Warder Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Warder Park |
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Warder Park's Thomas Jefferson Statue.
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| Type | Municipal |
| Location | Jeffersonville, Indiana |
| Created | 1881 |
| Operated by | Jeff Parks Department |
| Status | Open all year |
Warder Park is a special place in Jeffersonville, Indiana, located on Court Avenue. This park has been important to the community for a long time. Back in the mid-1800s, during the American Civil War, it even had a bakery. This bakery made "hardtack," which was a type of hard biscuit, for the Union soldiers.
The park officially became a park in 1881. It was named after the mayor at the time, Luther Warder. Mayor Warder had hoped this spot would be used for a new city hall. However, the city council chose a different location for the city hall. They decided to name the park after Warder to show their appreciation. A Carnegie Library building was later built here in 1903.
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Discover the Carnegie Library at Warder Park
The Carnegie Library in Warder Park is a beautiful building with a rich history. It was one of the first libraries in Indiana to receive money from Andrew Carnegie. Andrew Carnegie was a very wealthy businessman who believed in the power of education. He donated money to build libraries all over the world. He gave $15,000 to build this library.
The Design and History of the Carnegie Library
The library building was designed in a style called Neo-Classical architecture. This style often uses grand columns and classic shapes. The architect was Arthur Loomis, who was a well-known designer from Jeffersonville. The first stone for the building was placed on September 19, 1903.
The Carnegie Library building has been used for different purposes over the years. It once held classes for Indiana University Southeast. Today, it is a main feature of Warder Park. It now houses the Remnant Trust, which is a collection of very rare books and important documents.
Explore Rare Books and Documents
The Remnant Trust at the Carnegie Library has an amazing collection of old and valuable writings. These include:
- A 19th-century book called Life and Times of Frederick Douglass.
- A page from a Gutenberg Bible, which is about 560 years old.
- A copy of the Magna Carta from the year 1350.
- A copy of the first British edition of the Travels to the Source of the Missouri River by Lewis and Clark.
The Carnegie Library reopened on October 25, 2006. This was after a big renovation that cost $4 million. The renovation was done to prepare the building for the Remnant Trust collection.
The Timeline of Liberty Sculpture
As part of the renovation, a large sculpture was added. It is called The Timeline of Liberty. This amazing artwork was created by sculptor Lorenzo Ghiglieri. It is a bronze sculpture that weighs 6 tons. It is made of three panels, each 7 feet tall and together 20 feet wide. The sculpture shows 2,500 years of human liberty, from ancient Greece up to modern times.
The Thomas Jefferson Statue
Between 2002 and 2003, Warder Park went through some big changes. The park was cleared, and new renovations began. A new statue was added during this time. It is a ten-foot-tall bronze figure of Thomas Jefferson. The statue weighs 900 pounds.
This statue was made by sculptor Guy Tedesco. It was created for Jeffersonville's 200th birthday celebration. It also marked the "Falls of the Ohio" event, which was part of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial celebration.
Enjoy Summer Concerts in the Park
In the middle of Warder Park, there is a gazebo. This gazebo is a popular spot for summer concerts. Local bands and musicians often perform here. If you want to know when the shows are, you can usually find the dates and times in the local newspaper, The Evening News.
