Louisville - FREE History Lecture Series: Riverfront Reflections
FREE History Lecture Series: Riverfront Reflections
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FREE History Lecture Series: Riverfront Reflections Location: Waterfront Park PlayPort 1105 Rowan Street Louisville, KY 40203 New Monthly History Series at Waterfront Park PlayPort Waterfront Park is launching a new monthly history series at PlayPort, closely located to both the Portland and Russell neighborhoods, right on the site of Jefferson County’s first settlement, Fort-on-Shore. Led by local historian Rick Bell, each session in the series explores a different topic related to the people, places, and events that shaped the city’s early history. Topics will include the founding of Corn Island, the creation of the Louisville-Portland Canal, the Great Flood of 1937, profiles on notable local figures, and storytelling around the development of our city’s waterfront from wasteland to a beloved community greenspace. Special attention will be given to the history of the Portland and Russell neighborhoods that surround PlayPort, the new experiential learning and play area. Each lecture runs approximately 90 minutes and includes a visual presentation and time for audience questions. Whether you’re a lifelong history buff or just newly curious, this series celebrates Louisville’s rich past while honoring the neighborhoods that helped shape it. History lectures are free to attend, the favor of registration is requested. Click HERE to register. Rick Bell History Lecture Series Tentative Schedule Sunday, October 12, 2025 2:00pm-3:00pm It all began here… PlayPort is located at the site of Fort-on-Shore, the first buildings erected in Louisville. It is just offshore from Corn Island, where the earliest settlers landed and built a stockade. George Rogers Clark led his Illinois Regiment against the British forts from this location. Sunday, November 9, 2025 2:00pm-3:00pm Below the Falls – We will discuss the founding of Portland, Shippingport and New Albany and the individuals who envisioned town building below the Falls of the Ohio. Sunday, December 14, 2025 2:00pm-3:00pm C. Lee Cook – the genius from Portland – one of the most remarkable people in history, he overcame profound physical disabilities to invent mechanical devices that changed society and made him a wealthy man. He started his career from his home at 29th and Bank Streets in Portland.Sunday, January 11, 2026 2:00pm-3:00pm
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Louisville between 1920 and 1940 – historic photographs tell the story of Louisville in the 1920s and 1930s, a time of unprecedented growth for the city. The photos display a vibrant downtown, shopping opportunities and fascinating individuals.
Sunday, February 8, 2026 2:00pm-3:00pm
The Great Flood of 1937 in Louisville – remembered as the greatest natural disaster in American history, this event impacted Louisville harder than anywhere else in the entire Ohio River valley. Over 175,000 people evacuated their homes and overcame challenges with ingenuity and courage.
Sunday, March 8, 2026 2:00pm-3:00pm
Big Jim Porter, the Kentucky Giant – James D. Porter became internationally famous after being interviewed by Charles Dickens. At 7’9” tall, he maintained a famous tavern at his home in Shippingport and was actively involved in local politics.
Sunday, April 12, 2026 2:00pm-3:00pm
Louisville and Portland Canal – Built from 1825 until 1830, the canal revolutionized river traffic and commerce in the Ohio Valley. A triumph of engineering, digging the canal brought thousands of Irish immigrants to Portland and changed the state of transportation in America.
Sunday, June 14, 2026 2:00pm-3:00pm
Memorable characters from Louisville, Portland and Russell neighborhoods. Some fascinating personalities, some famous and others not, are included. People include internationally known film directors, artists, paperboys and other folks that make our community special.
Sunday, July 12, 2026 2:00pm-3:00pm
Louisville Waterfront and the story of the Park – PlayPort is part of the award-winning Waterfront Park, which for the past thirty years has opened access to our riverbanks. We will trace the early history of the Louisville waterfront and how it became a beloved public park.
Sunday, August 9, 2026 2:00pm-3:00pm
Transportation history of Louisville – Louisville is a crossroads of American commerce and industry. We will discuss the rise of steamboats, railroads and highways and their impact on this community over time.
Sunday, September 13, 2026 2:00pm-3:00pm
Prohibition in Louisville – No community in America was more negatively impacted by the Prohibition era (1922-1933). Twenty-five distilleries, fifteen breweries and countless saloons went out of business, leaving 10,000 Louisvillians out of work, and speakeasies and bootleggers raised the crime rate.
Sunday, October 11, 2026 2:00pm-3:00pm
Photos from the Herald-Post – 1925-1936 – This newspaper, a Republican opponent of the Courier-Journal, featured powerful images of local buildings and people. This era saw the development of Fourth Street entertainment, industrial development and a changing population.
Sunday, November 15, 2026 2:00pm-3:00pm
Portland 1852 – The pivotal year in the community’s story. In 1852 Portland was annexed by the City of Louisville, becoming a neighborhood, instead of a separate town. It was also the year which saw the construction of one of the greatest steamboats, the Eclipse, on the Portland Wharf. The U.S. Marine Hospital, Portland Cemetery and Elementary School, the oldest school building in town, were opened to the public.
Sunday, December 13, 2026 2:00pm-3:00pm
Louisville in the American Revolution – the city will celebrate its Semiquincentennial in 2028, and no American city’s founding was more closely impacted by the successful conflict to separate from England. George Rogers Clark, Richard Chenoweth, William Christian, Richard Taylor and James Patten were key individuals in the local struggle.
Sunday, January 10, 2027 2:00pm-3:00pm
The United States Marine Hospital – A local National Historic Landmark, this impressive structure is the only surviving example of the seven federal boatmen hospitals on the “Western Waters.” It was designed by Robert Mills, the first American-trained architect and creator of the Washington Monument. The Marine Hospital operated from 1852 until 1933 and was the forerunner of today’s U.S. Public Health Service.
Sunday, February 21, 2027 2:00pm-3:00pm
Historic Ohio River Floods – Throughout recorded history, damaging high waters have wreaked havoc on the people of the Ohio Valley. The 1832 flood wrecked the river town of Shippingport, and the years 1882, 1883 and 1884 saw rare examples of One-Hundred-Year floods. We will look at the impact of the record-breaking 1937 flood from its genesis in Pittsburgh to its final destination at Cairo, Illinois.
Sunday, March 14, 2027 2:00pm-3:00pm
Historic Galt House hotels – In 1835, the first Galt House Hotel, located at Second and Main streets opened and set the standard for Western hotels of that era. Charles Dickens, in his 1842 book about his American travels, praised the hotel for its excellence. From 1862 until 1919, the second Galt House was at First and Main. In 1969, businessman Al Schneider opened the current hotel, the largest in Kentucky, at the corner of Fourth and Main streets. Stories from early travelers, Civil War dramas and social status are all part of the Galt House story.
Sunday, April 11, 2027 2:00pm-3:00pm
The Belle of Louisville – The nation’s last true operating steamboat started life in 1914 in Pittsburgh as the Idlewild, with its name changing in 1948 to the Avalon. In 1962, she was purchased by Jefferson County for $34,000 and rechristened the Belle of Louisville. Since 2005 it has been operated by Belle of Louisville Riverboats, part of the Waterfront Development Corporation. It has become one of the most visible symbols of Louisville and a world-class attraction during its seasonal touring season.
This schedule and topics are subject to change. There will not be a lecture in May due to scheduling conflicts.
History lectures are free to attend and held at the PlayPort event building at 1105 Rowan Street, Louisville, KY 40203. Click HERE to register.
This is a Waterfront Park hosted event. Waterfront Park is a donor supported public park. Your donations help make events like this possible – SUPPORT
