Travel Back In Time To The Location Of A Utopian Experiment In New Harmony, Indiana
By Tori Jane|Published August 23, 2021
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
A long, long time ago, in a Hoosier State far, far away… okay, just kidding. But, did you know there’s a little town in Indiana that was once intended to be an experimental utopia? It’s true! The town of New Harmony, Indiana, has quite a fascinating history, and we think you’ll find it as intriguing as we do.
New Harmony is a quaint little town on the banks of the beautiful Wabash River.
...and it is small, with a population of under 1,000 people. The best part of places like this is that it never takes long for everyone to learn (and remember) your name, and that sense of community is something New Harmony prides itself on.
It was founded in 1814 and named "neu Harmonie" after the settlers' original home base of Harmonie, Pennsylvania.
Over the next decade, they built nearly 200 buildings - many of which still stand today!
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However, in 1824, the original settlers (who were all Lutherans who had separated from the church) decided to sell the land and head back to Pennsylvania, which left the town open for further expansion by the new owners.
A man by the name of Robert Owen bought it in 1825, and the up-and-coming modern version of New Harmony was officially on the books - even down to the slight name change. Owen had an idea: he wanted to create a utopian paradise.
But, luckily for us, the town still remains. Today, it's about as close to a utopian place as you can probably get; there's an incredible sense of camaraderie and togetherness here, and you'll feel it from the moment you first visit until you decide to leave (which is, honestly, pretty hard to do).
There are always events, festivals, and other community-building traditions ongoing that greatly contribute to the sense of, well, harmony.
You'll love wandering around downtown New Harmony, where you'll be enchanted by the local shops and eateries that you won't find anywhere but this tiny southern Indiana community.
There is plenty to do and see, and we're confident that there's something here for literally everyone.
Between the aforementioned shops and boutique restaurants, you can also experience New Harmony's artsy side by perusing its adorable (and oftentimes totally riveting) art galleries, gorgeous parks, and so much more. The town even offers walking tours for newcomers - gotta make sure they feel as welcome as they are!
It's no surprise that many visitors choose to spend the night, and luckily for them, there are plenty of bed and breakfasts to choose from.
If you’re interested in the (long) list of things to do, see, and experience in beautiful New Harmony, Indiana, you can get it all on the town’s official website. Oh, and before we forget – you can’t miss the serene, breathtaking experience that is the New Harmony Labyrinth.
