Indiana's New Experience
By Brad Haberman
In December 2007, president and CEO of the Indiana Historical Society, John Herbst, announced plans to embark on a $24 million campaign that would include temporarily closing down the facility [at the corner of West and Ohio Streets] in order to add the “Indiana Experience” and provide citizens of the state a new way to experience Indiana’s history.
Now, nearly two year later, the Eugene & Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center is preparing to re-open
with new spaces, new [and expanded] exhibits, and a new way of doing business that speaks more of the future than of the past. A surprisingly visionary approach for the organization, but not its leader.
While there are several institutions in Central Indiana that dedicate themselves to preserving a piece of our past–the Indiana State Museum, the Eiteljorg Museum, and Conner Prairie–the Indiana Historical Society will soon unveil a cutting-edge approach that will not only secure their position as the premier library and archives of the history of Indiana [and the Old Northwest]; and the leader in historic research and services [to individuals and businesses], it could also become the historical institution of choice for the up-and-coming, tech generation that relates more to touch screens and “virtual reality” than the Dewey Decimal System.
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The new Indiana Experience will open to the public on Saturday, March 20 with the latest technology in virtual travel. [Opening Gala on March 19]
In Destination Indiana, visitors will have more than 1,600 “journeys” to travel, through self-guided, touch screen navigation [with narration]. Eventually, historians at the Indiana Historical Society hope to have the complete archive available to journey through.
There are countless ways for Indiana businesses to tie into Destination Indiana with journeys to state-wide destinations that often highlight the people, the businesses and the happenings of any given era in the Society’s 179 year history.
You Are There, which debuted in 2009, will be expanded to include the current 1945: Hoosier Home Front, 1924: Tool Guys and Tin Lizzies, and 1914: Violin Shop. Visitors can literally step through a three-dimensional re-creation of a historical photograph and enter the past, complete with first person interpreters that help bring the photograph to life.
Each of these experiences have several [ideal] opportunities for sponsors to gain visibility. For example, Kroger was the perfect partner to provide support for the 1945: Hoosier Home Front–a Terre Haute-based neighborhood grocery store.
Another incredible sponsorship opportunity exists for the Cole Porter Studio program that includes the Waldorf Astoria-influenced space that will bring the Hoosier legends’ musical heritage to life, making it an ideal space for both intimate corporate mixers, and as a compliment to larger-scale corporate [and personal] events.
Additional sponsorship experiences exist as part of the grand re-opening, from structural naming rights of the new grand entrance plaza to other programs, exhibits, and experiences including Hoosier Legends, Conservation Lab, the Indiana Town Hall Series and Anything Goes.
To arrange an opportunity for the Indiana Historical Society to further spotlight a sponsorship opportunity for you and your company, contact Frank Eagan at 317.233.0588.
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