Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Paige Southerland, 317.234.5078, [email protected]

Corydon, Ind. – As part of the state’s bicentennial celebration, the public is invited to Birth of a State: The Indiana Exhibit on view June 10 through 29, 2016 at the First State Office Building, located at 417 N. Mulberry St. in Corydon, Ind. The exhibition will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Organized by the Indiana Archives and Records Administration (IARA) with support from the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites (ISMHS), the exhibition features the original 1816 and 1851 Indiana Constitutions, alongside other historic documents and artwork related to the state’s formation.

The exhibition is traveling from Vincennes to Corydon. The exhibition marks the first time the 1816 Constitution has been on view since 1824. The 1851 Constitution has never been on public display outside of Indianapolis until now. The exhibit’s final venue will be the Statehouse in Indianapolis in late November of 2016.

“During the state’s 200th birthday, it is important for Indiana to acknowledge the contributions to statehood from Vincennes and Corydon. It’s especially exciting to have the 1816 Constitution return to Corydon after more than 190 years,” Jim Corridan, state archivist and director of IARA said.

The exhibition is free and open to the public.

For more details on the exhibition and related programs, please contact Jim Corridan at 317.225.3799, or email him at [email protected]. Questions may also be directed to Bruce Beesley, vice president of historic sites at the ISMHS at 812.881.7656 or [email protected] or visit indianamuseum.org/news.

A special press preview is set for Thursday, June 9 from 1 to 2 p.m. Any interested members of the press should RSVP to Paige Southerland at [email protected] or 317.234.5078.

A processional will take place on June 8 at 4:30 p.m. to welcome the 1816 Constitution back to Corydon. Beginning at the Corydon Farmer’s Market on Mulberry Street, the wagon processional will head west on Chestnut Street and turn right on North Capitol Avenue. A brief ceremony will take place in front of the First State Capitol.

About the First State Office Building
The recently-renovated First State Office building, built in 1817, was home to Indiana’s first state auditor and treasurer. It is said that the money for the young state of Indiana was kept in a vault in the cellar. The building is now used to host programs and is available as a rental facility.

About the Indiana Archives and Records Administration
The Indiana Archives and Records Administration is the keeper of the state’s official records. Their collections document Indiana’s history from before the Territorial period through today, covering all three branches of government.

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Corydon Capitol State Historic Site is located in Harrison County in southern Indiana. Part of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Corydon became the Indiana Territory capitol in 1813 and Indiana’s first state capital in 1816. From the square, Federal-style limestone capitol to the brick Governor’s headquarters, Corydon is where visitors can discover how the Indiana Territory developed into the great Hoosier state it became. For more information, call 812.738.4890 or email [email protected].