Things To Lou

FREE History Lecture Series: Riverfront Reflections | Led by local historian Rick Bell
2026-04-12 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Waterfront Park, 129 River Rd, Louisville, KY, 40202, United States
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
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, January 11, 2026 2:00pm-3:30pm
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-3:30pm
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-3:30pm
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-3:30pm
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-3:30pm
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-3:30pm
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-3:30pm
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-3:30pm
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-3:30pm
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.

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.

Location: Waterfront Park PlayPort 1105 Rowan Street Louisville, KY 40203
