At the Archaeological Research Institute (ARI), we often say that every artifact tells a story. Today, we’re excited to share another important chapter in our own story.
We are honored to announce two significant investments that will help advance archaeology, education, historic preservation, and community engagement across southeastern Indiana.
Through the Indiana Economic Development Corporation‘s Arts & Culture Grant Program, ARI has been awarded $424,545, and we are incredibly grateful to the Dearborn Community Foundation for its generous $100,000 contribution toward our campus improvement project.
Together, these grants affirm ARI’s mission to explore, preserve, research, and educate while helping us create a stronger future for our organization and the communities we serve.
These investments bring us significantly closer to transforming our headquarters into a more welcoming, accessible, and engaging destination for visitors of all ages.
When completed, our campus improvements will:
“The support we’ve received from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s Arts & Culture Grant and the Dearborn Community Foundation is truly transformative for ARI. These investments are much more than funding for a building—they are investments in our community’s history, education, and future.
These grants represent an incredible milestone, but they are only the beginning. We still have approximately $900,000 left to raise to fully realize our vision, and we hope this early momentum inspires others to join us in bringing this project to life.
When complete, this project will dramatically improve accessibility by creating a more ADA-accessible campus, allowing more individuals and families to experience archaeology and local history regardless of physical ability. It will also significantly increase our capacity to welcome visitors year-round, expand educational programming, and create a more functional and collaborative work environment for our staff, researchers, and volunteers.
One of the most exciting aspects of the project is that learning won’t stop when our doors are closed. The addition of an interactive educational mural and heritage gardens will transform our side lot into a free, 24/7 outdoor learning space where residents and visitors can engage with the stories of our region any time of day, every day of the year.
These improvements will also strengthen our ability to properly curate, preserve, and interpret the thousands of artifacts entrusted to ARI. Every artifact represents a piece of our shared story, and this project ensures those stories can be preserved and shared with future generations through engaging exhibits, research, and educational experiences.
We are incredibly grateful to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, the Dearborn Community Foundation, our board of directors, our members, donors, volunteers, community partners, and everyone who has believed in this vision. Their confidence in ARI is helping us build something that will serve our region for decades to come.
This project reflects what ARI has always been about: preserving the past, inspiring curiosity, strengthening our community, and creating meaningful educational experiences that connect people to the remarkable history beneath our feet. We look forward to continuing this journey together as we work toward completing the campaign and creating a destination that will benefit southeastern Indiana for generations.
Cultural organizations like ARI are more than museums—they are economic drivers. By expanding our capacity, improving accessibility, and creating new educational experiences, we’re not only preserving history, we’re increasing tourism, supporting local businesses, creating opportunities for partnerships, and helping make our community an even better place to live, learn, and visit.”
The project extends learning beyond our building through an interactive mural and heritage gardens that will be freely accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether visitors stop by during business hours or while exploring downtown Lawrenceburg, they’ll be able to connect with the rich archaeology, history, and cultural heritage of southeastern Indiana in a new and engaging way.
It’s another way ARI is making history more accessible and connected to everyday life.
While this funding marks an important milestone, it is only the beginning of our capital campaign.
Our overall campus improvement project totals approximately $1.4 million, and thanks to these generous investments, we are well on our way. Approximately $900,000 remains to fully realize our vision for ARI’s future.
Every additional investment will help preserve our region’s archaeological resources, expand learning opportunities, and create experiences that inspire curiosity for generations to come.
Projects like this don’t happen because of one organization or one grant. They happen because an entire community believes that preserving our shared history matters.
We sincerely thank the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, the Dearborn Community Foundation, our Board of Directors, members, donors, volunteers, community partners, local officials, and everyone who has supported ARI along the way.
Your belief in our mission makes this work possible.
As we continue raising the remaining funds, we look forward to sharing updates on construction, new exhibits, educational programs, and the exciting transformations taking place across our campus.
Together, we’re building more than a renovated campus—we’re creating a place where archaeology comes alive, the stories of those who came before us are preserved and shared, and people of all ages can discover the rich cultural heritage that makes southeastern Indiana such a remarkable place to call home.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
The best is yet to come.
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