Spring 2022 Newsletter
Welcome to the time of year where we watch nature wake up in a splendor of color and vibrance. The campus is always ablaze in color and life this time of year. Annuals popping up from their slumber, trees leaving out to provide shade, and warmer breezes signal the return to outdoor activities and fun times.
We have the new exhibit spaces on the third floor, with their panoramic views of the Ohio River open, as spring comes to life, the river will be busier and the vantage point is truly amazing! Not to mention some of the special exhibits we have going on right now. These include March Women’s History month, which we are celebrating with a special exhibit focusing on the stories of the Howard women, Aunt Nannie’s Love Letters, an exhibit focusing on a series of love letters between Miss Cochran (Laura’s Aunt) and a beau who was serving in the Civil War, and lastly, Greene Line Steamers, the last packet boat company on the Mississippi River system. All exhibits you do not want to miss!
So, stop by this spring and see what we have to offer. You will be glad you did. We will be just as glad to see you when you do!
Welcome home to the Howards!
|
|
|
Group Tours
Do you have a group that is looking for a new venue to explore? How about a church group which needs a fun outing? Are you looking for an educational experience for your Sunday School class, Boy Scout troop, Girl Scout troop, after-school care group? How about that senior group or club?
The Howard Steamboat Museum is conveniently located in Jeffersonville, IN. Imagine sharing the mansion and its storied history with your group and then taking in the local area. What a wonderful way to show your group the history of the community and spend quality time with them!
We offer discounts for groups of 10 or more people and can accommodate large groups (30-50 people) comfortably. We do require at least a two-week advanced reservation to accommodate your group and provide adequate staffing. We are fortunate to have many bus tours annually visit the museum, we would love to share it with your group as well.
We can customize an experience to accommodate your needs with possibilities like, having a docent aboard your bus to prepare them for the experience, a video presentation to introduce the Howard family legacy, docents staged throughout the mansion to answer your group’s questions with personal service. We can even work with our Carriage House Manager and arrange a luncheon as a part of your tour. We are looking forward to sharing our wonderful and historically educational campus with your special group!
Group Tours are available Tuesday Through Friday from 10:00am until 3:00pm. We regret we are unable to accommodate groups on the weekends due to our business volumes.
Call us at (812) 283.3728 and find out about the opportunities we have to offer your group!
|
|
|
5th Annual Howard Steamboat Museum Car Show Fund Raiser
On the 10th of September (or the 11th if we have inclement weather on the 11th) we will have our 5th annual Howard Steamboat Museum Car Show Fund Raiser. This great event is co-sponsored by Clark Memorial Health.
We are looking forward to having the campus filled with a varied group of amazing cars for your enjoyment, the museum will be open for you to tour at a reduced rate during the show ($5.00 per person regardless of age), food will be available in the Carriage House, and you won’t want to miss out on taking a chance on our 50/50 Drawing and Raffle prizes!
Old 502 Winery and Falls City Beer are joining us again this year to have another wine and beer tasting booth in the Carriage House. We literally have something for everyone at this show!
The show will be from 10:00am until 3:00pm and we can’t wait to see you back here on our historic campus!
|
|
|
Carriage House Event Venue Rentals
It is that time of year when couples are planning weddings. As well, others are planning showers, family events, and seasonal parties. Wouldn’t it be great to invite your guests to join you in a place you don’t have to clean up afterwards? Our management team are booking our beautiful venue almost constantly. They are available via phone at (812) 913-4591 or email at thecarriagehousehsm@gmail.com
If you have an event coming up, think about using our Carriage House as a location. Bonnie and Amy Jo are well versed in what it takes to make your event perfect. From caterers, to decorations, to entertainment, they are on top of it and will make your event the talk of the town!
Our interior space is comprised of two unique venues - a reception hall and the spacious Bales Hall. We feature a state-of-the-art audio/visual system, historic finishes and appointments, and space you have to see to believe. Then there is our warming kitchen that is ready for your professional caterer to provide your guests with the finest culinary delights. We have a bar which can serve both in and out of doors for your caterer to utilize as well.
