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 cool museum in Evansville, Indiana, right by the Ohio River. It started way back in 1904! This museum is super important for Southern Indiana. It has huge collections of art, history, people's cultures (anthropology), and science.
The museum has over 30,000 items. These include beautiful artworks, old decorations, historical papers, and photos. You can also see artifacts from different cultures and natural history. On the museum's grounds, there's also the Evansville Museum Transportation Center. It shows off old cars, trains, and other ways people traveled in Southern Indiana from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. The museum is officially recognized by the American Alliance of Museums.
Contents
History of the Museum
The story of the Evansville Museum began in 1874. That's when the Ladies’ Literary Club was formed. The women in this club loved studying art, history, and books. They really wanted to help people in Evansville learn about art.
At first, they had one art show at the Willard Library. It was a big success! So, they got more exhibits and artifacts. Soon, they needed their own museum building.
The first building chosen was the old Barnes-Armstrong Mansion. It was located in Sunset Park. But in 1910, they decided to tear down the Mansion because it wasn't safe. The museum's items were moved to the Old Court House for a while. Sadly, many items were lost or broken during this move.
The museum finally 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 in Evansville.
In 1938, people tried to move the museum again. But it wasn't until the 1950s that this dream came true. Siegfried R. Weng became the museum director then. The museum is still in that building today. It was made much bigger and better in 2014.
Museum Expansion and New Features
In 2008, the museum announced big plans to expand and update its building. In October 2012, they changed the plan a bit. They decided to add a new glass building. This addition would include a special domed planetarium and theater. This theater is completely inside the new building.
A new plaza and entrance were also built. This connects the new part to the parking lot and the Transportation Center. The whole project cost $14.1 million. The museum reopened on February 7, 2014. A main part of the new area is the Koch Immersive Theater. It has a huge 40-foot round screen. This screen shows amazing 360-degree digital videos.
What You Can See Today
The museum has many permanent exhibits. These include areas for art, history, different cultures, and hands-on science. You can see artworks from the 1500s all the way to today.
The museum also has new history and science shows often. These are in the Center for History and Science. There are also new art shows throughout the year.
There's a special area for families. It has exhibits and activities where you can join in. These are made to teach and inspire kids of all ages. Student volunteers often do fun science demonstrations on weekend afternoons.
The Koch Immersive Theater & Planetarium has a 40-foot domed screen. It shows 360-degree digital videos. You can watch traditional shows about space and stars. It also shows big, immersive films about many topics, especially space and astronomy. You can find more information and show times on their website.
Evansville Museum Transportation Center
The Evansville Museum Transportation Center shows how people traveled long ago. It has a real steam train called the Milwaukee Road 1416. The center also has an L&N Tennessee Club Car and a caboose. The steam engine is from 1908. It's 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 for these shows.
Art Collection
The Evansville Museum has a permanent art collection. It includes American and European art from the 1500s to the 1900s. These artworks are shown in the Crescent Galleries. They focus on themes like landscapes, still life, everyday scenes, and portraits.
The Old Gallery, John Streetman Alcove, and Main Gallery have changing exhibits. These might be traveling collections or works from the museum's own collection. They also show art by local artists.
History Exhibits
There are galleries about early Evansville history. You can also learn about Abraham Lincoln and how people helped during World War II at home.
The Humankind Gallery is very interesting. It shows different cultures from around the world. It focuses on North and South America, Africa, and Asia.
Science Exhibits
The Welborn Baptist Foundation Family Place is a hands-on science area for families. This is also where you can find Kodi, the museum's Alaskan Kodiak Brown Bear. There's also an interactive area for science demonstrations.
The Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau Center for History and Science gallery has changing science and history exhibits.
EMTRAC
The Evansville Museum Transportation Center, also called EMTRAC, shows how people traveled in Southern Indiana. It covers the late 1800s through the mid-1900s. You can see a historic three-car train and a 1910 Sears Motor Car. There's also a detailed model railroad called Charlotte's Evansville.
See also
- Frederick Carder
- Jane Frank
- William Gropper
- Jerry Wilkerson
