Note: The last Tram Tour of the 2025 season will be at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
The New Harmony Tram Tour gives you an overview of the town from the comfort of our tram. You'll see major sites, hear stories from the perspective of a local and learn options for dining and shopping.
This tour works well for people who can't do a lot of walking, visitors who are short on time, or anyone who wants a solid introduction before deciding what to explore more deeply. You'll cover more ground than you would walking, see buildings from the outside and get context about the Harmonists, Owenites and what makes New Harmony significant.
It's not the same as our History Tour that takes you inside buildings. But it's a good way to experience New Harmony if the full tour isn't right for you.
You'll ride through the National Historic Landmark district, seeing buildings constructed by the Harmonists, spaces used by the Owenites and the town as it exists today. The tram gives you mobility and comfort while still letting you see significant sites.
Interpreters share the core narrative: who the Harmonists were, what they built, why Robert Owen bought the town, what the Owenites tried to create and what happened after the experiments ended. You'll understand the basics of New Harmony's history and why it matters.
You'll see the variety of buildings: Harmonist brick structures, frame buildings, contemporary architecture like the Roofless Church and Atheneum. Interpreters point out architectural details and explain what different buildings were used for.
New Harmony is still a living community. The Tram Tour helps you understand how the historic district functions today: what's preserved, what's still in use, how residents and visitors share this space.
The tram takes you to vantage points that give you perspective on the town's layout, its relationship to the Wabash River and how the Harmonists organized their settlement. Some views work better from a moving vehicle than on foot.
10:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Central Time, Tuesday through Saturday
Available for groups of 10 or more. Groups must make advance reservations.
Recommended
Approximately 45 minutes
Atheneum Visitors Center
Maximum of 22-25 people
Interior access to historic buildings. This tour views sites from outside only. For interior access, see our History Tour.
The tram is accessible for visitors with mobility limitations. Boarding assistance is available. If you have specific accessibility needs or questions, contact us before booking.
The tram operates in most weather conditions. In cases of severe weather, tours may be delayed or rescheduled.
If walking isn't feasible but you still want to experience New Harmony's history, this tour gives you access to the historic district.
Passing through the area and only have an hour? The Tram Tour gives you a solid overview in less time than the full History Tour.
Sometimes keeping young children engaged during a 90-minute history tour is challenging. The Tram Tour is shorter, and the movement helps hold their attention.
Some visitors prefer to get the big picture on the Tram Tour, then decide what they want to explore more deeply on foot afterward.
Summer heat or winter cold can make extended walking less appealing. The tram provides some protection from the weather while still letting you see the sites.
The Tram Tour doesn't go inside historic buildings. You'll see them from outside and hear about what happened in them, but you won't experience the interiors. For that, you need our History Tour.
The Tram Tour covers the essential story but doesn't go as deep into details, complications or nuanced interpretations. It's an overview, not an in-depth exploration.
The Tram Tour keeps moving. There's less opportunity to stop, look closely at something or have extended conversations with interpreters.
Walking through the historic buildings gives you a different feel for the space: the scale of architecture, the texture of brick, the sense of what it would have been like to live here. You get some of that from the Tram Tour, but not all of it.
Many visitors take the Tram Tour, History Tour and Atheneum Tour on the same visit or across multiple visits. The Tram Tour gives you the overview. The History Tour gives you depth and interior access. The Atheneum Tour gives you the rest of the story about our living community. Together, they provide a comprehensive understanding of New Harmony.
If you're unsure which tour is right for you, contact us. We're happy to discuss your interests, mobility and time constraints and recommend the best option.
Contact the Atheneum at 812-682-4474 for more information or to book your tour.