Historic New Harmony operates New Harmony's visitor center, which is located at the Atheneum (401 North Arthur Street). There you will find our information desk, theatre, museum shop, exhibits, and public restrooms. All tours start at the Atheneum.
Our administrative offices are located at the Schnee-Ribeyre-Elliott House (602 West Street).
The Atheneum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Please note that New Harmony is located in the Central Time Zone.
Starting on Monday, December 14, the Atheneum will be closed for the winter season and will reopen in March 2026. Our administrative offices will be open during this time, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and staff will be available for questions and visitor information.
Admission to the Atheneum is free. We have several guided tours available at different ticket prices:
You can book a guided tour by calling the Atheneum at 812-684-4474 or emailing David Angel at dwangel@usi.edu. Walk-ins are welcome based on availability, but advance reservations are recommended, especially during peak visiting seasons.
Our 20-minute Atheneum Tour is available on-demand. It starts with our 12-minute orientation film, Utopia: The New Harmony Experience, in our theater. After the film, you can take a close look at the models of New Harmony as it looked in 1824 and the Harmonist brick church, which was located in what is now Church Park. Your tour also includes a walk through the Atheneum's public spaces with one of our knowledgeable staff members, who shares insights about architect Richard Meier's modernist design philosophy and how this building connects past and future in New Harmony.
Our 45-minute Tram Tour of New Harmony provides commentary about the three utopian communities that shaped the town. You'll see the major landmarks and hear stories that can help you decide which sites to revisit during your stay. Your interpreter will also show you options for dining, shopping and places to stay. Transportation is entirely via tram.
Our 90-minute History Tour takes you inside key historic sites where the Harmonist and Owenite communities lived and worked. Knowledgeable guides share the stories of the people who built these communities and explain how their experiments influenced American culture. Transportation between sites is via tram.
Specialty tours cover different topics, which are listed with the tour description.
Yes! Maps of New Harmony are available at the Atheneum and online. The historic district is compact and walkable, making it easy to explore at your own pace. Some buildings may only be accessible during guided tours.
We recommend allowing 2-3 hours to explore New Harmony. A guided tour takes between 45-90 minutes (depending on the tour), and you'll want additional time to visit other sites and walk around the town.
We are committed to making Historic New Harmony accessible to all visitors. Please contact us at 812-682-4488 or David Angel at dwangel@usi.edu so we can ensure the best experience.
Free parking is available in the Atheneum parking lot and on the town's streets. The historic district is walkable, and all sites are within easy walking distance of parking areas.
Service animals are welcome. Pets are allowed on grounds but not in buildings.
Yes, personal photography is welcome throughout our historic sites. We ask that you be respectful of other visitors and refrain from using flash around collection objects. Commercial photography requires advance permission.
If you're short on time, we recommend the visiting the museum on the second floor of the New Harmony Working Men's Institute, Church Park, and a walk through the Roofless Church. Stop by the Atheneum Visitors Center for a quick orientation and a map highlighting must-see locations.
New Harmony is located in southwestern Indiana on the banks of the Wabash River, approximately 30 miles from Evansville. From Interstate 64, take Exit 4 (New Harmony/Poseyville) and follow Highway 69 south for 12 miles until you reach the turn for New Harmony. Detailed driving directions are available on our Getting Here page.
New Harmony is beautiful year-round, but spring and fall offer mild weather perfect for walking the historic district. Summer brings festivals and special events, while winter brings a quieter, more contemplative experience. Check the Visit New Harmony events calendar to see what's happening in town during your preferred dates.
New Harmony offers several dining options and accommodations. Check Visit New Harmony for a complete list.
Historic New Harmony is close to the Jane Blaffer Owen Sanctuary, Working Men's Institute Museum & Library, New Harmony State Historic Site and Harmonie State Park. The town itself offers shops, art galleries, and beautiful public gardens to explore beyond the historic sites.
Yes! We welcome school groups, tour groups and other large parties. We ask that groups of ten or more reach out to us in advance by contacting David Angel at dwangel@usi.edu or 812-682-4488 so we can arrange appropriate tour times and ensure the best experience for everyone.
Historic New Harmony is a University of Southern Indiana program that preserves and interprets the history of New Harmony, Indiana, a National Historic Landmark. We care for collections and sites documenting the town's history from 1814 to the present, develop educational programs, engage with the community and support research on utopian communities and social reform.
New Harmony is a living town with residents, businesses and local government. Historic New Harmony is a USI program that manages historic sites and collections within the town, develops educational programs and preserves the legacy of the utopian communities. We work in partnership with the town and community organizations to support both preservation and community vitality.
New Harmony State Historic Site and Historic New Harmony are separate organizations that both preserve and interpret New Harmony's history. New Harmony State Historic Site is managed by Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites and operates Community House No. 2, the Harmonist Labyrinth, Thrall's Opera House and the Harmonist Cemetery. Historic New Harmony is a University of Southern Indiana program that manages historic sites, cares for collections and archives, and develops educational programs and community partnerships. Both organizations work to preserve New Harmony's legacy and welcome visitors, but we operate independently with different sites and resources.
National Historic Landmarks are places designated by the Secretary of the Interior as having exceptional significance in American history. New Harmony received this designation in recognition of the Harmonist and Owenite communities' contributions to American education, science, social reform and culture. There are fewer than 2,600 National Historic Landmarks nationwide.
The Harmonists were a German religious community led by George Rapp who built Harmonie (later New Harmony) between 1814 and 1824. In 1825, Robert Owen, a Welsh social reformer, and William Maclure, a Scottish geologist and educator, purchased the town and invited reformers, scientists, artists and educators to create a "New Moral World." Though the Owen-Maclure experiment lasted only two years, its members made lasting contributions to American education, science and social thought.
