We were there in New Albany primarily for the farmers market and lunch at Toast on Market. However... read more
We were there in New Albany primarily for the farmers market and lunch at Toast on Market. However... read more
My entire family enjoyed our time here. There are two permanent exhibits, one focusing on the... read more
We visited the Carnegie Center with friends and were pleasantly surprised by the wonders awaiting us inside the boutique museum! The 1904 building has been lovingly restored, and the galleries are inviting and lead the visitor through exhibits that have been thoughtfully curated.
The temporary exhibit was quilt art and the pieces were eye-catchingly stunning in their meticulous craftsmanship; they were beautifully done and unexpected, given my concept of fabric art. The permanent exhibits depict The Underground Railroad in the Louisville area, and mechanical dioramas created by a local craftsman. The Underground Railroad exhibit was inspiring and thought-provoking in its stories of ordinary people who displayed extraordinary courage in extraordinary times. The dioramas are American primitive art pieces that are charming and intricate in their detail.
The docent for the day, Ms Delesha Thomas, was extremely helpful and courteous, guiding us through the exhibits and then spending quite a bit of time at the end of our visit giving us tips on local restaurants and attractions. We really appreciated her assistance as it tailored our plans to the time we had available, and gave us suggestions that we were not aware of.
Our time at the museum was definitely time well-spent!
Thank you for your very positive review! I apologize that it has taken us this long to respond; we will be trying to respond to future TripAdvisor reviews on a more regular basis. We have never been called a "boutique museum" before - and we love it! We may even use it in future advertising. I am glad to hear you enjoyed our permanent, local history exhibits, as well as our annual contemporary art quilt show, "Form, Not Function: Quilt Art at the Carnegie". If you happen to be in the area again next year around the same time, next year's "Form, Not Function" exhibit will be on display May 6 – July 9, 2016. And we couldn't agree with you more about our Public Relations Associate, Delesha Thomas - she is a wonderful and knowledgeable advocate for both the Carnegie Center and other local points of interest. Thank you again for taking time to post a review, and we hope you can visit us again someday.
We have popped in impromptu a couple of times over the winter. This place is a gem. First, it's free so you can't beat the price. Second, the range in the exhibits has been fabulous from art made with found pieces to shadowbox type exhibits of a miniature town with working parts that are just fascinating to watch by old and young. This could be a great educational opportunity for a family watching their budget; a wonderful, romantic date if a picnic were thrown in or a trip to one of the independent restaurants just minutes away added on; or an outing for a grandparent and grandchild where life could be enjoyed at a more leisurely pace.
Thank you for your review! I apologize that it has taken us this long to respond; we will be trying to respond to future TripAdvisor reviews on a more regular basis. We are thankful that we are able to remain free of charge with support from the New Albany-Floyd County Public Library (of which we are a department). The Yenawine Dioramas are indeed a favorite of visitors of all ages, and we even have a full-color gallery guide for that exhibit, complete with a scavenger hunt and other enrichment activities. Thank you for helping us work toward being a "more well-known gem" with your review!
It is well laid out, and very tourist friendly. The staff is very helpful and willing to share information. Its a nice respite on a hot and humid day.
Thank you for your review! I apologize that it has taken us this long to respond; we will be trying to respond to future TripAdvisor reviews on a more regular basis. We strive to be welcoming and helpful to visitors, so we truly appreciate you letting us know that we made your visit a pleasant one. Our current exhibit is "Form, Not Function: Quilt Art at the Carnegie", on display through July 11, 2015. We invite you to come back soon for a visit and beat the heat with our "cool" art quilts.
Among all the things there are to see and do in the Clark/Floyd County area, do not miss the Carnegie Center. They have the most amazing underground railroad exhibit. And one special feature is the well documented story of a woman who made it to Union lines and her adventures traveling, and becoming a part of, the army’s victories in some of the most famous battles of the civil war. What a story!
There are other cool features of this building. It’s architecture is interesting, inside and out. And they have interesting exhibits beside the underground railroad. They have art galleries and a cute exhibit called “Grandpa Makes a Scene”. All this and it’s free. Do not miss it!
Thank you for your very positive review! I am sorry it has taken us this long to respond; we will be trying to respond to future TripAdvisor reviews on a more regular basis. We are fortunate to have so much documented information about the life of Lucy Higgs Nichols, as you mentioned. In our "Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage" exhibit, the film of the same name makes the point that very often we do not know the names or the faces of the men and women involved in the Underground Railroad, since these illegal and risky activities had to be concealed, in the hope of success. Thanks to the hard work of the researchers involved in tracking down Lucy's story (three local historians based in New Albany), we *do* have a name and a face for Lucy's remarkable and inspiring story. We're glad you enjoyed our other exhibits, and we hope you can visit us again.
As I said this is an overlooked gem in New Albany. It is worth a visit on a hot muggy day to beat the heat and see some local and regional art.
Thank you for taking time to post a review! I apologize that it has taken us this long to respond; we will be trying to respond to future TripAdvisor reviews on a more regular basis. Our current exhibit is "Form, Not Function: Quilt Art at the Carnegie", on display through July 11, 2015. We invite you to come back soon for a visit and stay cool with our "cool" art quilts.
The exhibit on slavery in New Albany prior to and during the Civil War--especially at it relates to the underground railroad--is excellent. The variety of material--from bills of sale, copies of newspaper articles, photographs, and commentary from those living at that time who offered stories about what happened in the community--was excellent. I especially enjoyed the film that we saw halfway through. I am especially pleased that this museum celebrates local artists. A wonderful and significant gift to the downtown area.
Thank you for your review! I am sorry it has taken us this long to respond; we will be trying to respond to future TripAdvisor reviews on a more regular basis. We are proud to be a part of a growing downtown, and especially proud that our building has been providing a service to the New Albany community since 1904 (first as the New Albany Library and then as the Floyd County Museum, which later became the Carnegie Center for Art & History). And thank you for your praise for our exhibit on the Underground Railroad - we are glad to also be able to go out into the community and show the film you mentioned at schools, churches, and community centers. We hope to see you again soon.