A 1,000-acre open-air history museum in Fishers, about 20 minutes north of downtown. The park recreates several historical periods — a 1763 Lenape encampment, an 1816 Conner homestead, a working 1836 village called Prairietown, and a Civil War-era town (1863 Dudley Township). Costumed interpreters run forges, looms, and stage live demonstrations.
A tethered helium balloon (the Conner Prairie 1859 Balloon Voice) lifts visitors 350 feet above the river for an aerial view of the surrounding countryside. The park is the best half-day outing for families staying downtown, and a strong shoulder-season visit when downtown's indoor museums are quiet.