Two free events regarding Lafayette’s shipwreck incident

On May 9, 1825, the steamboat "Mechanic" sank in the Ohio River near Louisville, Kentucky, while carrying General Lafayette and other passengers. The sinking was caused by the boat striking a snag just below the surface of the water. Despite the sinking, all passengers, including Lafayette, were safely transported to shore by Captain Hal. 

Event # 1 on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 3:00pm.

FREE ZOOM PRESENTATION

Topic: Lafayette, and the Sinking of the Steamboat Mechanic

By Wes Clarke

You can join this Zoom presentation at the time listed above by clicking here: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85724481114

Event # 2 on Friday, May 9, 2025, at 10:00 am.

SHIPWRECK REENACTMENT

The American Friends of Lafayette and the Masonic Lodge #623 are having a 200^th year reenactment event at Lafayette Spring where the Steamboat “Mechanic” sank carrying General Lafayette on that fateful night, 200 years ago. 

A ceremony will be held at 10:00am CT at Lafayette Spring with Lafayette himself present and ready to recall this fateful day.  We will be sinking a model of the steamship Mechanic at the exact spot it happened 200 years before.

We will gather at Eagles Bluff Overlook Park in Cannelton, Indiana. This site has plenty of free parking. There we will board buses and ride over to the actual site of the shipwreck about five minutes down the road.  This free bus shuttle is necessary as there is very limited parking at the site.

Our free ceremony will include the reenactment of the sinking and recollections from Lafayette himself.  Other speakers will include S.A.R member Jerry Hubbs whose authored articles regarding the shipwreck and Karen Schwartz who serves as President of the Historical Society of Harrison County, 

After the ceremony and the reenactment, (11:30am) the buses will take you to the Perry County Historical Society Museum in Cannelton, with a presentation by Stephen Saalman of the Historical Society, and an unveiling of the renovated Lafayette monument at the Museum.  This event is also free.

Lunch is on your own after the event and buses will shuttle you back to your cars.

Although everything on May 9th is free and open to the public, we need to understand how many folks to expect.  If you would like to attend this free event, please register here.

I will send out a more comprehensive logistic email to attendees next week.

FYI: State Road 66 will be closed from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, except for local emergencies and Official vehicles. The closure will extend from the entrance to Eagles Bluff by the Cannelton Locks and Dam to the intersection of State Road 66 and 166 for a detour.  Parking for those attending will be at Eagles Bluff Park with a bus shuttle to the events.