Conner Prairie

What Conner Prairie does

Conner Prairie is a nonprofit living history museum (legal entity: Conner Prairie Museum Inc.) operating across 1,046 acres in Fishers, Indiana, along the White River. It delivers immersive educational and recreational experiences combining 19th-century living-history interpretation (1836 Prairietown, William Conner House, Lenape Camp), nature-based outdoor programming (Trails at Conner Prairie, Treetop Outpost, Animal Encounters), Smithsonian-affiliated exhibits (Museum Experience Center, Spark!Lab, Habitat), and signature seasonal festivals (Jupiter Flights Balloon Festival, Headless Horseman, A Merry Prairie Holiday, Kroger Symphony on the Prairie). The museum holds the distinction of being Indiana's first Smithsonian Affiliate and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

The underlying platform pairs a physical campus of 25+ historic structures, 12 experience areas, and 20,000+ collection items with a diversified revenue model spanning one-time admission and festival ticketing (e.g., $30 guest / $18 member evening balloon festival tickets), recurring annual memberships, camp and class registration fees, private venue rentals, a seasonal Apple Store retail operation run by the Conner Prairie Alliance, and contributed income from corporate sponsors and institutional funders including Bank of America, Kroger, Reynolds Farm Equipment, Lilly Endowment, and Honda. Distribution is predominantly regional and direct-to-consumer, delivered through on-site visits, a proprietary ticketing portal (connerp.ticketapp.org), school-group sales, and a multi-channel digital marketing presence.

The museum serves families with children, K-12 and homeschool educational groups, corporate event clients, and a deeply embedded community of members, donors, and volunteers (115 youth volunteers averaging 120+ hours/year and 90+ adult volunteer opportunities). Forward strategy is governed by a multi-year Master Plan initiated in 2017 and funded in part through the Prairie Pathways Campaign, with continued product expansion evidenced by the 2023 Museum Experience Center launch and the 2025 FOOD exhibit.

Name

Conner Prairie

Legal name

Conner Prairie Museum Inc.

Website

https://connerprairie.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Conner Prairie is a nonprofit living history museum on 1,046 acres in Fishers, Indiana, serving nearly 400,000 annual visitors with immersive historical, educational, and seasonal festival experiences anchored by Smithsonian-affiliated programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fishers

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. General Admission: Daily admission tickets providing access to outdoor grounds, living history experiences in Prairietown, Museum Experience Center, animal encounters, and outdoor experiences
2. Annual Memberships: Recurring membership program offering unlimited visits, member-exclusive events, discounts, and recognition. Members receive reduced admission rates at ticketed festivals and early access to events
3. Event Hosting and Rentals: Private event venues including weddings, corporate events, birthday parties, meetings, fundraisers, and catered lunches. Rental of unique historic spaces and outdoor areas
4. Apple Store Retail: Seasonal caramel apple store operated by Conner Prairie Alliance volunteers; generates over $2.1 million in lifetime donations to support museum mission. Offers hand-dipped caramel apples, apple slushies, and cider
5. Camps and Programs: Adventure Camp, We Can Camp, Throwback Camp, early learning programs, homeschool programs, and educational classes with registration fees
6. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors receive promotional opportunities at festivals, admission discounts for employees, rental space benefits, networking opportunities, and recognition through museum communication channels
7. Festival Admission: Ticketed entry to signature festivals including Jupiter Flights Balloon Festival ($30 guest/$18 member evenings, $20/$10 morning events), Headless Horseman, and A Merry Prairie Holiday

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Conner Prairie operates a 1,046-acre living history museum in Fishers, Indiana, offering immersive outdoor and indoor experiences that combine reenactments, hands-on activities, and interactive exhibits focused on Indiana and Midwest history, science, and nature. The museum runs year-round programming including seasonal festivals (Headless Horseman, Jupiter Flights Balloon Festival, A Merry Prairie Holiday, Kroger Symphony on the Prairie), 1836 Prairietown living history, Smithsonian-affiliated exhibits (Spark!Lab, Habitat), educational camps and field trips, venue rentals, and an annual membership program.

