Object Record
Images
Metadata
Artist |
Rodrigue, George |
Title |
High Water on Whiskey Bay |
Date |
1975 |
Medium |
Oil on canvas |
Image size |
H-30 W-40 inches |
Object name |
Painting |
Collection |
George Rodrigue Collection |
Credit line |
Gift of Robert and Jolie Shelton |
Catalog number |
1997.13.02 |
Notes |
In his painting High Water on Whiskey Bay George illustrates a significant chapter of Cajun history- the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. Known as the most destructive flood in US history, it affected 11 different states from Illinois to Louisiana. The flooding was the result of persistent and heavy rainfall across the Central US starting in August 1926 and continuing through the spring of 1927. The Mississippi River began cresting in places like Cairo, Illinois, sending tons of water south to Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. As the levees failed, families and farm animals sought refuge on rooftops and raised railroad beds. The flood caused widespread property damage and displaced thousands reshaping the Acadian landscape. |
Search terms |
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