NEWS
Improvements Underway at Memorial Coliseum
Work begins to help an Evansville landmark reclaim its role as one of the city’s premier gathering places.
Living Memorial
In 1911, when Evansville Mayor Benjamin Bosse called for a coliseum to be built so the city could accommodate conventions and other large events, he set the stage for construction of a building that citizens of the city and region continue to engage with more than a century later. Today, the Neoclassical-style property on Court Street is undergoing improvements to address years of deferred maintenance, honor its heritage, and reprise its role as one of the city’s premier gathering spaces.
Following Bosse’s charge, intense public debate arose over nearly every aspect of the proposed coliseum’s development from its final location and funding to what performers would be allowed to appear and even the building’s acoustics.
As part of the debate, officials suggested the new facility be dedicated to veterans of the Civil War and Spanish-American War, honoring “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.” The move followed a popular trend in the leadup to and aftermath of World War I, when communities around the country designated civic buildings as “living memorials” in tribute to veterans.
Construction on the new facility finally began in 1916, and less than a year later, crowds gathered for dedication of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Coliseum.
The building quickly became one of the city’s most prominent landmarks. Throughout the early twentieth century, the coliseum hosted a variety of events, from municipal organ concerts and an appearance by the Royal Filipino String Ensemble to political speeches and “Chalk Talk” by local artist Karl Kae Knecht. In the 1950s, when urban renewal initiatives targeted the building for demolition, community affection for the local landmark spurred a successful “Save the Coliseum” campaign.
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. Phase 1 of the improvements—set to be completed by the end of March 2025—will help upgrade heating and cooling, electrical, fire suppression, and security systems. The next phase of construction will make the building more accessible to all and restore the coliseum’s historic entrance foyer, Grand Army of the Republic Room, and Spanish American War Veterans Room. The city’s Veterans Services office will also occupy the building as a core tenant, a fitting tribute to the landmark’s namesake. Indiana Landmarks will offer support through serving on the city and county board governing the building’s future and preservation.
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Coliseum, Evansville by Stephanie Richard
The coliseum remains closed while work is underway. In the meantime, community leaders are looking at possibilities, including funding requirements, to fully update the coliseum as a modern performing venue. For the latest news on their efforts, stay tuned to the Veteran’s Coliseum Preservation Foundation Facebook group.
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