CLARKSVILLE, IN (October 16, 2024) – The Clarksville Town Council is throwing its support behind a push to make the Falls of the Ohio a National Monument.  According to Town Manager Kevin Baity, there are currently discussions occurring at the Federal level to designate the Falls of the Ohio as a National Monument. Such a designation would be in addition to those already in existence which include National Landmark, 1966; National Register of Historic Places, 1974; National Wildlife Conservation Area, 1981; and an Indiana State Park designation, 1990.

Located on the banks of the Ohio River on Riverside Drive, Clarksville, Indiana, is Falls of the Ohio State Park. The 390-million-year-old fossil beds are among the largest exposed Devonian fossil beds in the world. The park features a spectacular interpretive center overlooking the fossil beds featuring new interactive, immersive exhibits.  While fossil collecting is prohibited on the fossil beds and river bank, the park staff encourages visitors to explore and discover the many different types of fossils that can be found on the ancient sea bottom. August through October provides the best accessibility to the 220 acres of fossil beds, as the river is at its lowest level during this period.

In 2023, the Town submitted a Letter of Support for such a designation when the process originally began. Now that the effort is moving forward, a town staff believed a Resolution of Support from the Town Council would further show the local support of the Federal designation.  The resolution passed unanimously during Tuesday night’s meeting of the Town Council.

According to the National Parks Conservation Association, the primary difference between national monuments and other kinds of sites, such as national historic sites, national battlefields, national seashores and national parks, is in the way they are established.  Congress can create any kind of national park site by passing legislation designating the specified park.

U.S. presidents can only create national monuments by using the authority granted to them by Congress in the Antiquities Act of 1906. Thus national monuments are usually, but not always, created by the executive branch rather than the legislative branch of government.  Sometimes, the president will set land aside as a national monument and Congress will later amend the monument, changing its designation to a different kind of national park site. Theodore Roosevelt established the Grand Canyon as a national monument in 1908, for example, and Congress later redesignated the site as a national park in 1919.

There is no word yet on when a decision could be made regarding the designation for the Falls of the Ohio.

About Falls of the Ohio Foundation:

The Falls of the Ohio Foundation supports the natural, cultural and historic resources of the Falls of the Ohio Area, including helping the State Park create and maintain a great exhibit and program experience. As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization, the Foundation is privately funded through the generosity of its members, individuals, charitable foundations, corporations, and volunteers. The Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and two staff members. The Falls of the Ohio Foundation history dates back to 1987.

Our Mission: Inspire a sense of wonder in the Falls of the Ohio region through education, preservation, and exploration.

Our Vision: A connected region that stewards our natural landscapes and historical stories.

Donations to the Falls of the Ohio Foundation are tax-deductible. We accept gifts of cash, check, and stocks or you can make a gift using a credit card through the Donate button on this secure website. For more information, call (812) 283-4999 or reach us by e-mail.