FOOD - Science, Culture, and Cuisine

Overview

Conner Prairie is proud to announce FOOD: Science, Culture, and Cuisine, a dynamic, multi-sensory exhibition that explores the universal language of food through science, history, and culture. See it in the upper and lower exhibition galleries inside the Museum Experience Center. This groundbreaking experience marks the first national traveling exhibition ever hosted at Conner Prairie - a major milestone in the museum’s continued evolution as a year-round destination for immersive learning.

Presented by Corteva Agriscience™, the exhibition underscores a shared commitment to advancing conversations around food, agriculture, and innovation.

Designed by La Cité des sciences et de l’industrie in partnership with INRAE and produced by Imagine, the exhibition invites visitors to explore how food connects people across time and place. Through engaging, hands-on experiences, guests will discover the science behind cooking, the cultural traditions that shape what we eat, and the innovations transforming how we produce and consume food today.

FOOD: Science, Culture, and Cuisine is a true feast for the senses - engaging sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound - to bring the story of food to life in unexpected ways. From ancient cooking techniques to modern culinary advancements, the exhibition reveals how food influences our identities, communities, and future.

“This exhibition represents an exciting new chapter for Conner Prairie,” said Norman Burns, President and CEO of Conner Prairie. “As our first national traveling exhibition, FOOD: Science, Culture, and Cuisine allows us to bring a global perspective to our guests while deepening our commitment to innovative, immersive storytelling. Food is something that connects every single one of us, and this experience invites visitors to explore those connections in ways that are both meaningful and unforgettable.”

The exhibition also highlights the intersections of food with health, technology, and the arts, encouraging visitors to think more deeply about the choices they make and the systems that shape our world. Interactive multimedia experiences will allow guests to test their knowledge, experiment with new ideas, and engage with food in ways that are both educational and fun.

Tom Zaller, CEO of Imagine, shared, “Imagine is proud to partner with Universcience to bring the creative vision of FOOD: Science, Culture, and Cuisine to Conner Prairie. Food is an essential part of our lives, and this exhibition offers a unique, educational, and engaging experience for visitors of all ages to better understand how food has shaped our world.”