John James Audubon State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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John James Audubon State Park
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Wilderness Lake at Audubon State Park.
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | US 41, Henderson, Kentucky |
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| 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 cool place located in Henderson, Kentucky. It's right near the Ohio River, on U.S. Route 41. The park is named after John James Audubon, a famous bird expert, nature lover, and artist. He lived in Henderson from 1810 to 1819 when it was a small frontier town.
This park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, which means it's a special historic spot. Most of the park is also a state nature preserve. This means it's protected to keep its natural beauty safe. In 2016, the park grew even bigger with an extra 650 acres!
Contents
Park History: How it Began
John James Audubon lived in Henderson, Kentucky, and tried running a few small businesses. But what he really loved was exploring the forests. He spent his time sketching and painting the amazing wildlife, especially birds.
In 1934, a spot called Wolf Hills in Henderson was chosen for a new state park. It was big enough, with over 300 acres. A local librarian named Susan Towles did a lot of research. She helped show how this land was connected to Audubon's history.
Building the Park with Help
In September 1934, a special group called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) set up a camp nearby. It was named Camp Cromwell. About 200 CCC workers came from West Virginia to Henderson. Other local people also joined them.
For the next four years, these workers did a lot of amazing things. They drained swampy areas and built two lakes. They also created trails and roads for visitors to enjoy. Another group, the Works Progress Administration (WPA), helped too. They built the 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 times when money was short. People also disagreed about what the park should focus on. A local lawyer and businessman, Gibney Oscar Letcher, helped a lot. He worked with all the different groups to keep the project moving forward.
The beautiful Wilderness Lake was finished in the spring of 1938. Work slowly continued on other parts of the park. The Tea House was completed in June 1940. It even served three meals a day for a while! By the spring of 1941, the park's cottages were ready. The recreational lake was also dug out and filled with water. This finished the main work under the federal programs.
The Park During Wartime
After the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the country prepared for war. Camp Cromwell, where the CCC workers stayed, changed. It became a training school for Navy pilots during the war.
Growing and Improving the Park
After World War II ended, people turned their attention back to John James Audubon State Park. From 1948 to 1955, many improvements were made. They installed new lights in the museum. They also built picnic areas, a bathhouse, and a beach. More landscaping was done, and new parking areas were added.
From 1960 to 1969, another $500,000 was spent on the park. They built a camping area and a nine-hole golf course. The park also got bigger, reaching almost 700 acres. New picnic shelters and homes for park employees were also built.
The park was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
In 1990, the state government gave $2.5 million for a big update. The museum got a complete makeover. A new nature center was also added. This new center helps people learn more about nature. The museum's biggest renovation began in 1992. It reopened in December 1993, looking brand new and much larger.
Audubon Museum: A Treasure of Art
The Audubon Museum has a special design that looks like French buildings. It even has small spaces in its tower for birds to nest!
Alice Tyler, whose husband was Audubon's great-grandson, helped a lot. She had a huge collection of Audubon's personal items. She wanted them to be shown in the new museum. Mrs. Tyler sent her collection to Henderson in the spring of 1938. The museum officially opened on July 16, 1938.
Later, in 1994, the museum was able to buy the Tyler collection. Many people and groups donated money to make this possible.
Today, the museum is very proud to show off one of the world's largest collections of Audubon's original art. This art is what made him a famous wildlife artist. But the museum also shows his personal items. These things help tell the story of Audubon's life, which was often difficult. He was sometimes more of a "starving artist" than a big success.
The museum has four exhibit halls. They tell the story of Audubon's life, including the years he lived in Henderson. Some highlights you can see include:
- An oil painting of the American Bald Eagle.
- A special four-book set of his famous work, The Birds of America.
- His personal seal.
- Journals written in his own handwriting.
- A silver tea set he sent to his wife, Lucy, from England.
What You Can Do at the Park
Audubon Park covers about 700 acres. It's mostly hilly forests. About 338 acres are protected as a nature preserve. This area has very old trees and many trails.
Here are some of the cool things you can find at the park:
- The famous Audubon Museum: It has many valuable examples of Audubon's art. There's also a gift shop and a nature center where you can learn about nature.
- A nine-hole golf course.
- Six cozy cottages where you can stay.
- A 69-acre (280,000 m2) campground: You can bring your tent or camper here.
- A 28-acre (110,000 m2) man-made fishing lake: You can rent pedal boats here.
- 6.5 miles (10.5 km) of forest hiking trails: Perfect for exploring nature.
- Tennis courts.
- Four picnic shelters: Great for outdoor meals.
- A playground for kids.
The park offers many fun and educational programs all year long. These programs are led by a full-time nature expert and a museum educator. They teach about art history, local plants and animals, and how to protect nature.
A local group called the Friends of Audubon helps support the park. They are a not-for-profit organization that works to make the park even better.
Images for kids
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Wilderness Lake at Audubon State Park.
