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Evansville Sights and Landmarks Guide, Indiana

Evansville has had the unique honor of being repeatedly voted among the nation’s ‘Top 20 Cities to Live In’ and although the city lacks the magnetism of Indianapolis, it will not dishearten the occasional tourists. Labeled as the ‘River City’ (because of its location at the horse-shoe bend of the Ohio River), the river is certainly one of the city’s greatest attractions (especially with its lures of water-sports) but there are many other things as well – cultural attractions like museums and historic sites, places for children like zoos and parks, etc. A tour of Evansville sights will give you an insight into the city’s past and present.

Evansville Sights – Cultural Attractions

You can begin the tour by paying a visit to the Angel Mounds State Historic Site. One of the most well-preserved pre-historic sites, the Angel Mounds was once the terrain of Native American people who had close connections with Middle Mississippian culture. The community/village was reconstructed almost to details, and along with all the exhibits, it gives you a comprehensive picture of people’s life back then.

The Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science, The Reitz Home Museum and an interactive museum for children, named Hands on Discovery. While the Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science is a general museum that has everything from art exhibits to historic relics, a separate science-segment and even a planetarium, the Reitz Home Museum is a classic example of Second French Empire architecture. The restored structure is part of the downtown Historic Preservation District and its furnishings are something to admire. You can go on visiting the Four Freedom Monuments by the Ohio River and the Tank Landing Ship, USS LST 325, which was turned into a museum in 2005.

Evansville Sights – Parks and Zoos

Evansville has quite a few parks, some adding a touch of green to the city and others providing varied entertainment for young and old alike. The Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve, for example, is a National Natural Landmark; this virgin forest is spread over 200 acres and you can go wildlife watching. The Burdette Park with its mini golf-course, tennis courts, water slides, BMX racing track and other attractions is an altogether different experience.

Evansville even has a zoo, the Mesker Park Zoo that spreads on 50-acres of land. The zoo has about 700 different species of animals and birds residing in its natural habitat.

Evansville has a thriving nightlife, but if you are in the city in July, round-off your tour of Evansville sights watching the nighttime fireworks extravaganza as part of the Independence Day celebrations from the tiered stadium in downtown riverfront area. (Of course, Independence Day is celebrated nationwide and you get to see fireworks in almost all American cities from New York to Nashville). There are other special events organized in the stadium besides Independence Day.

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