John James Audubon State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
John James Audubon State Park
|
|
Wilderness Lake at Audubon State Park.
|
|
 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | US 41, Henderson, Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Area | about 575 acres (2.33 km2) |
| Built | 1934 |
| Architect | Donald Corley; Bernard Alves |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals, Norman Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 87002220 |
| Added to NRHP | March 10, 1988 |
John James Audubon State Park is a special place in Henderson, Kentucky. It's located right on U. S. Route 41, not far from the Ohio River. This park is named after John James Audubon, a famous ornithologist (someone who studies birds), naturalist, and painter. He lived in Henderson from 1810 to 1819 when it was a small frontier village.
The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. Much of the park is also a state nature preserve. This means it's protected to keep its natural beauty and wildlife safe. In 2016, the park grew even bigger with an extra 650 acres!
Contents
Discover John James Audubon State Park
John James Audubon was known for his amazing artwork of birds. While he ran small businesses in Henderson, his real passion was exploring the local forests. He loved sketching and painting the wildlife, especially birds. His work helped people see the beauty of nature.
A Look Back: The Park's History
In 1934, the Wolf Hills area in Henderson was chosen for a new state park. It had enough land, over 300 acres, to start building. A librarian named Susan Towles helped prove the historical connection between this land and Audubon.
Building the Park: CCC and WPA
In September 1934, a special work camp called Camp Cromwell was set up near the park. It was part of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a program that helped people find jobs during the Great Depression. About 200 CCC workers came to Henderson. Over the next four years, these workers did a lot! They drained swamps, built two lakes, and created trails and roads.
With help from another program, the Works Progress Administration (WPA), they built park shelters, the Tea House (which is now the park office), and the Audubon Museum. These buildings were made from local stone. The whole project cost about $500,000.
Building the park wasn't always easy. There were delays because of money problems and disagreements about what the park should focus on. A local lawyer named Gibney Oscar Letcher helped keep the project moving forward. He worked with many groups to make sure the park was completed.
The Wilderness Lake was finished in the spring of 1938. Work continued on other parts of the park, like the Tea House and gardens. The Tea House opened in June 1940 and served meals daily for a while. By the spring of 1941, the park's cottages were ready, and a recreational lake was dug and filled. This finished the work done by the federal programs.
Growing the Park: After the War
After the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the United States entered World War II. Camp Cromwell, where the workers had lived, was turned into a training school for Navy pilots during the war.
After World War II ended, attention returned to John James Audubon State Park. From 1948 to 1955, many improvements were made. They added new museum lighting, picnic areas, a bathhouse, and a beach. They also worked on landscaping, parking, and building a lake dam and shelters.
From 1960 to 1969, another $500,000 was invested in the park. A camping area and a nine-hole golf course were built. The park also grew to nearly 700 acres by acquiring more land. New picnic shelters and housing for park employees were also constructed.
In 1990, the state government provided $2.5 million for a big renovation of the museum. They also added a 9,500 square foot nature center. This new center helps people learn more about nature. The museum's largest renovation in its history began in 1992. It reopened in December 1993, looking better than ever.
Explore the Audubon Museum
The Audubon Museum has a beautiful design inspired by French architecture. It even has small spaces in its tower where birds can nest!
Alice Tyler, whose husband was Audubon's great-grandson, had a large collection of Audubon's personal items. She wanted her collection to be displayed in the new museum. Mrs. Tyler sent her collection to Henderson in 1938, and the museum opened on July 16, 1938.
Later, in 1994, the Tyler collection was officially bought by the park. Many people and groups donated money to make this possible.
Today, the museum proudly shows off one of the world's largest collections of original Audubon art. This art made him a famous wildlife artist. But the museum also has personal items that show Audubon's often difficult life. He was sometimes a "starving artist" before he became successful. The museum's four exhibit halls tell the story of Audubon's life, including his time in Henderson. You can see his oil painting of the American Bald Eagle, a rare four-volume set of his book Birds of America, and his handwritten journals. There's even a silver tea set he sent to his wife, Lucy, from England.
What Can You Do at Audubon Park?
Audubon Park covers about 700 acres of mostly hilly forests. About 338 acres are protected as a nature preserve, with old-growth trees and hiking trails.
Here are some of the cool things you can do at the park:
- Visit the famous Audubon Museum. It has lots of valuable Audubon art, a gift shop, and a nature center.
- Play a round on the nine-hole golf course.
- Stay in one of the six cozy cottages.
- Camp at the 69-acre campground, which welcomes tents and campers.
- Go fishing or rent a pedal boat on the 28-acre man-made fishing lake.
- Hike on 6.5 miles of forest trails.
- Play tennis on the courts.
- Have a picnic at one of the four picnic shelters.
- Let loose at the playground.
The park also offers many fun and educational programs all year round. These programs are led by a naturalist and a museum educator. They teach about art history, local plants and animals, conservation, and recycling.
A not-for-profit organization called the Friends of Audubon helps support the park.
