New Harmony in Posey County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

David Dale Owen

Pioneer Geologist of the American Midwest

— New Harmony, Home of —

David Dale Owen Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., July 9, 2016

1. David Dale Owen Marker

Inscription. Conducted field studies in the years 1837 through 1860 that established a framework, little altered in the ensuing years, for the regional geology of the Upper Mississippi Drainage Basin. Appointed Geologist for the State of Indiana in 1837, he extended his activities to other states and territories beginning in 1839 when he was designated principal agent to explore the mineral lands of the United States in northern Illinois and in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa Territories. Studies for the State of Kentucky and Arkansas followed, and he was again State Geologist of Indiana when his life ended in 1860.

Numerous eminent geologists were associated with New Harmony. William MaClure and Gerard Troost preceded Owen there, and, of many others who worked with him or learned under his tutelage, Richard Owen and Edward T. Cox remained to contribute notably to the geological knowledge of the area.

John B. Patton
Indiana State Geologist

Memorialized by the Eastern Section, American Association of Petroleum Geologists on the occasion of Annual Meeting
October 1980

Erected 1980 by Eastern Section, American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1837.

Location.

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38° 7.795′ N, 87° 56.109′ W. Marker is in New Harmony, Indiana, in Posey County. It is on Main Street north of Church Street (State Road 66), on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New Harmony IN 47631, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Tri-State Region

and in Southern Indiana.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: New Harmony (here, next to this marker); New Harmony, Indiana (1814-1827) (here, next to this marker); Rappite Community House No. 2 (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named New Harmony (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); New Harmony Area Veterans Memorial (about 400 feet away); New Harmony Workingmen's Institute (about 400 feet away); In Perfect Harmony (approx. 0.2 miles away); Maclure Park Bandstand (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Harmony.

Also see . . .
1. David Dale Owen. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on April 28, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. "Death of David Dale Owen," in Scientific America (1860). (Submitted on July 27, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
3. Historic New Harmony, Indiana. (Submitted on July 27, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

via Wikipedia, unknown

2. David Dale Owen Marker

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., July 9, 2016

3. David Dale Owen Marker

Along wall at far right of photo

Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 27, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 785 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 27, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 2. submitted on April 28, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3. submitted on July 27, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.