Carnegie Center For Art & History

It took us way too long to get here! Thanks to the food exhibit for finally kicking me into going. A building with a lot of history, and a part of the public library, it is well worth a short visit before dinner, after the farmer's market, or any other time you find yourself with free time in New Albany's downtown area. The two exhibits they had were on food (very very cool, featured local artists) and on slavery and Black history in the area, as well as a special story of a Black female nurse during the Civil War who ended up staying and living in the area. The staff was very helpful, giving us some advice on the upcoming exhibits, a DVD of the video that was playing, and some information on a book by a local author on the nurse's story. Only negative was the lack of captioning for the interactive audio/ movie that was playing.

The place is free and self paced. During my visit there was a quilt art. There was also an Underground Railroad exhibit. The exhibit was about the slavery Underground Railroad in Louisville and in New Albany. It was interesting and an interactive video.

My family I went in here this summer to visit when they were having the cultural passes for the kids. It was a pretty powerful place to visit and see all of the history and things that happened in the area. I got the answers some questions for my daughters and they got to learn which was the purpose of the event.

The Carnegie Center for Art and History, located in New Albany, IN, is a small museum with an exhibit about the Underground Railroad. The exhibit featured information about Lucy Higgs Nichols, a slave who became a nurse during the Civil War and fought to get a nurse's pension of $12 per month. It's a very small museum and we only spent about an hour, but the exhibit was interesting and it was free, so no complaints. The museum is also open six days a week (it is closed on Sundays), which is nice, as many museums in Louisville are closed Monday and/or Tuesday.Not a museum I'd go out of my way to see, but if you're in the area, of if it's a Tuesday and you need something to do (as in our case), then swing by the Carnegie Center for Art and History.[Yelp collections: Louisville/Indianapolis 2023; Louisville, KY 2023; Museums and Art Galleries; Cheap Thrills]

The Carneigie Center is a great repurposed former library! The Center features two permanent exhibits and two temporary exhibits on the main floor. The permanent exhibits are an excellent example of local history that is engaging and interactive while being informative. The staff was friendly and helpful. Entry is free, though you are free to contribute as you see fit.

We're in New Albany Indiana here. This is not the big Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh https://www.yelp.com/biz/carnegie-museum-of-art-pittsburgh?hrid=7SxvFyuqOlIplB82oCya0Q and the two don't compare. Instead, recognize that the man who was once the richest in America used his great wealth to fund thousands of libraries, schools and universities around the world. Including this one.Originally the town's library, they moved to another facility and this one was threatened with demolition. Instead, it was renovated and in 1998 became the Carnegie Center for Art and History.Newly re-opened with social distancing incorporated as part of their displays, the museum features a series of temporary exhibits of contemporary art as well as permanent exhibitions. The first permanent exhibit was about the men and women of the Underground Railroad. Interesting and unique, capturing many of the ordinary folks from New Albany and Southern Indiana who helped overthrow slavery. The second exhibit is entitled "Remembered: The Life of Lucy Higgs Nichols" and details this woman's life as a slave in Tennessee, a nurse during the Civil War and her post-war life in freedom.The current temporary exhibits include a display of memorabilia from the women's Hoosiers Softball Team and "Permanent and Natural", a group show featuring hair as a form of personal expression, as cultural relic, and as artistic medium.Interesting and thought provoking exhibits that I enjoyed. An hour is enough time to explore all. There are restrooms and there is free wifi. And air conditioning. Enjoy!Awesome to visit and thank you, Carnegie Center. This was my first museum visit since The Knoxville Museum of Art in February! https://www.yelp.com/biz/knoxville-museum-of-art-knoxville?hrid=HB2L7Sj9nP8q9XqIOaXahA[Review 13504 overall, 823 of 2020.]

My center of gravity is well over the Ohio river, in the heart of Louisville, but in the nine years I've lived over there, I've found myself regularly pulled into Indiana to this oasis of art, culture and community. My own neighborhood has a decommissioned Carnegie library too, but it was never repurposed so well as this one. And it carries on the tradition of the library in that admission is always free. The center is actually part of the Floyd County Library system, and it's a wonderful testament to what a library system can bring to a community when it thinks creatively.My favorite event is the annual quilt show, which draws tremendous talent and creativity from around the country, much more contemporary art than folk tradition. I also try to cross the border when Jamey Aebersold is kind enough to put on a show. The underground railroad exhibit is also a must-see for any local.This is not a deeply-endowed museum awash in philanthropic dollars. But it is a well-run community center run by professionals with a keen eye for arts and outreach.

Love this little gem in the heart of New Albany, IN. Great memories of it being the town library before the larger one was built. I do attend a number of educational talks & events there. The town should be proud that it is a lovely piece of architecture that has been well preserved. You owe it to yourself to stop in & view the multiple exhibits.

We recently visited the center for for an art exhibit opening. The museum was very nice and a great space for this type of event. The staff was friendly and we enjoyed going through the underground railroad exhibit. Plenty of parking and the area is nice and there are lots of nearby restaurants.

The space down stairs to hold events is very nice. Small stage..large projection screen..room for about 50 people comfortably. No need for audio equipment either. Finding the right spot to hold a larger meeting is sometimes hard, but this venue is intimate and noon distracting..parking is good if the event is a morning event or late evening.