who we are
Minnetrista is your year-round gathering place.
Built on the unique legacy of the Ball family and company, Minnetrista works to nurture a thriving community that takes pride in its accomplishments and strives for a brighter future. Located on the White River in the middle of Muncie Indiana, our 40-acre museum and gardens is a community gem. Whether exploring our exhibits and historic homes, or meandering our trails, visitors to our site find a moment outside of the everyday where discovery, imagination, and learning are core. Our calendar full of educational programs, workshops, and community events is ever-changing as we strive to meet our communities’ interests and needs.
Whether you are a first-time visitor to Muncie or a life-long resident, there is something for you at Minnetrista. In everything we do, we hold our mission central: connecting people, encouraging engagement, and improving our community.
Vision
We envision a thriving community where people who call this region home take pride in its accomplishments and aspire to a brighter future.
(Excerpted and adapted from quotes by our founder, Ed Ball)
Mission
Minnetrista is the home of the Ball jar; a gathering place and catalyst for community engagement. We create shared experiences that connect people, leading to a better quality of life.
Minnetrista Values
Family & Relationships
Minnetrista treasures shared experiences. From our founders to our visitors, from our employees to our community partners and supporters, we champion the power of growing together.
Adaptability
Minnetrista creates experiences that reflect the organization yet anticipate the needs and exceed the expectations of our ever-changing audience. As an organization, we are nimble and quick to respond to opportunities and challenges.
Stewardship
Following in our founders’ footsteps, we care for, preserve and protect that with which we have been entrusted so that those who follow us can continue the legacy. Minnetrista will continue to be a strong and sustainable asset that supports economic development for our community.
Entrepreneurship
Minnetrista will embrace a culture of innovation and risk-taking that responds responsibly to opportunities that advance our vision, mission and strategic goals.
Learning
We celebrate learning experiences that are fun and engaging, encourage visitors to explore their world, and educate through discovery and play.
Financial Transparency
We are committed to the financial stewardship of the donations that our community entrusts to us. We adhere to all finance and accounting standards set for non-profits.
We take donor privacy very seriously. You can view our privacy policy here
To be transparent with our community, below are our tax forms and audited financial statements.