The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) is looking for volunteers for the Indiana Bicentennial Train’s upcoming visit to Valparaiso Oct. 10-12. Those interested in volunteering or learning more are invited to attend a meeting on Thursday, Aug. 29 at 11:30 a.m. The meeting will be held in the Brown and Gold Room on the second floor of the Harre Union Conferences and Services building at Valparaiso University, located at 1509 Chapel Dr. in Valparaiso, Ind.
The Indiana Bicentennial Train, the next iteration of IHS's award-winning Indiana History Train, will hit the rails in 2013 for a four-year celebration of the state's 200th birthday. Valparaiso is one of just four stops for the Train in 2013. The Train will be open to the public Oct. 10-12, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. downtown near Campbell St. and Indiana Ave.
Volunteers are a vital part of the daily operations of the Bicentennial Train as they help with crowd control, school groups, parking and more. Volunteer assistance will be needed all three days at the Valparaiso stop from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. There are three time slots each day (9 a.m. to 12 p.m., noon to 3 p.m., and 3 to 6 p.m.). Volunteers may sign up for either individual time slots or full days.
For additional information or to register as a volunteer for the Indiana Bicentennial Train, please visit: www.indianahistory.org/train or call (317) 232-1882.
About the Indiana History Train
The Indiana Bicentennial Train consists of three 65-foot renovated Amtrak freight cars and features a free traveling exhibition, The Next Indiana (designed by the IHS exhibitions team). Originally known as the Indiana History Train, it has welcomed nearly 58,000 visitors at 24 stops in communities across Indiana from 2004 to 2008.
In addition to the exhibition, temporary “depots” are set up at each venue to provide an enjoyable, comprehensive experience. Visitors can participate in hands-on activities, catch a 1916 interpreter presentation, engage in a community creativity space and purchase items from a pop-up History Market.
The 2013 Indiana History Train is presented by the Indiana Historical Society and sponsored by The Indiana Rail Road Company and Norfolk Southern Corporation, in partnership with the Indiana Bicentennial Commission and Indiana Humanities. Additional support is provided by Duke Energy.
The Bicentennial Train and its accompanying activities are all free and open to the public, operating 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, and every visitor will receive a complimentary pass to visit IHS's Indiana Experience at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center. Group reservations are available by calling (317) 232-1882 (space is limited). For more information on the Indiana Bicentennial Train and other IHS programs, visit www.indianahistory.org.
About the Indiana Historical Society
Since 1830, the Indiana Historical Society has been Indiana’s Storyteller, connecting people to the past by collecting, preserving, interpreting and sharing the state’s history. A private, nonprofit membership organization, IHS maintains the nation’s premier research library and archives on the history of Indiana and the Old Northwest and presents a unique set of visitor exhibitions called the Indiana Experience. IHS also provides support and assistance to local museums and historical groups, publishes books and periodicals; sponsors teacher workshops; and provides youth, adult and family programming. The Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, home of the IHS and the Indiana Experience, is located at 450 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis. For more information, call (317) 232-1882 or visit www.indianahistory.org.