Events

Off the Record: The Press and The Presidency

Victorian Floriography Workshop

Step into a world where every bloom has something to say. As our historic peonies burst into peak color, we’ll explore the Victorian art of sending secret messages through flowers.

After a tour through our historic gardens, you’ll learn how blossoms once served as coded language—and then create your own arrangement that speaks straight from the heart. Sip wine, snack on charcuterie, and enjoy a hands-on floral experience that blends history, beauty, and imagination.

Summer Civic Series

The Summer Civic Series at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site is a season-long celebration of how civic life grows through community. From festivals to talks, each event invites you to connect through history, culture, and shared experiences, all while discovering that civic engagement is about coming together.

Garden Party

Celebrate the beauty of spring at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site’s Garden Party on May 16!

Home School Field Day

Celebrate the end of the school year with your homeschool community at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site.

Home School Field Day is a free, come-and-go event featuring a lively mix of classic field day games, Victorian-era activities, and hands-on fun designed for all ages. Kids can move, play, and connect with new friends while families enjoy a relaxed morning on the lawn.

Bring a picnic, join in the activities, or simply soak in the atmosphere—this is the perfect way to kick off summer together.

Dolly Johnson Legacy Series

Inspired by Dolly Johnson’s legacy of excellence, craftsmanship, and quiet determination, this free professional-development series offers practical tools, real-world guidance, and space to dream bigger. Workshop registration is open to the public, but participants in the Juneteenth Foodways Festival will receive priority.

Coffee with the Curator

Kick off your First Friday in style with this 30-minute event. While you enjoy coffee and donuts, you will get a glimpse our most interesting, amazing and unexpected collection items.

Juneteenth Foodways Festival

Juneteenth Foodways Festival, made possible through the generosity of Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, features an interactive food experience highlighting the hidden history of diverse Hoosiers from the 1860s-1890s from the perspective of African-Americans. It shares Black foodways contributions to American culture with a focus on Dolly Johnson, the White House Chef hired by President Harrison.

Presidential Road Trips with Bill Clevlen

Get ready to day-dream about your next great American adventure. As the nation continues to commemorate America 250, travel journalist Bill Clevlen invites you on a lively tour of the places where presidents (and history) were made. From quiet boyhood homes and summer retreats to iconic landmarks and unexpected roadside gems, Bill’s stories bring these sites to life and make them feel wonderfully reachable.

You’ll pick up travel inspiration, insider tips, and plenty of “I never knew that!” moments, all while enjoying refreshments, great conversation, and the chance to have your book signed afterward. Whether you’re a presidential history buff, a dedicated road-tripper, or simply curious about where our leaders lived, worked, and dreamed, this evening promises to spark your imagination and your next itinerary.

Independence Day Social

Try your hand at vintage yard games on the scenic south lawn, enjoy a free first floor tour of the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site and cool off with some ice cream while listening to music!

32nd Annual Wicket World of Croquet

Spectators Welcome. Players Needed.

Picture this: you step onto the South Lawn of the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site—a mallet in one hand and a drink in the other.

Maybe you’ll make a run for the Virginia C. Willkie Trophy. Maybe not. But either way, you’ll have an experience you won’t soon forget.

Curated local food and beverages, live art, music, and a little friendly competition come together to create one of the most unique events in Indianapolis—Wicket World of Croquet.

Whether your top priority is swinging a mallet or sipping an ice-cold Sun King beer, this is the place to be on August 8.

LIVE! President Harrison’s Birthday

Join us in celebrating Benjamin Harrison’s 193rd Birthday with free first floor tours and complimentary birthday treats.

Murder at Millfields

You are invited to spend the weekend at Millfields, an exclusive residential hotel built in 1875 and known for its elegant clientele, modern comforts, and fashionable atmosphere, but shortly after your arrival, the peaceful mood is shattered by the discovery
of a dead guest in the hotel bar. With the local police department short on staff,
those in attendance must work together to uncover the truth.

Join Candlelight Theatre for an interactive theatre experience on the most unique stage in Indy!

LIVE! Election Day

Get a glimpse of the Harrison family as they eagerly await results from the 1888 presidential election and learn if they’ll be the newest occupants of the white house. Is General Harrison ready to become President? What does his wife, Caroline, think of the over 80 speeches he gave to more than 80,000 people from their front porch during the campaign?

Learn the answers to all of these questions and more at our LIVE! Election Day Event!