Product overview

Conner Prairie is Indiana's Living History Museum offering a diverse portfolio of immersive experiences across 1,046 acres. The museum operates as a unified platform combining living history (1836 Prairietown, William Conner House, Lenape Camp), natural outdoor exploration (Trails at Conner Prairie, Treetop Outpost, Animal Encounters), and Smithsonian-affiliated programming (Museum Experience Center with Spark!Lab and Habitat exhibits). Seasonal festivals (Jupiter Flights Balloon Festival, Headless Horseman, A Merry Prairie Holiday, Symphony on the Prairie) drive attendance alongside year-round educational programming, Adventure Camp, and venue rentals. The experience portfolio is complemented by membership programs, retail (Apple Store), and digital content (podcasts). The museum's Prairie Pathways Campaign continues to expand experiences through the Museum Experience Center transformation, new trails, and educational hubs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Conner Prairie Alliance: A volunteer organization of women established in 1982 that supports Conner Prairie through fundraising and community engagement, operating the Apple Store and raising over $2.1 million for the museum.
• Horizon Council

Products and services

• General Admission Daytime access to Conner Prairie grounds and experiences, including 1,046 acres, outdoor museum areas, trails, and interactive exhibits for general visitors and families.
• 1836 Prairietown Immersive living history experience where visitors step into 19th century Midwest life and join a bustling community celebrating life through conversations, culture, and history.
• Museum Experience Center Indoor museum center featuring six new indoor experiences and providing new access to outdoor spaces, including artifact displays, Spark!Lab, and year-round programming.
• 1859 Balloon Voyage Hot air balloon experience celebrating innovation of flight, featuring the Reynolds balloon that soars over 350 feet in the air and exploring the first successful airmail delivery in the United States.
• Treetop Outpost Four-story treehouse experience with hands-on nature activities, inviting visitors to play, create, and explore with natural materials.
• Animal Encounters Interactive animal experience in the animal barn connecting visitors with animals while learning about agricultural methods, animal husbandry, and behaviors.
• Promised Land as Proving Ground Immersive journey through Black history from pre-colonial Africa to present-day America, using storytelling, multimedia, and hands-on activities.
• Adventure Camp Summer day camp program offering outdoor adventure activities for children, including archery, nature exploration, and historical experiences.
• Jupiter Flights Balloon Festival Indiana's largest balloon festival featuring evening balloon glows, morning flight competitions, live music, family activities, and food vendors.
• Headless Horseman Halloween-themed festival featuring spooky entertainment, haunted experiences, and seasonal activities.
• A Merry Prairie Holiday Winter holiday festival transforming Conner Prairie into a winter wonderland with seasonal entertainment and activities.
• Kroger Symphony on the Prairie Outdoor concert series featuring the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra performing in the prairie setting.
• History on Tap Adult-oriented evening event featuring local food, drinks, and historical programming.
• Trails at Conner Prairie Over 3.3 miles of natural and paved trails along the White River, including Prairie Trail and R.B. Annis Vista Trail, with educational hubs and nature experiences across 200+ acres of prairie.
• William Conner House Historic house museum showcasing the home of William Conner, a frontier businessman who established one of central Indiana's first trading posts.
• Lenape Camp Living history experience exploring Lenape indigenous culture and history through interpreter-led programming and cultural demonstrations.
• Annual Membership Annual pass providing unlimited access to Conner Prairie grounds, experiences, and member-exclusive benefits including discounts and early event access.
• Venue Rental Rental of Conner Prairie spaces for weddings, corporate events, meetings, picnics, and private gatherings across various venues including the grounds, event spaces, and historic areas.
• Field Trips and Educational Programs School group programs including field trips, homeschool days, early learning programs, and curriculum-aligned educational experiences for K-12 students.
• Apple Store Seasonal retail operation featuring hand-dipped caramel apples, apple slushies, hot apple cider, and seasonal treats operated by the Conner Prairie Alliance volunteer group.
• FOOD: Science, Culture and Cuisine Hands-on indoor experience exploring food science, culture, and cuisine through sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound.
