Things to do in Evansville
Angel Mounds
Found on Evansville’s east side, Angel Mounds is the site of a large prehistoric Native American town that flourished circa 950 A.D. to 1450 A.D. The builders constructed eleven earthen mounds as platforms for elevated buildings; the central mound is one of the largest prehistoric structures in the eastern United States. Visitors can step back in time and tour the town’s reconstructed buildings, stockade, nature preserve, and an interpretive center complete with full-size recreations of Native American houses, a gift shop, observation area, and interactive computer station. Located just off the Lloyd Expressway at 40 First Avenue. Call 812-428-0956 for more information.
40 First Avenue, Evansville, IN
Casino Aztar
This casino is very unique as it aboard The City of Evansville, a 310-foot-long replica of the racing side-wheel steamboat Robert E. Lee. With three levels of Vegas-style excitement, the boat features more than 1,200 slot machines and more than 70 gaming tables—including blackjack, craps, roulette, stud poker, and more. Whether gambling or just enjoying the ride, passengers can cruise in the elegance of yesteryear … in rooms richly decorated with classic brocade, marble, and gold finishes. Casino open daily 9am – 3am. Call 800-342-5386 for more information.
41 NW Riverside Drive, Evansville, IN
Ellis Park
Looking for a thoroughly thoroughbred good time … or just a little horseplay? Head to Ellis Park Horse Track for live dirt and turf horse racing. Outdoor seating, cafeteria, air-conditioned clubhouse dining room, Gardenia Room and Sky Theatre, high atop the racetrack. Live racing July -Labor Day Wednesday – Sunday with daily race-simulcasting year-round, 11am – 10pm. Admission fee is charged, children 12 and under free. Located at Highway 41, just north of the Ohio River. Call 800-333-8110 for more information.
Evansville Museum of Arts & Sciences
Come and see beautiful art and ancient treasures at the museum. The Museum is a general museum with comprehensive collections in art, history, anthropology, and science. Enjoy paintings from the 16th century to the present; stroll down turn-of-the-century Main Street; amaze the kids with hands-on exhibits in the Science Center; stargaze at a show at Koch Planetarium; or browse the gift shop. You can also learn about the history of transportation in our fair city at the Evansville Museum Transportation Center (EMTRAC), a separate building at the museum, featuring historic railroad cars. Located in downtown Evansville.
Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden
Indiana's largest zoo, Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden, covers 70 acres and features 600 animals—including lions and a tiger, birds of all feathers, monkeys and lemurs, gazelle and giraffe, kangaroos and kudus, leopards and a warthog, zebras and zebus. With two and a half miles of walking paths, visitors can stroll from the savanna of Africa to the Asian plains to the North American forest. Experience the rain forest in the Discovery Center … or linger a bit in the new Lemur Forest Exhibit. Call 812-435-6143 for more information.
2421 Bement Avenue, Evansville, IN
Reitz Home Museum
The Reitz Home Museum boasts of the elegance of the late 19th century. German immigrant John Augustus Reitz built this opulent French Second Empire home in 1871 to reflect his new station in life. The 3-story, 17-room residence is lavishly outfitted with elegant woodwork, parquet floors, stained glass windows, watercolor-on-canvas ceilings, and elaborate mantle pieces. Tours begin in the Carriage House. Open Tuesday – Saturday 11am – 3:30pm; Sunday 1 – 3:30pm. Closed on Mondays. Visitor Center located behind the mansion. Call 812-426-1871 for more information.
224 SE First Street, Evansville, IN
Visitors Center
The Center is the starting point for guided walking tours of the Riverside Historic District. Take a leisurely walk or brief drive through downtown Evansville and you’ll quickly discover why this historic river city is one of the most architecturally significant places in the Midwest. Along the riverfront, you’ll see a fine collection of grandiose buildings, which reflect the city’s commercial and industrial growth after the Civil War. In the early commercial section of the city you will find more magnificent architecture— the Old Post Office that was built in 1875 and the Old Courthouse that was built in 1891 ... as was the Old Jail, which resembles a German castle.
Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve
An ancient forest in the midst of a vibrant city, the preserve is a National Natural Landmark and a State Nature Preserve, encompassing nearly 200 acres of virgin bottomland hardwood forest and another 50 acres of younger forest, field, and pond. A walk along the secluded trails lets visitors experience the whispering wind through sweet gum, sugar maple, tulip, and oak trees. The preserve—where you can also find a section of the historic Wabash & Erie Canal—is home to myriad wildflowers, deer, birds, and a host of other wildlife. Stop by the Nature Center and leaf through exhibits, gift shop, library, and wildlife observation room. Open Tuesday – Sunday 8am – 4pm; Summer 6am – 7pm. Call 812-479-0771 for more information.
551 N. Boeke Road, Evansville, IN
Willard Library
The Library opened in 1885 and is the oldest public library building in Indiana and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Located just north of downtown, the library was founded by local philanthropist Willard Carpenter as “a public library for the use of the people of all classes, races, and sexes, free of charge forever.” Today, Carpenter’s collection of abolitionist literature is now housed within the library. The library is also a regional genealogy center that is nationally recognized as being haunted by the famed “Lady in Grey.” Open Monday & Tuesday 9am – 8pm; Wednesday – Friday 9am – 5:30pm; Saturday 9am – 5pm; Sunday 1 – 5pm. Call 812-425-4309 for more information.
21 First Avenue, Evansville, IN