Park History at Eagle Creek Park

Eagle Creek Nature Notes

Where did the giant “Bear” statue come from that gives “Bear Overlook” its name? What was the land Eagle Creek Park now calls home like in the past? What was it like before there was a reservoir? Park Historian and Volunteer Coordinator Anne Cecere sits down to answer these questions, and more! Anne and Adam discuss the amazing history of Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis, IN.

Resources from the episode

Anne mentions an interactive history map of Eagle Creek Park – check it out!

Anne also runs the Eagle Creek Park History Facebook Page

History Before European Colonizers settled the Midwest

Learn more about the Miami Nation, which lived where Eagle Creek Park now stands before White settlers arrived and was forcibly relocated by the United States Government to Oklahoma. There’s also information here about the Miami Nation of Indiana, which is not federally recognized, but has built community in Peru, Indiana.

Despite signing a treaty with the US Government, the Delaware people were forced to move west and settle in Indiana (including central Indiana) among other places. More information about the Delaware Tribe (Lenni Lenape) can be found here, and on their official website.

Time Stamps for References to Resources

The Bear: 1:15

Matt Berg Installs “Bear” at Eagle Creek Park

Bear being moved from White River to Eagle Creek

Damming the reservoir 2:12,

Photos resources in the interactive map #17

Before it was a park 3:34 See

“Knoll House”

Old churches, cemeteries and schools: 4:48

Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church

Mt Pleasant Site Plaque

Jones Chapel Cemetary

Pike Township School #4: Interior Exterior Full School

Famous people in the park: 9:17

Kittle House 1947 (knoll)

Maurine Dallas Watkins and George Watkins

Eagle Creek land plot 1931 (MD Watkins)

Chicago Play Poster

Reforesting and maintaining the park 14:20

Image of Eagle Creek before reservoir

Eagle Creek Nature Notes is brought to you by the Eagle Creek Park Foundation and was made possible by a grant from the Eli Lilly Foundation.

To find full episode transcriptions and more about Eagle Creek Park Foundation, visit eaglecreekpark.org

Host: Adam Hibshman, Marketing and Program Coordinator for Eagle Creek Park Foundation

Guest: Anne Cecere, Park Historian and Volunteer Coordinator

Producer: Jen Edds, Brassy Broadcasting Company

Recorded on: September 5, 2023