• America 250 Programming Commemoration programming exploring the nation's founding and ongoing struggle to fulfill founding promises, featuring Civic Season events from Juneteenth through July 4th.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 400,000 visitors annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Prairie View Golf ClubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2026Venue for Golf Classic event; the only Robert Trent Jones, Jr. course in Indiana, supporting Mission Impact Fund.
• Smithsonian InstitutioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConner Prairie is Indiana's first Smithsonian Affiliate, enabling access to Smithsonian exhibits, traveling collections, and programming including Spark!Lab (Lemelson Center) and Habitat (Smithsonian Gardens). This partnership provides national museum-quality experiences to regional visitors.
• Smithsonian's Lemelson CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped Spark!Lab exhibit putting challenges of tomorrow into the hands of inventors today. The exhibit provides tools, time, and space for visitors to invent and explore creativity.
• Smithsonian GardenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped Habitat outdoor exhibit showcasing unique habitats throughout the gardens and landscapes of Conner Prairie, demonstrating interconnection and fragility of ecosystems.
• Made By UsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Civic Season, celebrating Juneteenth through July 4th with inspiring in-person events exploring history past, present, and future.
• Hamilton Southeastern SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdventures on the Prairie partnership providing curriculum-aligned educational programming with Teacher-in-Residence for archery and other activities.
• Asante Children's TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership producing Academy Summer Intensive with Indianapolis children learning history, culture, and inclusivity through youth theatre.
• White River Canoe CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner15-year partnership providing canoe experiences on the White River as part of outdoor adventure programming.
• Prairie Guest HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHotel partner across the street from venue; offers 10% discount with promo code JUPITER for Jupiter Flights festival attendees.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Colonial Williamsburg: America's largest outdoor living history museum; offers immersive 18th-century reenactments and educational programming on a comparable scale. The most direct comparability for Conner Prairie's living-history business model and operating scale.
• Plimoth Patuxet Museums: Living history museum interpreting 17th-century Plymouth Colony and Indigenous Wampanoag history. Highly comparable combination of living history reenactment, educational programming, and site-based museum operations to Conner Prairie.
• Old Sturbridge Village: New England's largest living history museum, recreating an early 19th-century rural village. Comparable open-air living-history format, seasonal festivals, K-12 field trips, and membership-based operating model.
• Greenfield Village at The Henry Ford: Open-air history museum featuring historic buildings, crafts demonstrations, and rides like a hot-air balloon experience. Direct comparability in scale of historic structures, immersive experiences, and Smithsonian-level institutional ambitions.
• Living History Farms: Iowa open-air agricultural history museum showcasing Midwestern rural life across three eras. Comparable mid-size living history museum model with working farms, heritage breeds, and K-12 educational programs.
• Strawbery Banke Museum: Outdoor history museum in Portsmouth, NH featuring 40+ restored buildings spanning four centuries. Comparable mid-sized outdoor history museum operating model with living history interpretation and education programs.
• Historic Deerfield: Open-air history museum in Massachusetts featuring historic houses and craft demonstrations. Comparable model combining period buildings, crafts, and educational programming in an immersive setting.
• Mystic Seaport Museum: Maritime history museum with recreated 19th-century seafaring village. Comparable immersive outdoor museum format with reenactments, working exhibits, and extensive educational programs.

Regional players

• Old World Wisconsin: Wisconsin's outdoor living history museum operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society. Comparable open-air living history operating model, though it relies more heavily on state funding than Conner Prairie's nonprofit structure.
• Indianapolis Children's Museum (The Children's Museum of Indianapolis): World's largest children's museum located in Indianapolis. Regional competitor for school field trips, family admissions, and youth educational programming in the same Indiana market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/connerprairie
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9QDDRx9rfvDbNpKao3S8vw
• Facebookfacebook.com/connerprairie
• Instagraminstagram.com/connerprairie
• TikToktiktok.com/@connerprairie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/conner-prairie

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Conner Prairie