Community Helping Preserve Evansville’s Historic Coliseum

History Of Evansville Kept in Coliseum

Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the Coliseum, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Coliseum; whatever you want to call it, the historical downtown Evansville building has had many names over the years. What many have forgotten is that the Evansville Coliseum holds more history than most realize. The neoclassical architecture began in 1916 as a way to honor veterans of the Civil War and the Spanish-American War. According to Indiana Landmarks, the intention was to honor “the soldiers and sailors of this country who lost their lives on the field of battle and for whose heroism the country has yet to make material recognition.”

Coliseum Faces Ongoing Need For Community Support

The history of the building is incredible, having hosted the likes of Ray Charles, JFK, Katharine Hepburn, and Randy Savage, to name a few. The ongoing preservation project was set to complete phase 1 of the improvements in March of 2025, which upgraded basic electrical and HVAC needs, among other general safety improvements. The next phase of the process will focus on accessibility and the historic entrance foyer. According to Indiana Landmarks:

"Today, thanks to a $6 million project shepherded by Vanderburgh County and funded with money from the American Rescue Plan Act, the aging coliseum is on its way to reclaiming status as a community icon."

Here's a look inside the renovations from our partners at Eyewitness News:

One Of A Kind Items Available During Silent Auction

Preserving this history is important, but community effort is still needed. You can help by participating in the silent auction to raise funds for the ongoing preservation work. Auction items include (but are not limited to) the following cool items: St. Louis Cardinal tickets, a 65-inch television, a one-year membership to Range U.S.A., dinner for eight at Cavanaugh's, and a framed Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods print. Place your bids today here.

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See How Downtown Evansville Has Changed Over the Years

I find looking back on the way things used to be fascinating. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I'm living through the current time period. The conveniences of answering any question we have in seconds, or ordering practically anything we want or need and having it delivered to our doorstep is pretty sweet. But, there is something fun about seeing how things around us have evolved. As an Evansville native, and spending quite a bit of my time in downtown Evansville (that's where the station is located), I've always appreciated the older architecture of the buildings around the area. So, I dug into the Willard Library Archives to see how a few of those areas look now compared to then. Some have changed a little, others quite a bit, and a few don't even exist any more. Take a look.

Gallery Credit: Ryan O'Bryan