July/August 2026

Henderson, Kentucky, basks in a rich personality all its own. Since the 18th century, the seat of Henderson County has made its mark as a destination for quality food, music, and the Great Outdoors. In fact, in 2024, the city

With nine blocks of red, white, and blue waving overhead, Wabash Avenue of Flags is one of the city’s most distinct streetscapes and a notable gateway to the West Side. A 1982 City Council resolution added “of Flags” to the

From new developments to beloved landscapes, botanical gardens are thriving. Even if you’ve visited before, there are novel attractions to see at these evolving landmarks within two hours of Evansville. Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden Start your journey at

Walter Wiandt is enjoying life on opposite ends of Indiana. The graduate of Central High School and Purdue University splits time between Evansville and Shipshewana since retiring from Mead Johnson Nutrition. “A lot of people in Evansville have never heard

Evansville has stretched a red carpet — metaphorically speaking — straight to the aisles of Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre and the Academy Awards. When director Sam Davis stepped onstage March 15 to accept his Oscar for Live Action Short Film in

"And five, six, seven, eight!” Every Thursday evening, around eight friends gather on the second-floor studio above Tri-State Bearing Company, Inc., crank up some music, and kick up their heels. Their style? Folk dancing. Gardner Weber introduced international folk dancing

Crafting meals at home is a way of life for Alesia Flint. For three years, she’s offered a public glimpse into her kitchen via Instagram, regularly dropping photos of meals she concocts, whether it’s a pimento cheese BLT, maple-mustard glazed

Although Evansville didn’t exist during the American Revolution, it certainly exists because of that struggle. Ever since the city’s founding in 1812, its residents have championed and fought for freedom, whether across regional and global battlefields or in shipyards and

The Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science is enjoying life in the pole position by hosting an exhibit showcasing the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. A centerpiece of “500 Miles to Go: Recalling Select Milestones & Moments of the Indianapolis

Read more about Evansville's chapter in the American story in the July/August 2026 feature story. Southwestern Indiana’s place in the global fight for freedom includes stories of intra-country battles, with residents playing important roles from the Civil War through the

A near-constant presence at Bosse Field — often with rolled-up shirtsleeves — Bill Bussing has been a hands-on owner of the Evansville Otters for 25 years, sustaining the city’s professional baseball industry on and off the diamond. The career attorney,

Need to cool off from the sweltering air of a Southwestern Indiana summer? Custom ice pops can bring the temperature down. Give one of these a try. Cookies and Cream Lollys Pops, $4 Offering artisan iced creations for nine years,

Read more about Evansville's chapter in the American story in the July/August 2026 feature story. The River City takes its patriotism seriously, with justification. U.S. Census figures show that nearly 6,000 military veterans lived within city limits in the past

From its emergence in 1980s Taiwan, bubble tea has gone mainstream and expanded around the globe. Fancy a taste? Try different combinations of ‌ traditional tapioca or flavored filled gel boba with fruit and milk teas at these East Side

Read more about Evansville's chapter in the American story in the July/August 2026 feature story. A city’s landmarks act like chapters in a book. Evansville’s story is interwoven with four dignified properties that have stood watch over the city since

Trying to decide where to eat, or looking for something new or different? Tim Joyce is happy to help. The Vincennes, Indiana, resident created Meals in a Snap on a whim. Spurred by his children, he had already done some

Read more about Evansville's chapter in the American story in the July/August 2026 feature story. Celebrating Independence Day in Evansville was very different in 1970. The old flood wall along Riverside Drive blocked any surface-level view of the river. Crowds

Read more about Evansville's chapter in the American story in the July/August 2026 feature story. Beacons of Freedom In tending to worn flags, Mike Schopmeyer puts his patriotism into practice Mike Schopmeyer’s position on displaying the American flag is clear:

“In the future days which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression — everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of

Read more about Evansville's chapter in the American story in the July/August 2026 feature story. What did Evansville look like in 1776? As America was taking form, this bend in the Ohio River was surrounded by untamed wilderness. There was

