Experience Indiana’s oldest continuous operating public library and museum.
Experience Indiana’s oldest continuous operating public library and museum.
Explore and discover at the Working Men’s Institute.
It’s a library. A renowned geological museum. An art gallery. A collection of curiosities. A natural history museum. A zoological wonderland. A spacious event space. An amazing archive. A history museum. A regional and national treasure. And the centerpiece of New Harmony, Indiana — one of America’s most fascinating and delightful small towns.
The mission of the Working Men’s Institute was set forth by founder William Maclure in 1838 as “the dissemination of useful knowledge to working men and their families.” Maclure intended the Working Men’s Institute to make a world of information available to the average person, and not just the wealthy — a kind of self-guided college open to all. Today, that includes both physical and digital alternatives, extending our reach far beyond this region.
Founded in 1838, the Working Men’s Institute (WMI) is Indiana’s oldest continuously operating library. We provide library services to residents of New Harmony and surrounding areas. In addition, the WMI’s special collections and second floor museum house treasures from the community’s impressive history.
The WMI also provides a variety of programs, events, and lectures covering a vast array of topics and interests.
Whether you are young or old, a resident, a tourist, an amateur researcher or a professional scholar, the WMI has something for you.
New Harmony is the perfect destination for a day trip or weekend excursion. Begin your adventure at the Working Men’s Institute. Then discover the other delightful sites and happenings our unique community has to offer. So look around. There is much to uncover. Let New Harmony create lasting memories for you and your family and friends.
A visit to the Working Men’s Institute is truly an adventure. Nowhere else in the world can you find a more fascinating array of items to explore under one roof. And with all of the other charming amenities New Harmony has to offer, it’s the perfect day trip or weekend excursion for everyone.
So look around. See everything that’s waiting here for you to explore. Then pull out your phone and put us on your calendar. It’s a trip you and your family or friends will be talking about for years.
Newest Arrivals
The Women
by Kristin Hannah
Unnatural Death
by Patricia Cornwell
The Berry Pickers
by Amanda Peters
Three-Inch Teeth
by C.J. Box
Fourth Wing
by Rebecca Yarros
Holmes Marple & Poe
by James Patterson, Brian Sitts
Educating our community with your support.
Your contribution enables the Working Men’s Institute to continue serving the public. Thank you for your generosity!
