Located about six blocks north of the Ohio River is the Clark County Museum. It doesn’t look all that big from the outside, but, like they say, looks can be deceiving. Step inside, and you’ll find an extensive collection of artifacts telling the rich history of Clark County. It’s a place where you can peek inside a Clark County cabin or stroll through the 1896 Louis Priester’s back barn.
And then there’s the LaRose Theater. The Rose theaters were named after a man’s two daughters, Lee and Rose. Inside, you’ll see a turn-of-the-century parlor different from our houses today. In the open atrium are items from Clark County’s pioneer past, all the way back to the 1700s. An impressive collection of Native American arrowheads and tools are on display. The Clark State Forest exhibit details the history of Indiana’s oldest state forest, which was established in 1903. The forest is over 24,000 acres and is a favorite for many hikers. It’s impressive stuff, but we’re just getting started.
Recreated Town
The museum continues with a recreated town like you would have seen in early Clark County. There’s a train station like the ones you would have seen before cars and highways. Travelers would have stepped inside to buy a ticket and wait for the next train to arrive from places far away. It was the best and easiest way to travel back then. Then there’s the general store, where you would have bought your groceries and necessities before there were considerable stores in every town. See anything you need? And when you were sick, you went to a small drugstore. The medicines looked a lot different back then. Feel free to look inside the drawers for whatever ails you; these remedies made our grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents well, and some things we’re glad are a thing of the past.
Marriage Parlor
It might surprise you that Jeffersonville, Indiana, was much like Las Vegas today, with many get-married-quick marriage parlors. It was a big industry along the Ohio River and across from Louisville; many people got a justice of the peace license and started a thriving business using their front rooms as chapels. For a reasonable fee, you could get married quickly. If you wanted music, well, that would cost extra. Have you got cold feet? No worries; there’s a cozy fire right here. Just wear your Sunday best and a gigantic wedding hat.
Doc’s Place
The next venue is Doc’s Place, a 1930s speakeasy. Speakeasies were illegal places to get alcohol and gamble, and there were many all over Jeffersonville. If you look above Doc’s Place, a woman looks out over the road; after all, you need a lookout when you never know when the police will show up. Just inside, Doc will hook you up with whatever you need. If you’re feeling lucky, why not put some money down for a roulette game? You can take your picture next to gangsters John Dillinger and Al Capone or one of Doc’s lovely ladies. Or step right up for a police mug shot because, after all, crime doesn’t pay, but a mug shot for your living room is priceless.
The Clark County Museum is filled with surprises and growing every day. If you’re in town, definitely come by for a visit.
