New Harmony, Indiana was founded by a group of people who had separated from the German Lutheran Church. In 1814, The Harmony Society built a communal, Utopian village and many of the original buildings are still there today. In the southwestern corner of Indiana, it's a great place to visit and explore.
The brown dome in the photo is actually part of the Altar of The Roofless Church. There are labyrinths, mazes, a museum (the white building pictured, called the Atheneum), and many historical buildings.
The Harmonists were deeply religious people, and had a very successful society at this site for about eleven years. They established self-sufficient farming on 2000 acres, a steam engine, cotton and wool factories, and a complete communal society. For reasons I do not know, the entire town was sold to Robert Owen in 1825 and the group moved back to Pennsylvania. But they had prospered in Indiana, and the town has been well-preserved.
The second wave into New Harmony attracted scientists and educators. Owen's ambition was to create a more perfect society through free education and the abolishment of social classes. The town is laid out beautifully, with simplistic lines and lots of modern art and architecture mixed in with the plain, beautiful wood.
I love to go and visit, and stay overnight. I love to wander the gardens and mazes. The town is so tranquil; yet has a positive energy. Restaurants and antique stores make shopping and dining unique and fun. It's worth more discussion, so I'll be coming back to lovely New Harmony later.
Beautiful. Looks like a place I would love to visit. Maybe sometime when we get back that way, we could go together.
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