Minnetrista
Encyclopedia
Minnetrista, also known as Minnestrista Cultural Center, is a museum and cultural center located in Muncie, Indiana
with exhibits and programs that focus on nature, local history, gardens and art. The 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) campus includes a museum with changing exhibits, the historic home called Oakhurst, many themed gardens, outdoor sculptures and a portion of the White River
Greenway.
The museum's collections focus on East Central Indiana local cultural history, and include themes of family and community life, entertainment and leisure, industry and work, and East Central Indiana arts.
George Alexander Ball's house, known as Oakhurst, was built in 1895, was designed by architect Louis Gibson. The first floor is furnished to appear as it did in the 1920s.
The grounds feature many outdoor sculptures purchased by members of the Ball family.
There are many themed gardens, which include:
to Muncie, Indiana
. Ball Brothers
Glass Company became one of America’s best-known manufacturers of canning jars.
The family purchased most of the land along the north bank of the White River in 1893. They committed themselves to community projects that would improve the quality of life for East Central Indiana residents. An unfortunate event, the burning of one of the Ball family homes in the late 1960s served as an inspiration for the second generation of the Ball family. That inspiration would eventually blossom into more than they ever imagined: A place for lifelong learning.
The word "Minnetrista" means "a gathering place by the water", and was the name of the original home built by Frank Clayton Ball in 1894, which burned in 1967. The Ball family created the word from the Sioux
word "mna" which means "water" combined with the English word "tryst". The Minnetrista Cultural Center was built on the same site in 1988.
Each summer, Ball State University
performs a William Shakespeare
play on an outdoor stage. It is preceded by scenes from Shakespeare performed by children enrolled in a youth Shakespeare program.
of the entire campus, including a detailed database of the plants available. This project is a partnership between the Horticulture Department at Minnetrista, the Delaware County Office of Geographic Information, and Ball State University (providing internship positions through the Landscape Architecture, Natural Resources, Geography, or Biology Departments).
Muncie, Indiana
Muncie is a city in Center Township, Delaware County in east central Indiana, best known as the home of Ball State University and the birthplace of the Ball Corporation. It is the principal city of the Muncie, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 118,769...
with exhibits and programs that focus on nature, local history, gardens and art. The 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) campus includes a museum with changing exhibits, the historic home called Oakhurst, many themed gardens, outdoor sculptures and a portion of the White River
White River (Indiana)
The White River is a two-forked river that flows through central and southern Indiana and is the main tributary to the Wabash River. Via the west fork, considered to be the main stem of the river by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the White River is long.-West Fork:The West Fork, long, is...
Greenway.
The museum's collections focus on East Central Indiana local cultural history, and include themes of family and community life, entertainment and leisure, industry and work, and East Central Indiana arts.
George Alexander Ball's house, known as Oakhurst, was built in 1895, was designed by architect Louis Gibson. The first floor is furnished to appear as it did in the 1920s.
The grounds feature many outdoor sculptures purchased by members of the Ball family.
There are many themed gardens, which include:
- Nature Area - three representations of Indiana native habitat, a pond, woodland and prairie
- Oakhurst Gardens - located by the Oakhust house, features a formal garden, sunken gardens, woodland gardens and courtyard garden
- Wishing Well Garden - designed in 2000 by the Delaware Master Gardeners, features themes of Four Seasons, Moon and Bird & Butterfly gardens
- Rose Garden
- Children's Garden
- Colonnade Garden
- Orchard Courtyard - a seasonal container garden display
Background
In 1887, the Ball family moved their glass manufacturing company from Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
to Muncie, Indiana
Muncie, Indiana
Muncie is a city in Center Township, Delaware County in east central Indiana, best known as the home of Ball State University and the birthplace of the Ball Corporation. It is the principal city of the Muncie, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 118,769...
. Ball Brothers
Ball Brothers
The Ball brothers were the founders of the Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Business which eventually became Ball Corporation. They greatly improved the quality of life of Muncie, Indiana through their philanthropy and business. They were instrumental in the creation of Ball State University, and...
Glass Company became one of America’s best-known manufacturers of canning jars.
The family purchased most of the land along the north bank of the White River in 1893. They committed themselves to community projects that would improve the quality of life for East Central Indiana residents. An unfortunate event, the burning of one of the Ball family homes in the late 1960s served as an inspiration for the second generation of the Ball family. That inspiration would eventually blossom into more than they ever imagined: A place for lifelong learning.
The word "Minnetrista" means "a gathering place by the water", and was the name of the original home built by Frank Clayton Ball in 1894, which burned in 1967. The Ball family created the word from the Sioux
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
word "mna" which means "water" combined with the English word "tryst". The Minnetrista Cultural Center was built on the same site in 1988.
Each summer, Ball State University
Ball State University
Ball State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings...
performs a William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
play on an outdoor stage. It is preceded by scenes from Shakespeare performed by children enrolled in a youth Shakespeare program.
Natural Beauty
Minnetrista has acres of formal and natural gardens, an expansive restored natural area that includes interpretive signs, ponds, and hiking trails. Minnetrista is currently working to create a comprehensive GIS-based map Geographic information systemGeographic Information System
A geographic information system, geographical information science, or geospatial information studies is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographically referenced data...
of the entire campus, including a detailed database of the plants available. This project is a partnership between the Horticulture Department at Minnetrista, the Delaware County Office of Geographic Information, and Ball State University (providing internship positions through the Landscape Architecture, Natural Resources, Geography, or Biology Departments).
Related links
- Frank Ball
- Edmund Ball
- Ball Corporation - Ball Corporation Homepage
- BeneficenceBeneficenceBeneficence is a bronze statue on the campus of Ball State University, located in Muncie, Indiana. It is referred to as "Benny" by the students.-History:...
sculpted by Daniel Chester FrenchDaniel Chester FrenchDaniel Chester French was an American sculptor. His best-known work is the sculpture of a seated Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.-Life and career:... - Appeal to the Great SpiritAppeal to the Great SpiritAppeal to the Great Spirit is a bronze equestrian sculpture by Cyrus Dallin, the last of a four-piece series called The Epic of the Indian.-History:...
sculpted by Cyrus Dallin - Hemingray Glass CompanyHemingrayThe Hemingray Glass Company was an American glass company famous for its collectible insulators. The company was founded by Robert Hemingray and Ralph Gray in 1848. Over time the company has had different names such as Gray, Hemingray and Bros., H.G. Co. and R. Hemingray Co. The Hemingray company...
- Wheeler Orchid Collection and Species BankWheeler Orchid Collection and Species BankThe Wheeler Orchid Collection and Species Bank is located within Christy Woods, an 18 acre property located on the southwest corner of the Ball State University campus in Muncie, Indiana, USA....
on the Ball State UniversityBall State UniversityBall State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings...
campus - Cardinal Greenway