Our Goals

Deep in the heart of the densely wooded Jefferson Proving Ground, a family of wild geese float silently across a peaceful stream. Overhead, a squirrel darts from limb to limb.

A few yards down the gravel road that rings this vast wilderness, a startled deer races for cover. At the foot of a decades-old iron bridge, a black rat snake suns itself on a rock, then slithers into the dark cracks as intruders approach.

This area is also home to beavers, river otters, coyotes, osprey, eagles, blue heron, the rare Henslow's sparrow and the endangered Indiana Bat. JPG also harbors impressive two- and three-arched limestone bridges that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and stand as relics of Indiana's early 1900s attempt to improve its road system.

Civil War history buffs still relish the stories of John Hunt Morgan and his raiders, who rode across the JPG property in 1863 with Union soldiers in close pursuit. Three of Morgan's men were captured at a location that is now off limits because of depleted uranium and ordnance contamination. Nevertheless, a stone marker identifies the site.

Hard to believe that this bastion of nature, wildlife and historical sites exists a mere four miles from Madison's city limits and spreads across three Indiana counties. Hard to believe that the U.S. Army tested artillery and exploded bombs here over a 54-year period, from 1941 until the base closure in 1995.

Perhaps even more astonishing has been the odd co-existence of the tools of modern warfare with the docile sights and sounds of Mother Nature. The guns have long fallen silent here at this 55,000-acre former Army ammunition testing base, but the wildlife and natural wonders endure.

A not-for-profit group of 50 conservation-minded citizens are working to preserve the history of JPG and eventually establish a museum on a parcel of land near the main entrance. The museum would house oral histories and documents from those who worked at the base or once lived on the farms before the government took over.

The group has already been busy transcribing oral histories about years long past associated with the Jefferson Proving Ground and before it's existence.

The organization was first established as a nonprofit structure so that they could apply for grants. Once we established the structure subcommittees and officers our first priority was to get the oral histories, because many of these people are now 75 to 95 years old.

The organization has provided seminars about the history of the area, guided tours of the Jefferson Proving Ground area, and given historical information to local schools. We have confirmation that many items from the Jefferson Proving Ground, (when it was in full operation), are available for display in a museum.

JPG Heritage Partnership is dedicated to locating the funds necessary to preserve this unique history, and to tell the full story of the installation.