Hoosiers will soon be able to explore Conner Prairie’s newly renovated Museum Experience Center (MEC).
Designed as a year-round destination, Conner Prairie’s MEC hosted a ribbon-cutting on March 31. Museum members were invited to explore the two-floor exhibition space during the event, which features six signature hands-on learning experiences, along with two indoor dining and gathering spaces. Early access for members continues April 1-2, with the MEC opening to the general public on April 3.
“This is more than a renovation — it is a reimagination of how we welcome our community,” Norman Burns, president and CEO of Conner Prairie, said in a statement. “The Museum Experience Center will set the tone for a visit that is curious, reflective, and inspiring. It allows us to tell more layered stories, showcase more of our collections, and create meaningful connections for guests of all ages.”
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As Indiana’s first Smithsonian Affiliate, Conner Prairie remains committed to advancing museum excellence through scholarship, innovation and community engagement. These goals are reflected in the intentional design of the MEC, including expanded access to history, the arts and STEM, which further strengthens the way Conner Prairie connects with guests of all ages.
The MEC also champions inclusive opportunities for reflection, inquiry and discovery before guests even step foot into the outdoor living history environments, according to a press release.
The six signature experiences in the MEC, “designed to spark curiosity and connection, span several areas, including:
- Power of Place — An immersive exploration of how land, environment and community shaped identity and belonging over thousands of years.
- Wellspring — An Artscape, part art installation, part playscape, created in partnership with nationally recognized artist Wes Bruce and The Curious Life, blending creativity, reflection and play.
- TORN: A Family Portrait — An exhibition examining family, resilience and the complex history of the Lenape people and Conner families.
- Spark!Lab — One of 10 hands-on innovation spaces developed by the Smithsonian to engage kids and families in the process of invention while exploring history, science, engineering and art.
- Caring for Collections — A behind-the-scenes look at artifact preservation and the museum’s collection of more than 20,000 historical objects.
- Traveling Exhibit Gallery — A gallery bringing nationally and regionally recognized exhibitions to Conner Prairie on a rotating basis.
These experiences aim to position the MEC as a welcoming hub for storytelling and discovery, preparing guests to explore the historic grounds with a deeper context and understanding, according to a press release. Additionally, the Harvest Café and Ricker Prairie Overlook will provide year-round indoor dining and gathering spaces with views of the historic grounds.
“We have done our best to take everything that has shaped us and every lesson and perspective we have learned in Indiana, all the different Hoosiers that have taken us under their wing to show us their farm, to tell us their story to tell their histories and then to make something about it,” Wes Bruce, The Curious Life artist and creator of Wellspring, said in a statement.
The Prairie Pathways Campaign — which raised $44 million through private philanthropy — funded the renovations that transformed the Welcome Center into the Museum Experience Center. The campaign also supported the Trails at Conner Prairie and Promised Land as Proving Ground, both of which fulfill Conner Prairie’s mission to grow in the way it shares history and engages with its community.
When designing the new MEC, accessibility and inclusion were also central. The building includes elevators, stroller and wheelchair accessibility, a dedicated sensory room, sensory kits and monthly sensory-friendly hours to ensure guests of all abilities feel welcome.
Conner Prairie’s new Museum Experience Center opens to the general public on April 3. Museum members get exclusive early access during Member Preview Days on March 31 and April 1-2. For more information, visit connerprairie.org.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe has a bachelor's in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and has previously worked for Indy Maven, The Lantern, and CityScene Media Group. In her free time, Chloe enjoys live theatre, reading, baking and keeping her plants alive.
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