John A. Herbst, was appointed the President and CEO of the Indiana Historical Society (IHS) in 2006. Over the last thirty-three years he has worked as an educator, curator, and exhibit specialist and as CEO of museums in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Indiana. For the two years prior to his appointment at the IHS he was the President and CEO of the Indiana State Museum, Historic Sites and Foundation. Mr. Herbst brought the blockbuster exhibition “Lord of the Rings” to the State Museum in 2006 drawing the largest attendance since the museum opened.

For five years Mr. Herbst was President of Conner Prairie where he expanded the historic areas to include a Native American site and a working Victorian farm adding new time periods. He increased attendance by 77% and led a major change to improve the level of engagement of visitors during their museum experience. This initiative has won national awards and influenced other history museums across the country. Also during his tenure, “Follow the North Star,” an evening program in which visitors become runaway slaves, was introduced at Conner Prairie to convey an understanding of racism and the Underground Railroad.

Working with Conner Prairie’s community-based Board of Directors, Mr. Herbst played an instrumental role in settling a 30 year-old dispute between Conner Prairie and its trustee Earlham College. In 2006 the State Attorney General split off Conner Prairie from Earlham providing the museum with its independence. Mr. Herbst has said this was one of the proudest moments in his life.

Active in many national professional associations Mr. Herbst has served as the Treasurer of the American Association for State and Local History as well as on the Indiana State Tourism Council and the Board of State Advisors to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Living in a historic 1890 home in downtown Indianapolis, Mr. Herbst’s main avocational interest is gardening; he was the winner of the 2006 Golden Trowel Award from Garden Design magazine. Mr. Herbst’s garden, which he opens for charity-related tours, and has been featured in several magazines: Victorian Homes, Better Homes and Gardens: Garden Design and Outdoor Living, House Trends, The Indianapolis Star, and the Indianapolis Business Journal.