Opening this summer in Fishers, Indiana, in Metro Indianapolis, Conner Prairie is opening a new permanent exhibition, Promised Land as Proving Ground.  The new exhibition will highlight the African American faith experience in Indiana by exploring the origins of the Black spiritual experience to expressions of the African American faith in the 21st century, including how African American faith ways are expressed through food, music and dance, and activism.

“As Conner Prairie was looking for ways to evolve as an organization and tell more inclusive stories, a grant opportunity arose for an exhibition that spotlighted faith and religion,” explained Rich Cooper, Vice President and Chief Programs Officer.

The experience will encompass centuries of African American history from pre-colonial Africa to the present day, exploring how American values like resiliency, optimism, and spirituality are reflected in African American history and culture.

The outdoors museum acknowledges that it has not accurately portrayed the entire history of Indiana in the past, specifically the history of African American settlers and other People of Color. In the past, Conner Prairie’s exhibit narratives began with enslavement. With Promised Land as Proving Ground, the experience will begin with pre-colonial African and continue through present day.

Immediately following the opening of Promised Land as Proving Ground, Conner Prairie will be creating a new, comprehensive experience focused on telling the story of indigenous peoples in Indiana, including the Lenape people.

Similar to Colonial Williamsburg and Greenfield Village, the museum grounds are divided into several sections in which different historical eras are recreated in a living timeline. Staff in historical clothing demonstrate the way early inhabitants of the area lived. The museum is the summer home of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. The Friday-Saturday Symphony on the Prairie concert series.

Metro Indianapolis is two and half hours from Gary, home of the Indiana Dunes National Park and Hard Rock Casino, and three hours from Chicago.