 Its period of significance, 1814 to 1867, covers the Rappite/Harmonist and Owenite eras in New Harmony's history.Individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to the town's utopian communities and have ties to the structures within the district include the Harmony Society, George Rapp, Robert Owen, Robert Dale Owen, David Dale Owen, Thomas Say, Charles-Alexandre Lesueur, George Maclure, Joseph Neef, and Marie Duclos Fretageot, among others.The State of Indiana created the first New Harmony Memorial Commission in 1937 to help preserve and protect the community's history.