Temporary Change to Museum Visitation
Beginning Monday, August 24, 2026, the Howard Steamboat Museum will be temporarily closed for general walk-in visits while the Board of Directors continues its operational restructuring and oversees facility assessments, maintenance, repairs, and restoration. Work is actively underway across the campus, including masonry repairs to the historic mansion and perimeter wall, landscaping, HVAC work, and preservation of the Laundry House. Visitors may notice increased activity as these improvements progress.
Upcoming Events
Although regular walk-in visitation is temporarily paused, our scheduled events will continue as planned. We hope you will join us for our next event, The Haunting of the Island Maid, on Thursday, September 24, 2026!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-haunting-of-the-island-maid-tickets-1986925703265
While regular public walk-in hours are paused except as noted, the museum remains available for group tours. We WILL be open on Saturday, September 12 from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm.\
Key Visitor Information:
- General Public Hours: Temporarily suspended
- Group Tours: Still active and being hosted! Private and group tours must be scheduled in advance. Please reach out to arrange your visit with prior notice.
- Reopening Schedule: A formal reopening date for general public hours will be announced in a future update as operational plans are finalized.
We appreciate the community’s patience and support during this transition as we work to ensure the long-term sustainability of the museum.
For group tour bookings, scheduling requests, or general inquiries, please contact us at (812) 283-3728 or info@howardsteamboatmuseum.org / https://www.howardsteamboatmuseum.org.
-With Gratitude – The Clark County Historical Association : The Howard Steamboat Museum
Thanks to those who have sponsored our events this year: Seek LLC Enterprises; Becktort Auctions; Stockyards Bank; Cast Iron Steakhouse; TAP Automotive; Auburndale Motors; Xscape Theaters, Jeffersonville. We also appreciate the City of Jeffersonville!
Step Back into the Steamboat Era
Explore the Howard Steamboat Museum, an extraordinary 22-room mansion built in 1894 in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. Once home to Jeffersonville’s renowned Howard family of steamboat builders, the mansion preserves the story of the people, craftsmanship, and industry that helped shape America’s inland waterways.
Inside, you’ll discover original family furnishings, ornate brass gasoliers, colorful stained-glass windows, intricate woodcarving, and a magnificent black-walnut grand staircase modeled after one aboard a celebrated steamboat. From its remarkable architecture to its rich river history, the Howard mansion offers something fascinating to discover in every room.
Many of the mansion’s exquisite decorative details were created by master craftsmen from the Howard family shipyard. Among the celebrated vessels built by the Howards were the luxurious J.M. White, the record-setting City of Louisville, and the popular Indiana.
Throughout the museum, scale models, historic photographs, paintings, half-hull models, shipbuilding tools, and other remarkable artifacts bring the Howard family’s story to life. Many furnishings in the mansion are original to the family, offering visitors an unusually authentic glimpse into another era.
Hours
Monday Closed
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday Closed
Thursday Closed
Friday Closed
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed
Group Tours are still active and being hosted! Private and group tours must be scheduled in advance. Please reach out via email at info@howardsteamboatmuseum.org or phone at (812) 283-3728 to arrange your visit with prior notice.
During the summer months we are on Eastern Daylight Time (same as Louisville), otherwise, Eastern Standard Time. Upscale and fast food restaurants are located nearby. Please see our Local Interest page for dining, shopping, and other attractions
Admission
Adults: $12.00
Seniors (65+), Military: $10.00
Children 6 – 18 and Students: $7.00
Children Under 6 with a paid adult: Free
Group Tours
Group Rates (for 10 or more persons) are available upon request. For group rates, you must make reservations at least one month in advance. Please see our Group Tours page for more information.
In the even of inclement weather, please call the museum to make sure we are open: (812) 283-3728
Contact Us
Carriage House: (812) 913-4591
Museum: info@howardsteamboatmuseum.org
Carriage House, a premiere rental venue: events@carriagehousehsm.org
You can also leave a general message.