State Museum Unveils ‘INVision’ Campaign
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites has kicked off the public phase of a more than $18 million fundraising campaign to support major renovations ahead of its 150th anniversary. The INVision campaign aims to raise an additional $2.5 million to fund the five-phase plan. The project, scheduled to be complete by 2019, includes the re-imagination and renovation of each of the museum’s core galleries as well as improvements to the 11 historic sites throughout the state. The museum has already raised $15.7 million toward its overall goal of $18.2 million.
Senior Vice President Susannah Koerber says the ultimate goal of the renovations is creating an accessible, multi-sensory experience for people of all ages and abilities. She says the museum wants the exhibits to educate entertain everyone ranging from children to people who are "pretty serious about their history."
The first phase includes the renovation of three science, culture and history galleries. They include the Natural Regions, Contested Territory and 19th State galleries on the first and second levels of the museum. The museum says the exhibits will allow visitors to "crawl into a black bear’s cave, hear the sounds of pre-contact Indiana, pack their own covered wagon (and) hear Little Turtle’s stirring speech at the signing of the Treaty of Greenville." That is expected to open next week.
Phase two construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2017. It will include upgrades to the Prehistoric Native Americans and Ice Age galleries as well as the Naturalist Lab. Phase three, covering cultural history galleries and the Ancient Seas area, is expected to take place in 2018. Phase four includes the What Shapes Us gallery and is scheduled to run from the fall of 2018 to the spring of 2019. Phase five covers cultural history galleries from 1930 on, and will take place in 2019.
The museum says there will be significant projects at the state’s historic sites as well. They include a new interpretive center at the Levi Coffin House in Fountain City, the repair and renovation of the state capitol building and square in Corydon and the restoration of Selma’s gardens at T.C. Steele State Historic Site.