Restoring the Icons of the 92 County Walk
Editor’s Note: The following article, which first appeared at www.indianamuseum.org/blog, has been shortened to fit this space. Visit our blog to read the full text. Plus, you can find out what’s new at ISMHS.
When you come to the Indiana State Museum, you might not notice the icons of the 92 County Walk right away. But maybe, out of the corner of your eye, you’ll see something interesting around the building. Is that a round barn? Or a typewriter? Or … Garfield?
The answer is yes! Indiana’s 92 counties are all represented by a unique sculpture somewhere on the museum’s campus. Each icon contains design elements that refer to something notable and unique about that particular county.
Many of the 92 County Walk icons were made of timeless, durable materials, like limestone and metal, while others incorporated more modern materials, like plastic, resin and even electric motors and lights. These sculptures remained outside,
subject to weather and temperature extremes. Some are positioned within easy reach of the public, leaving them vulnerable to vandalism and theft. ISM conservation staff monitored the icons over the years, documenting changes and cleaning them periodically. As time passed, a repair and replacement program was established to revitalize the aging icons. Metalworking artist Julie Ball has assisted with restoring several icons, starting with the Johnson County sculpture. This piece features three bronze turtles cast from military helmets, giving a nod to both Camp Atterbury and the natural history of the area. Only a few years after the turtles were installed, one of them was stolen. Ball and her staff removed the remaining two, cast a replacement third and re-installed them more securely to hopefully prevent future theft.
Similar work was done on the Parke County icons, a cluster of bronze covered bridges jutting out from the terrace wall near the canal. Their location on a busy pedestrian path made them vulnerable, and over the years, several were pulled from the wall and never seen again. Ball replicated the missing bridges and anchored them more securely to deter future theft.
This spring and summer, our in-house team rehabilitated the Marshall County icon (pictured left), which represents the blueberry bushes that grow abundantly in that region. Blue glass “berries” are set into limestone, and layers of blue and purple paint rough out the shape of Lake Maxinkuckee. The materials have degraded over the years, leaving the sculpture colorless and down quite a few marbles. Arts and Culture Collections Manager Meredith McGovern sourced appropriate paint colors and provided artistic direction. Over several sessions, we layered on paint and glued in marbles. The result is a joyful, colorful explosion celebrating one small corner of Indiana.
The biggest conundrum on our to-do list is Delaware County. It’s a set of nine Ball jars; all filled with pickles, except one that contains Garfield. The icon we have today is the second version. Still, the acrylic surface is clouded and the pickles are faded. We are researching different materials that might be strong enough to withstand the elements and are resistant to UV degradation. Our work on the icons is far from finished — in fact, it never will be. Someday, even the sturdiest limestone sculptures will naturally begin to show wear. Our task will be to shepherd all 92 artworks through the years so that future museum visitors can find the same delight in these sculptures that we do today.
CARNIVAL
of CARING
By Katherine Kite, director of corporate relationsThe ISMHS internal campaign committee invites all staff to join in our Carnival of Caring from Oct. 16-27 to celebrate a season of giving! Look for additional information coming soon. We don’t want to spoil anything, but would like to share a few details and ways you can participate.
1. Attend the kickoff and other events.
• The internal committee has exciting events including pumpkin carving contests, a week of free yoga, themed days, carnival themed treats and more.
2. Donate.
• You can give to any cause (including ISMHS) via credit card, check or payroll deduction. If you choose to give to ISMHS and want to set up recurring payments, Manager of Database and Prospect Research Tylor Schmitt will have office hours during the campaign to get this set up for you.
• If you give via payroll deduction, this must be done through the SECC giving portal. A link with login instructions will be shared during kickoff week. This is recommended if you’d like to support other causes of your choice.
3. Share your why.
• Are you inspired by the school outreach provided by the education team? Interested in learning from our incredibly talented curatorial staff? Involved with the statewide reach of our historic sites? Share that with us! We will be highlighting different staff “whys” during our two-week campaign.
• My reason to support Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites? I now am able to see firsthand the experiences we offer through the eyes of my 2- and 4-year-olds, and I want to help give access to other children to have these same experiences.
Questions?
Feel free to reach out to me or any member of the giving committee: Greg Bryson, Traci Cromwell, Kalia Daily, Jillian Kurtz, Damon Lowe, Carrie Miller, Joey Smith
Tell me about your family.
I live on a 100-year-old farmstead in Vanderburgh County with my husband, Paul, son David, dog Stella, many chickens and gardens.
What is your favorite hobby or leisure activity?
I thrive in the outdoors, so I enjoy whatever might take me there including hiking, biking, camping, canoeing and fly-fishing.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
New Zealand is top on the list but there are so many places I would like to visit. I have made it a priority to explore the United States first and visit all of the national parks so I still have a way to go before I can travel overseas.
What was your favorite school subject and why?
Art, because I had an amazing teacher who believed in me and encouraged me to push the limits of my known abilities.
Do you come from a small or big family? How big or small?
The whole world is my family.
What’s your favorite song?
