In 1814, Father George Rapp led a group of about 800 German Lutheran immigrants (called the Harmonie Society) from Pennsylvania to 30,000 acres on the Wabash River. The Harmonists, as they were called, came to prepare for the Second Coming. They built and perfected a cosmopolitan community which they carved from the wilderness of the Indiana Territory. Their business acumen, however, eventually led them to return to Pennsylvania, where they would be closer to both existing and prospective markets.
In 1824, Robert Owen, a Welsh-born industrialist, purchased New Harmony with
plans to create a model community where education and social equality would be
realized. 
His
utopian dream was never fully achieved, but his efforts produced pioneering
contributions to education, geology, trade schools, and women's suffrage.
In fact, the
genesis of the US Geological Society and the Smithsonian
Instititution are here in New Harmony. And early
feminist activity
in New Harmony increased national awareness of the issue of
women’s suffrage.
Many of the original buildings and sites from old New Harmony remain, and are open for tours through the educational programs affiliated with the University of Southern Indiana. Much of the preservation and restoration of the town's Harmonist and Owenite history is due to the untiring efforts and boundless energy of Jane Blaffer Owen (1915-2010). She set about to preserve its history, restore its homes and bring some of the greatest minds and artists to its door. Under her leadership, both the town's spiritual and egalitarian nature were renewed. It is again a center for learning and culture.
Today, New Harmony's small town charm, beauty and serenity belie an underlying current of creativity and exubrance. Our business community offers a range of unique shops and galleries, restaurants and lodgings, as well as exciting venues for the creation and celebration of the arts, writings and music.
Join us as we honor our heritage, as we strive to shape an exciting future.
For more detailed description of New Harmony's history, see the Historic New Harmony or the Indiana State Museum websites, or visit the Atheneum, our Visitor's Center.
New Harmony will be celebrating it's Bicentennial in 2014. Many exciting activities are planned throughout 2014 with the capstone event the first week in August. This site will keep you posted with the scheduling of Bicentennial events.
BICENTENNIAL CALENDAR OF EVENTS
|
December 31, 2013
|
New Year's Eve Bicentennial Kick-Off Party |
|---|---|
|
2014
|
|
|
February 7th
|
Harmoniefest |
|
March 15th
|
Thomas Say Entomology Collection & Exhibit |
| Bicentennial House Grand Opening | |
|
April 2nd
|
Prince Maximilian Tour Lecture at the Atheneum |
| Prince Maximilian Storytelling Workshop at WMI | |
|
April 23rd-25th
|
Heritage Artisans Days |
|
May 25th
|
Alumni Concert at Murphy Park Amphitheatre |
|
June/July
|
Cub Scout Adventure with USI |
| Public Archaelogy Workshop | |
| Super Summer for Kids/USI | |
| WMI Geology Exhibit | |
| New Harmony Writer's Retreat | |
| Professional Development Workshop for Teachers | |
|
Capstone Week
|
|
|
August 1st
|
Local Musicians at Thrall's Opera House or Murphy Auditorium |
| Oral Histories Opens at WMI | |
|
August 2nd
|
5K Run - Food Festival |
| Pure Gold Concert | |
|
August 3rd
|
Community Church Services at Roofless Church |
| Pageant at Murphy Auditorium | |
|
August 4th-8th
|
Garden Club Golf Cart Tours |
|
August 6th
|
WMI Reveal |
|
August 7th
|
Bicentennial Tree Dedication |
|
August 8th
|
Keynote Speaker |
|
August 9th
|
American Legion Breakfast & Open House |
| Children's Day | |
| Bicentennial Parade | |
| Charles Ford Memorial Home Open House | |
| Hagemann Premiere | |
|
August 10th
|
Community Church Service at Roofless Church |
|
November
|
Interdisciplinary Conference - "Capitalism & Socialism" |
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