Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science facts for kids
Transportation Center of the Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science
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| Established | 1904 |
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| Location | 411 S.E. Riverside Drive Evansville, Indiana |
| Type | General interest |
| Public transit access |  METS |
The Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science is a museum located in Evansville, Indiana, United States. It sits right along the Ohio River in downtown Evansville. The museum first opened in 1904. It is one of the oldest and most important cultural places in Southern Indiana.
This museum has huge collections of art, history, items about different cultures, and science exhibits. It has more than 30,000 items in its main collection. These items include fine art, decorative art, old documents, photographs, and artifacts from human history and nature. On the museum's grounds, you can also find the Evansville Museum Transportation Center. This center shows off old transportation items from Southern Indiana, from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. The museum is officially recognized by the American Alliance of Museums.
Contents
How the Evansville Museum Started
The story of the Evansville Museum began in 1874. That's when a group called the Ladies’ Literary Club was formed. The women in this club loved to study art, history, and books. They really wanted to encourage people in Evansville to learn about art.
At first, they put on one art show at the Willard Library. This show was a big success! So, they got more exhibits and artifacts. Soon, they needed a bigger place to keep everything.
Finding a Home for the Museum
The first building chosen for the museum was the old Barnes-Armstrong Mansion. It was located at the end of Cherry Street in Sunset Park. But in 1910, a difficult decision was made. The mansion had to be torn down for safety reasons. The museum's items were then moved to the Old Court House for a while.
Many items were lost or broken during this move. But the museum reopened in 1928. It was in the old YWCA building and was called the Temple of Fine Arts and History. It was meant to be a special place for art for everyone in Evansville.
A New Building for the Museum
In 1938, people tried to move the museum to a new building. But this dream didn't come true until the 1950s. That's when Siegfried R. Weng became the museum's director. The museum is still in that building today.
However, the building had a huge update and makeover. It reopened in 2014 with many new features.
Museum Expansion and New Features
In 2008, the museum announced a big plan. They wanted to expand and renovate the building over three years. In October 2012, the plan changed a bit. It would now include a new glass-walled addition. This addition would have a special domed planetarium and theater inside.
The domed theater is completely inside the building. You can see its shape from the outside. A new entrance and a friendly plaza for walking connect the new part to the parking lot. It also connects to the Evansville Museum Transportation Center.
The Cost and Reopening
The expansion project started with repairs and updates to the old building. It cost $14.1 million in total. The museum opened its doors again to the public on February 7, 2014. A very important part of this project was the new Koch Immersive Theater. It has a huge 40-foot wide domed screen. This screen shows 360-degree digital pictures.
What You Can See at the Museum Today
The museum has permanent exhibit galleries. These are learning spaces for art, history, different cultures, and hands-on science. You can see artworks from the 1500s all the way to today in the museum's art galleries.
The museum also has changing exhibits throughout the year. These include new history and science shows in its Center for History and Science. There are also different art shows.
Fun for Families and Science Shows
There is a special area for families. It has hands-on exhibits and programs. These are made to inspire and teach students of all ages. Student volunteers often perform interesting science demonstrations on most weekend afternoons.
The Koch Immersive Theater & Planetarium has a 40-foot wide domed screen. It uses 360-degree digital projection. The shows in this theater include traditional astronomy programs. They also feature giant screen, immersive films. These films cover many topics, especially space and astronomy. You can find more information and show times on their website.
The Evansville Museum Transportation Center
The Evansville Museum Transportation Center (EMTRAC) shows the history of transportation. It features a real steam locomotive called the Milwaukee Road 1416. The transportation center also has an L&N Tennessee Club Car and a caboose. The locomotive is a 1908 Milwaukee Road 0-6-0 I-5 switcher steam engine. It is believed to be the last one of its kind.
The museum has also shown special exhibits by famous artists. These include John Stuart Ingle, Don Gummer, and Theodore Clement Steele. Sometimes, they work with other museums like the Wadsworth Atheneum or the Indiana State Museum.
Exploring Art at the Museum
The Evansville Museum has a permanent art collection. It includes American and European artworks. These pieces date from the 1500s through the 1900s. They are shown in the Crescent Galleries. These galleries focus on themes like landscapes, still life, everyday scenes, and portraits.
The Old Gallery, the John Streetman Alcove, and the Main Gallery feature temporary art shows. These shows include traveling collections. They also feature exhibits from the museum's own collections. Plus, you can see art from local artists in the area.
Discovering History at the Museum
There are also galleries focused on history. You can learn about early Evansville history. There are exhibits about Abraham Lincoln. You can also see how people helped from home during World War II.
The Humankind Gallery offers a fascinating look at cultures from around the world. It especially focuses on North and South America, Africa, and Asia.
Learning Science at the Museum
The Welborn Baptist Foundation Family Place is a hands-on science gallery. It's designed for families to explore together. Family Place is also the new home for the museum's Alaskan Kodiak Brown Bear. His name is Kodi. This area also has an interactive space for science demonstrations.
The Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau Center for History and Science gallery has changing science and history exhibitions.
EMTRAC: Transportation History
The exhibits at the Evansville Museum Transportation Center, known as EMTRAC, tell the story of transportation in Southern Indiana. They cover the late 1800s through the mid-1900s. The exhibits include a historic three-car train. There's also a 1910 Sears Motor Car. And don't miss the detailed model railroad called Charlotte's Evansville.
See also
- Frederick Carder
- Jane Frank
- William Gropper
- Jerry Wilkerson
