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Listed in Historical landmark, Ohio River Scenic Byway, Visited by Old Folks Adventures

• 199 West Water Street
  Mount Vernon, Indiana 47620

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Description

The 1937 Ohio River Flood High-Water Mark commemorates one of the most devastating natural disasters in the history of the Ohio River Valley. During January and February 1937, weeks of heavy rainfall pushed the Ohio River to record levels, inundating communities from Pennsylvania to Illinois. Mount Vernon, Indiana, located on the banks of the Ohio River, was among the hardest-hit river towns as homes, businesses, industries, and transportation routes disappeared beneath the floodwaters.

This marker identifies the height reached by the flood in downtown Mount Vernon, providing visitors with a striking visual reminder of just how deep the water became. Standing beside the marker offers a new appreciation for the scale of the disaster and the resilience of the community that endured it. Historic photographs from the period show much of Mount Vernon's riverfront underwater, with rescue boats navigating flooded streets and damage extending throughout the city.

The Great Flood of 1937 changed the future of communities along the Ohio River. Following the disaster, significant investments were made in flood forecasting, levees, floodwalls, and other flood-control projects designed to reduce the impact of future high-water events. Today, this marker helps preserve the memory of those difficult weeks while honoring the determination of the people who rebuilt their homes, businesses, and community.

If you're exploring Mount Vernon's historic riverfront or traveling the Ohio River Scenic Byway, this stop provides valuable insight into one of the defining events in the city's history and the continuing relationship between the community and the Ohio River

Historical References / Learn More

National Weather Service – The Great Ohio River Flood of 1937
https://www.weather.gov/lmk/flood_37
Mount Vernon Historical Photo Collection – Historic photographs of the 1937 flood in Mount Vernon, Indiana
https://mtvernonin.com/MtV1937Flood.htm
NOAA National Water Prediction Service – Ohio River at Mount Vernon gauge and flood information
https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/MTVI3
University of Southern Indiana Archives & Special Collections – Historic regional flood photographs and local history collections.

Listing Tags

1937 Flood, Flood History, Great Flood of 1937, Historic Landmark, Historical Marker, Indiana History, Local History, Mount Vernon Indiana, Ohio River, Ohio River Flood, ohio river scenic byway, Posey County, River History

Street

199 West Water Street

Latitude

37.929122

Longitude

-87.895266

Country

USA

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