Riverside Park Bandshell Explained

Riverside Park Bandshell
Coordinates:37.7561°N -89.3569°W
Built:1938–
Added:June 6, 2012
Refnum:12000323[1]

The Riverside Park Bandshell is a bandshell located in Riverside Park in Murphysboro, Illinois. The concrete bandshell was built in 1938–39 by the Works Progress Administration and the Murphysboro Park District. Riverside Park was opened in 1907; it was originally known as Buster Brown Park, as it was initially owned by the Brown Shoe Company. The park began hosting Murphysboro's annual 4th of July celebration in 1927, and the bandshell became part of the day's events as soon as it opened. The bandshell's inaugural concert occurred on July 4, 1939, and received an audience of 45,000; since then, the bandshell has hosted the opening concert for the celebrations each year. The bandshell has also hosted annual music festivals highlighting jazz, blues, and bluegrass musicians and provides a stage for other community events in the park.[2]

The bandshell was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 6, 2012.[1]

It was designed by architect Rudolph Zerses Gill.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 6/04/12 Through 6/08/12. National Park Service. February 1, 2014.
  2. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Riverside Park Bandshell. https://web.archive.org/web/20140202115124/http://gis.hpa.state.il.us/pdfs/801840.pdf. dead. February 2, 2014. . February 1, 2014. Rachel Malcolm Ensor. January 30, 2012.