book

Christmas in New Harmony
Every December New Harmony celebrates Christmas in a big way! The first weekend of December hosts Christmas in New Harmony, a spirit filled weekend sure to get you in ready for the holiday. The town will be decorated in the Christmas spirit along with a tree lighting, a performance of the Nutcracker, Artisan Vendors throughout the town and even visits from a certain someone to see if you have been naughty or nice! Learn more about how we are participating in Christmas in New Harmony

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OCTOBER 2021 Edition

Interim Assistant Director's Update
While the tour season seems to be winding down, everything else seems to be getting busier! This past month (really the last year), a lot of our focus has been on Water/Ways, a Smithsonian Museum on Main Street traveling exhibit made possible in Indiana by Indiana Humanities. This exhibition, which dives into water—an essential component of life on our planet, environmentally, culturally and historically, is only traveling to six locations in Indiana. New Harmony’s connection to the Wabash River is an important one, and this has given us a great chance to explore those connections while cultivating new partnerships. Learn more about these partnerships

Pioneer Hearth Cooking Demonstration
Cooking in the age of pioneers was a lot different than it is today! Join Historic New Harmony Interpreter Becky Smyth as she demonstrates pioneer hearth cooking in the Double Log Cabin

Museum Shop Update
New Harmony, Indiana: Like a River, Not a Lake has flowed its way back onto our shelves after a short hiatus. Written by Jane Blaffer Owen and edited by one of our own talented tour guides Nancy Mangum McCaslin, it also includes Forewords from John Philip Newell and J. Pittman McGehee and Afterwords from Anne Dale Owen and Jane Dale Owen. Learn more about this book

Robert Owen 250th Creative Writing Contest
Charlie Gaston's essay "Robert Owen: Protector of Workers" was chosen as an Honorable Mention in our Robert Owen 250th Creative Writing Contest. As a New Harmony resident, his personal history and connection to our town make for an intriguing read. Read it here

Systems | Bodies | Parameters now open at the NHGCA
The exhibition, which runs through November 13 features 12 lush abstract paintings with surfaces that have to be seen in person. Learn more about the artist