“Blue Sky” by the Allman Brothers Band.
STAFF SPOTLIGHT: HEIDI DOSS
Earlier this summer, Heidi began working for ISMHS as an interpreter at the New Harmony State Historic Site. In her role, she leads tours and shares with people the beauty, wisdom and history of the community.
What personal accomplishment are you most proud of?
Raising a kind and compassionate human being — my son.
Are you a morning or a night person?
I see the sunrise as often as possible. It is the quietist time of the day where I live, and it allows me to meditate and do yoga in peace.
What is your favorite food or meal?
Pretty much anything Thai or whatever my mother makes.
What is your favorite movie, TV show or book?
“A River Runs Through It,” but only because of the fly-fishing and Montana.
Who is your celebrity crush?
My husband, Paul Doss.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
People using the drive-thru, all the time really, but especially during a time when our earth is in crisis.
What is your favorite holiday and why?
Thanksgiving, not for its origins but because it revolves around two simple things: food and family.
Where did you grow up?
Indiana. I am a corn-fed and basketballtrained Hoosier.
What is a skill that you would like to learn?
Patience!
What do you value most in a friend or partner?
The ability to listen and sometimes just to sit with me without saying a word.
What is your biggest fear — rational or irrational?
Sharks — completely irrational but it makes me appreciate and spend more time along the north coast of the Great Lakes.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten or given?
Authenticity. Just be you and relax and we are good to go.
What is your biggest fear — rational or irrational?
Biggest fear is getting dementia and losing my memory. Biggest irrational fear would be that of open water.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten or given?
Just breathe!
OCTOBER ANNIVERSARIES
ERICA ARTEAGA
Call Center Supervisor — 16 years
SUSANNAH KOERBER
Chief Curator and Research Officer — 16 years
MEGHAN SMITH
Conservation Lab Manager — 12 years
BRIAN BENSON
Facility Engineering Manager — 9 years
CHUCK LOCKMAN
Southeast Regional Program Coordinator — 5 years
AUZY MUGHAL
Ticket Counter Supervisor — 5 years
TERESA COX
Intermittent Interpreter, Limberlost — 4 years
DRU CORLISS
Early Childhood Program Manager — 3 years
JOYCE JOHNSON
Ticket Counter/Call Center Agent — 2 years
AARON MARTIN
Program Developer, Coffin and Whitewater — 2 years
JESS MCPHERSON
Site Manager, New Harmony — 2 years
BRITTANY BASARAN
School Programs Manager — 1 year
STEVEN BRITTENHAM
Gardener, Gene Stratton-Porter — 1 year
MICAH CUMMINGS
Security Specialist — 1 year
MARY FIGUEROA
Curator of History — 1 year
FELICIA LONG
Ticket Counter/Call Center Agent — 1 year
NEW TEAM MEMBERS
JODY BLACK
Historic Site Interpreter, T.C. Steele
ABBY BROWN
Early Childhood Program Coordinator
GRANT DIDOMIZIO
Historic Site Interpreter, New Harmony
PHYLLIS GERNHARDT
Historic Site Interpreter, Limberlost
LESLIE MORGAN
Ticket Counter/Call Center Agent
JAMES RUSSELL
Security Specialist
MORGAN WILLIAMS
Security Specialist
Dates to remember
Open through Oct. 15:
Vintage Vision: Cars of the 1920s (ISM)
Open through Oct. 22: Hoosier Art Salon (ISM)
Open through Oct. 29: Influencing Lincoln (ISM)
Oct. 5:
Influencing Lincoln Speaker Series Lecture, “The Pursuit of Freedom in a ‘Free’ State: The Emancipation Proclamation’s Significance to African Americans in Indiana” (ISM)
Oct. 6, 13, 20 and 27: Haunted Histories (Lanier Mansion)
Oct. 13: Night at the Boo Bash (ISM)
Oct. 21: What We Can Learn from the Dead: African American Cemetery Tour (Coffin)
Oct. 27:
Thrall’s Murder Mystery Party (New Harmony)
Oct. 27 and 28:
Real Haunted Happenings: Dark Corners of Corydon (Corydon)
IN THE NEWS
WTHR was among the Indianapolis-area news stations that covered the naturalization ceremony hosted at the museum.
Tinkerfest was highlighted in an article in Indy’s Child. Plus, Vice President of Education and Engagement Bethany Thomas and Director of Interpretation Hayley Wilson were interviewed about the event for a segment on WISH-TV’s Life.Style. Live (above).
Coffin was featured in a travel story on Creators.com, “Find Black Heritage in Richmond, Indiana.”
Whitewater Canal, New Harmony and Corydon Capitol were all mentioned in a WorldAtlas travel story, “7 Small Towns in Indiana That Come Alive in the Fall.” Hoosier Salon was featured in Fox 59 Morning’s Where is Sherman, and Chief Curator and Research Officer Susannah Koerber highlighted several artworks in the exhibition.
Fodor’s Travel mentioned the Indiana State Museum among the Indianapolis-area attractions to visit during the 2024 total eclipse.