Bring the outside in with our 3-season heated veranda featuring weather blocking Kevlar drapes to keep you warm and/or dry when the weather is teasing us. We also have our pavilion deck with charming chairs and tables to spread the crowd out. When night falls our outdoor pavilion has a unique lighting system to encourage a great time for your group!
|
|
A little about the buildings on our campus
The Carriage House:
Quite the historic structure, indeed! Built in 1883 as one of two twin gate houses for the Southern Exposition in Louisville, the Howards bought it for use as a horse barn at the shipyard. Later, while constructing their massive mansion the Howards lived in the structure. After the mansion became their home, they moved out and used it as a combination laundry house and Carriage House. A fire in 1901 almost destroyed the structure, yet they saved it and it would live on for many more years. The Board of Directors of the Howard Steamboat Museum embarked on an ambitious project in 2016 which rebuilt and restored the structure into Southern Indiana’s premiere event center.
The result is a facility chocked full of great surprises including…unique architectural charms, fully climate-controlled interior, and sparkling restrooms. The dining area (Bales Hall) is a beautiful place to enjoy your meal with its soaring 40’ ft vaulted ceilings, open cupula, and exposed beam construction.
The Howard Family Mansion (Museum):
The Howard family Richardsonian Romanesque-styled mansion, designed by the local design firm of Drach and Thomas and built by the Howard Shipyard crew between 1890 and 1894, features a restored first floor with original family furnishings (many of which came from the fabled 1893 Chicago Columbian Exposition), 15 different types of wood, and original gasolier chandeliers throughout. The second and third floors feature exhibits telling the story of the Howard Shipyard, the American River Steamboat, the inland rivers involvement in the Second World War, and life in a mansion of the gilded age.
Included are an art collection of original river-themed pieces, tools of the shipbuilding trade, and a black walnut grand staircase that will take your breath away! Keep in mind we are the only steamboat museum in the nation. While there are several museums throughout the nation focused on specific vessels and rivers, we are the only museum focused on the history of the steamboat, located in the premier steamboat builder’s home.
|
|
River Ramblings
This October our annual river-themed lecture series returns for its 15th year with a very interesting subject…” the Gator Navy, the Importance of the LST in WWII and Beyond”
Join us on Sunday the 9th of October in the Carriage House on the east side of the campus at 3:00pm where Mr. Cory Burdette of the USS LST Ship Memorial will present his informative talk about the ships and the people who made a success of World War II for the United States.
This event is in conjunction with the USS LST Ship Memorial museum in Evansville, IN. Be sure to visit them when you are in the area. Here is more information on their great facility. USS LST-325 | WWII Landing Ship | Evansville, IN (lstmemorial.org)
A $5.00 donation is appreciated for this event.
|
|
Volunteers needed
We are looking for a few good people. Do you like to talk with and meet people from all over the country? Are you interested in sharing local history with visitors?
The Howard Steamboat Museum can use your talents!
We are seeking four people who can be volunteer docents for the museum, interpreting the house and collection for our visitors. We would like to have people who can work from 10:00am until 4:00pm at least one day a week. We aren’t always busy and you will have the museum at your disposal to read, learn, and explore in your free time. We will train you in what you need to know. Our belief is that we give you the tools and you make those facts blossom for our guests in your own way. You will be expected to greet our guests as they arrive, assist them in a tour of the museum, and handle sales of gift shop items. It is a lot of fun and you sure meet some interesting people along the way. Contact us at info@howardsteamboatmuseum.org or call us at (812) 283-3728 and let us know just how interested you are!
|
|
|
Museum Wish List
As an independent 501©3 organization, donations are extremely important to our operation. As you may know we do not receive any regularly scheduled donations or financial assistance from any federal, state or local government, nor any organizations. We survive from ticket sales, gift shop sales, and rentals of our Carriage House. For this reason, we occasionally ask for things we may need to sustain our day-to-day operations.
These small items make a big difference for an organization like ours in these trying times. If you have any of these you can share with us, we would greatly appreciate your help.
Office Supplies
A copy of Quick Books software for accounting purposes
Copy paper (white)
Pens
Blank #10 envelopes
Blank #9 envelopes
Blank windowed envelopes
Forever Stamps
Cleaning Supplies
Paper Towels
Toilet Tissue
Fabuloso-brand floor cleaner (it is a cleaner specifically designed for use on our service area and restroom floors)
Multi-purpose cleaner with bleach
|
|
Copyright 2021 The Howard Steamboat Museum
The Howard Steamboat Museum
1101 East Market Street
Jeffersonville, IN. 47130
(812) 283-3728
info@howardsteamboatmuseum.org
www.howardsteamboatmuseum.org
The Carriage House at the Howard Steamboat Mansion
1101 E. Market Street
Jeffersonville, IN. 47130
(812) 913-4591
thecarriagehousehsm@gmail.com
www.howardsteamboatmuseum.org
|
|
|
|
|