Read more about Evansville's chapter in the American story in the July/August 2026 feature story. Events celebrating America’s semiquincentennial are not just confined to July 4. Throughout the year, museum exhibitions, military re-enactments, and guest speakers across the region spotlight

Read more about Evansville's chapter in the American story in the July/August 2026 feature story. With more World War II and Korean War servicemen and women dying each year, Honor Flight of Southern Indiana is determined to make sure American

Being named by Southern Living as “one of the friendliest towns in the South” in 2024 came with pressure, but local officials are rising to the challenge. In fact, Henderson’s tourism office and its collaborators have aspirations of being “the

Henderson County produced a variety of alcoholic beverages in the 19th and early 20th centuries. An early winery operated here, and at the turn of the last century, Henderson was home to a large brewery and two distilleries with national

For its more than 44,000 residents, Henderson County offers an impressive robust array of recreation options. John James Audubon State Park is the recreational gem, featuring hundreds of wooded acres, miles of trails, a fishing lake, tennis courts, picnic areas,

Beyond all the festivals and attractions that lure tourists, Henderson has plenty in the arts and culture category to promote quality of life. Like most performing arts presenters, Henderson Area Arts Alliance continues to rebuild its audience following the pandemic.

Henderson’s culinary scene has blossomed around a handful of longtime favorites, offering a robust menu appealing to many tastes. Anchoring the lineup are the four local restaurants on the West Kentucky BBQ Belt: Homer’s, Chef What BBQ & More, Taylor’s

Two hundred fifty years ago — just as America’s Declaration of Independence was being signed — the gleam was likely fading from the eyes of Richard Henderson. Henderson was a North Carolina judge-turned-land speculator. He had a vision of acquiring

This issue of Evansville Living is not designed to suggest how to celebrate the Fourth of July. There will be fireworks, flags, family gatherings, cookouts, parades, concerts, and no shortage of red, white, and blue to go around. The digital

To Joy Payne, the Vann Park neighborhood “is just the sweetest little part of town,” and it’s been enriched by two recent additions: a pavilion available for activities and a sign dedicated to a cherished late resident. The Vann Park

An under-the-radar attraction, straddles the intersection of outdoor adventures and recreational activities. Sitting on an expanse of land near Lynnville, Indiana, Interlake Off-Road State Recreation Area is about a half-hour drive from Evansville. Open year-round, this 3,550-acre property featuring woods,

Joshua Armstrong isn’t nostalgic by nature — “I live in the future more than the past,” he explains. But in 2020, he saw potential in a Spanish Mission-style house on Saint James Boulevard that jogged memories of his upbringing in

Valerie Settle considers herself an artistic person, and that interest carries over to her gardening. After purchasing an Amish-made wooden storage barn, she poured her creativity into transforming it into a backyard getaway. “It started as a stress reliever and

Amid the giraffes, jaguars, and komodo dragons, a dedicated Family Garden in Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden offers a quietly bustling respite. Planted 34 years ago, its location has shifted closer to Lake Victoria in the center of the

It would be impossible to imagine the local real estate industry without women today. In fact, the majority of real estate brokers and agents are women. But if you look back from the 1930s to the ’60s, it was a

On a warm evening in October, curious guests gathered at the Mathias Sharp House in Rockport, Indiana, to roam the property on the bluff and soak in panoramic views of the Ohio River. Molly Marsh had opened her private home

Dave and Sandy Schmitt love living among the rolling hills of Saint Joseph in the county. It’s where they grew up and reside today in their cottage-inspired home on Saint Wendel Road. “We’re proud to live out in the country,”

After listing their Evansville home and selling most of their possessions in order to begin living abroad in October 2024, Darrell and Penelope Pennington visited 44 cities in 14 countries across Europe before returning home for a visit in December

Horse Racing Season July 6-Aug. 23, Ellis Park Racing & Gaming, 3300 Highway 41 N., Henderson, Kentucky Place your bets on live racing in person and via simulcast wagering now through Aug. 23. Don’t miss special events, like the corgi

On such a momentous national milestone, four Silver Aces are taking part in the parade of a lifetime. Members of the 55-and-older dance team affiliated with the University of Evansville Dance Company on July 2 are heading to Washington, D.C.,