USI and Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites end Unified Program to better align with institutional missions

USI and Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites end Unified Program to better align with institutional missions

After nearly three decades of collaboration, the University of Southern Indiana and the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites (ISMHS) have agreed to end their Unified Program in New Harmony, Indiana, as part of a move to streamline operations. While the Unified Program is being discontinued, both USI’s Historic New Harmony (HNH) program and the ISMHS will continue to have a presence in the town, located on the Wabash River in southwestern Indiana, and offer quality tours and programming for visitors that better align with each organization’s mission.

“We’ve had a long and rewarding partnership with ISMHS in New Harmony,” says Leslie Townsend, Director of Community Engagement and Historic New Harmony. “However, as each of our areas of focus have transitioned over the years, it became evident to ISMHS and HNH that the Unified Program model was no longer the most efficient way to best serve the interests of our respective groups and continue to provide the best experience for visitors. This shift will allow each of our organizations the freedom to provide the best tours and educational programming for our students and visitors and continue to support the business community and residents of New Harmony.”

USI will continue to operate the Historic New Harmony program, encouraging cultural and educational programs and maintaining USI’s historic properties. Tours offered through Historic New Harmony will include:

• Atheneum Visitors Center, 401 N. Arthur St.
• David Lenz House, 324 North St.
• Rapp-Owen Granary, 413 Granary St.
• Salomon Wolf House, 601 Granary St.
• 1830 Owen House, 531 Tavern St.
• Jaquess Parlor, 531 Tavern St.
• Maximillian-Bodmer Exhibition housed in the Lichtenberger Building, 520 Main St.
• Church Park, 408 Church St.

USI tours originate at the Atheneum Visitor Center and are offered Tuesday through Sunday at 1 p.m. March 15 through October 31. From November 1 through mid-December, tours are offered on weekends.

Beginning March 15, New Harmony State Historic Site, part of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites 12-location museum system, will begin offering new guided tours of their six historic properties, including:

• Community House No. 2, 410 Main St.
• Thrall’s Opera House, 612 Church St.
• Fauntleroy House, 411 West St.
• Harmonist Cemetery, behind 411 West St.
• Scholle House, 604 Tavern St. (during special exhibits)
• Harmonist Labyrinth, 1239 Main St.

The New Harmony State Historic Site tours will originate in Community House No. 2 and will be offered year-round at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. (Central Time) Wednesday through Sunday. Community House No. 2 will also continue to serve as a programming and rental space and house a small gift shop.

“We are delighted to be able to expand opportunities for visitors to New Harmony to have additional ways to explore the many historic properties in town,” said Cathy Ferree, President and CEO of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites (ISMHS). “The operational changes that each institution is making will allow each of us to focus on our areas of strength and expertise. We look forward to continuing to explore opportunities to collaborate moving forward.”