The University of Southern Indiana has stewarded Historic New Harmony since 1985, managing historic sites and its collections. This partnership allows USI to provide educational and research opportunities for students and faculty while preserving and interpreting New Harmony's history for the public.
The best way to stay informed is to check our online event calendar, subscribe to our First Look newsletter and follow us on social media. We update the calendar regularly with tours, lectures, workshops, festivals and special programs.
Yes! Programs can be customized to your grade level and learning objectives. Contact David Angel at dwangel@usi.edu or 812-682-4488 to discuss options and schedule a visit.
There are many ways to engage with Historic New Harmony: attend our programs and events, volunteer, participate in community gatherings or explore partnership opportunities. Visit our Collaborate page or contact us at harmony@usi.edu to learn more about getting involved.
We consider requests for educational programs, community gatherings and special events that align with our mission. Contact us at harmony@usi.edu or 812-682-4488 to discuss your event and explore whether our spaces might be a good fit.
Researchers can access our collections by appointment. Contact Heidi Taylor-Caudill at hltaylorca@usi.edu or 812-682-6133 to discuss your research interests and schedule a visit. We ask for advance notice so we can prepare materials and ensure staff availability.
Our collections document New Harmony's history from 1814 to the present, including manuscripts, letters, photographs, objects, maps, architectural drawings, artwork, rare books and published materials related to the Harmonist community, the Owen-Maclure experiment and the evolution of the town. We also preserve materials documenting the history of Historic New Harmony as a preservation and educational program.
Yes. We fulfill reproduction requests for research, publication and personal use. Fees may apply depending on the extent of the request. Contact Heidi Taylor-Caudill at hltaylorca@usi.edu with details about the materials you need, and we'll provide information about availability, costs and usage rights.
Yes. Our collections are accessible by appointment only. This allows us to prepare materials in advance and provide the support researchers need. Contact Heidi Taylor-Caudill at hltaylorca@usi.edu or 812-682-6133 at least two weeks before your planned visit.
No, access is free. Some services, such as extensive reproductions or rush requests, may incur additional costs.
Historic New Harmony is undertaking a major digitization initiative to make our collection more accessible to researchers and the public worldwide. This project is creating digital surrogates of documents, photographs and other materials that can be accessed online. Learn more about the project and search digitized materials at https://historicnewharmony.catalogaccess.com/
Yes! We offer internships in areas including museum education, public history and community engagement. These experiences provide hands-on learning in a professional setting. Contact Heidi Taylor-Caudill at hltaylorca@usi.edu or 812-682-6133 to discuss current opportunities.
We welcome USI classes and can customize programs to support your learning objectives. Whether you need a behind-the-scenes tour, access to primary sources or a guest lecture, we're happy to work with you. Contact us at harmony@usi.edu
Historic New Harmony offers opportunities for faculty research collaborations, grant partnerships and access to our collections for scholarly projects. We're particularly interested in projects involving public history, community engagement and interdisciplinary research on intentional communities.
We offer the New Harmony Outreach and Engagement Faculty Grant to promote outreach and engagement activities in New Harmony. Grants are available for projects that will engage faculty and students in learning experiences in New Harmony, while being beneficial to the town. One grant in the range of $2,000-$5,000 is awarded each academic year.
We also accept proposals for projects supported through the University of Southern Indiana Endowment for New Harmony Studies Fund. The purpose of the fund is to support the scholarly work of USI faculty that will make a significant contribution to the knowledge of the history of New Harmony.
We're always interested in collaborations that align with our mission, from student projects to faculty research to community partnerships. Visit our Collaborate page or contact us at harmony@usi.edu to start a conversation about your ideas.
Yes! Student volunteers assist with programs, events and special projects. Volunteering is a great way to gain experience while contributing to Historic New Harmony's work. Contact Heidi Taylor-Caudill at hltaylorca@usi.edu to learn about current volunteer opportunities.
We collaborate with community organizations, educational institutions, cultural organizations and other partners on projects that support our mission. Whether you're interested in co-sponsoring programs, developing exhibitions or exploring other collaborative opportunities, we'd love to hear from you. Visit our Collaborate page or contact us at harmony@usi.edu.
There are many ways to support our mission: make a financial contribution, attend fundraising events, donate relevant historical materials, volunteer your time or spread the word about our programs. Visit our Support page to learn more.
We carefully consider donations of materials related to New Harmony's history. If you have documents, photographs, objects or other materials you'd like to donate, please contact Heidi Taylor-Caudill at hltaylorca@usi.edu with a description of the items. Our staff will evaluate whether they fit within our collection scope and can discuss the donation process.
Yes! Volunteers help with programs, special events and more. We welcome community members, students and anyone interested in supporting Historic New Harmony's work. Contact Heidi Taylor-Caudill at hltaylorca@usi.edu to learn about current needs and opportunities.
You can reach us by phone at 812-682-4488, email at harmony@usi.edu or mail at P.O. Box 579, New Harmony, IN 47631. Visit our Contact Us page for staff directory and specific department contacts.
Sign up for our First Look newsletter at this link or by contacting us at harmony@usi.edu. Our monthly newsletter includes program announcements and news about Historic New Harmony and New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art.
Yes! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We share program announcements, behind-the-scenes content, collection highlights and community news.
Yes! Our gift shop is located inside the Atheneum Visitors Center and open during regular business hours. We carry items related to New Harmony's history, souvenirs and books. Contact the Atheneum at 812-682-4474 for questions and more information about our merchandise.