Buildings and Sites at New Harmony
The Atheneum
The Atheneum was designed by acclaimed architect Richard Meier. It has received numerous design awards. This stunning building serves as the Visitors Center for New Harmony. It also contains a large theater and the Museum Shop. Many of the galleries, as well as the deck overlooking the town and the Wabash River, can be used for parties and events.
Murphy's Theater
In 1911, the Working's Men's Institute purchased a lot by their museum/library to build an auditorium. The auditorium continues to be used for conferences, concerts, and lectures. A theater group also preforms there. During Artisan Days, a historical doctor explains medical practices used long ago.
Double Log Cabin
The Double Log Cabin was moved from another site. It was considered the oldest structure in New Harmony, but is now known not to be. The cabin shows frontier construction techniques in this area. There are two rooms to this cabin with a covered porch in the middle. The cabin can be rented for special events.
Thrall's Opera House
This building was built by the first group of settlers as a dormitory in 1824. The second group of settlers used the space for a variety of purposes, from a multi-family dwelling, to a warehouse, to a place for lectures and dances. Later, the building was transformed into a theater and was home to a famous local acting company, the Golden Troupe. In 1914 was converted to a gas station and garage. In 1964, the space was purchased and restored to it's original elegance.
Labyrinth
Labyrinths have been used all over the world for thousands of years. They are used a place for peaceful prayer or meditation. The Harmonists built labyrinths everywhere the lived. The original Harmonist labyrinth consisted of shrubs and flowering plants. The current labyrinth was constructed near the site of this original labyrinth in 1939 and is very similar to the original Harmonist layout. In the middle of the labyrinth there is a small prayer chapel.
Roofless Church
This is considered a modernist masterpiece by the architect Philip Johnson. It was completed in 1960. There is a curved parabola dome roof that is actually a protective cover for a beautiful sculpture. The real "church" is the entire plaza-like area within the brick walls, as well as an area for looking out over a field that floods each year at least once. The architect wanted to build a church where the only roof large enough to cover the worshipers was the sky.
West Street Log Cabins
These cabins show early Harmonist life in Indiana from 1814-1819. The Weber Cabin was built in 1814 at the time of the first settler's arrival. It shows the Harmonists' earliest living quarters. Families would live in them for a couple of months before making improvements. This cabin was made entirely by hand. There was only one small window in these cabins, but others could have been added later. There is no loft or floor here. There is no chimney. Cooking was done outside. The Eigner Cabin was typical of a more advanced construction of Harmonist homes, this one was completed in 1819. By this time the town's sawmills were in full operation. This log house has a wooden floor and a loft, as well as a chimney. A stove is attached to it for heating and light cooking. The walls were whitewashed to keep out insects and brighten the interior. The loft may have been used as a sleeping area as well.
Oculus House
In 2010, this pioneer cabin was was turned into a camera obscura. In works in this way- you step into a dark cabin, there are no windows. Shut the door and have a seat on a bench along the wall that has the door. There are benches to the right and left of the door. Let your eyes adjust to the dark. After a few minutes, on the wall opposite the door, you can see everything outside the cabin as though it's being projected onto the wall. The images are upside down. It works just like a pin-hole camera. If you have friends standing outside by the fence, you can see them waving at you!
