Evansville Museum of Art Commemorates Cities Association With the Ohio River

Written by Werner Kornbluth Monday, 31 October 2011 22:48

Evansville, Indiana.- In conjunction with the Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science, the Evansville Town Hall is hosting a selection of historic photographs from the collection of the Willard Library, highlighting the city’s relationship with the Ohio river. "Evansville on the Ohio" will be on view at the town hall from November 6th through February 12th 2012 in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the opening of the western waterways to steamboat travel by the historic journey of the boat New Orleans. "Evansville on the Ohio" recalls this historic event and to a larger extent, examines the City’s relationship to the Ohio River. As a community that developed from the shores of the Ohio River, Evansville’s history is inexorably tied to this waterway.

The commerce and travel afforded by the development of the steamboat helped a fledgling Evansville gain its footing as an industrial hub in the 19th century. Products produced in and around Evansville – such as furniture, plows and stoves – were readily transported to consumers via the River. In the early to mid 20th century, the City’s location on the river helped lead to its selection as a manufacturer of Plymouth automobiles and producer of Landing Ship, Tanks (LSTs) during World War II. The Ohio has also been a hub of social activity in the City from the early days of Sunset Park through the recent development of the Greenway along the riverfront. In contrast to the benefits of being a river city, Evansville has also suffered the wrath of the Ohio on several occasions. Floods created havoc in Evansville and the Ohio Valley and led to the creation of a vast levee system around the City. Major floods occurred in 1884 and 1913 and most memorably the great flood of 1937—the largest natural disaster in the City’s history. The 75th anniversary of the 1937 flood will be marked in this exhibition. Today, the Ohio River continues to play an important role in the life of Evansville and its citizens and through documents, photographs and models, Evansville on the Ohio will illustrate the various aspects of the City’s historic interaction with this waterway.


The Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science is a general-interest museum located on the riverfront in downtown Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1904, it is one of Southern Indiana's most established and significant cultural institutions, with comprehensive collections in art, history, anthropology and science. The museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums. A Science Center offers exhibitions and programs to inspire and instruct students of all ages. The Koch Planetarium, the oldest planetarium in the state, provides explorations of the solar system. The Anthropology Gallery offers a look at cultures from 13,000 BC to the present. Artworks from the 16th century to the present are in the museum’s permanent galleries. Visitors can also stroll down the street of a 19th Century American rivertown to see ornately decorated homes and shops. The Evansville Museum Transportation Center traces the history of transportation and features the Sprinklesburg, Goosetown, and Independence Steam Locomotive. The museum has produced notable solo exhibitions of artists such as John Stuart Ingle, Don Gummer, and Theodore Clement Steele, In May 2008 the museum unveiled plans for a $15 million expansion. It will include a new multi-story glassed pavilion with a plaza and water fountain, a museum shop and commercial art display area, and a planetarium and theater designed to look like a floating dome. Visit the museum's website at ... http://www.emuseum.org

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