The Big Shake – How the
1811 New Madrid Earthquakes Rocked the Ohio River Valley On view at The Betts House September 24, 2011 – May 31,
2012.
The Big Shake – How the 1811-1812 New
Madrid Earthquakes Rocked the Ohio River Valley explores
the history and causes of earthquakes, taking a close look at seismic
activity
in the Midwest. The exhibit also highlights the potential impact of
earthquakes
in the region and the building technologies that can help structures
withstand
seismic forces. The Big Shake
will be on view at the Betts House September 24, 2011 – May 31, 2012.
An
opening reception for the exhibit will take place on Friday, September
23,
2011, 5 – 8 pm.
Midwestern
residents are accustomed to natural disasters such as floods,
tornadoes, and
blizzards, but what about earthquakes? The region is in proximity to
several
active faults, particularly the location of the greatest known seismic
hazard
east of the Rocky Mountains, the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ). From
December
of 1811 through May of 1812, the greatest series of earthquakes in United Stateshistory took place in the NMSZ
centered in Missouri. Although the earthquakes affected much of the
Midwest, most
people living in the area today have no knowledge of this event or its
impact
on our region.
With
recent catastrophic earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, and Japan, awareness
of
seismic hazards is at an all time high. As the 200th
anniversary of
the New Madrid earthquakes approaches, the 207-year old Betts House, a
survivor
of that historic event, will offer the public an opportunity discover
the
seismic history of our region and explore the ways earthquakes affect
buildings.
Using period
letters, newspaper articles, and accounts
from amateur scientists, The Big Shake tells the story of what
individuals experienced
during the New Madrid earthquakes. Unique and family-friendly features
of the
exhibit, such as a model seismograph, shake-table
demonstrations,
hands-on experiments, and a topographical map of
Cincinnati, will
illustrate the geological and engineering concepts discussed.
The exhibit and its related programs are
supported, in part, by grants from The John A. Schroth Family
Charitable Trust
at PNC Bank, the Ohio
Humanities
Council, the Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati, and the American
Association for State and Local History. Sponsorship support has been
received
from The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State
of
Ohio, Bahl & Gaynor Investment Counsel, GOP Limited Structural
Engineers,
THP Limited Inc., The Wyant Family Foundation, members of the Betts
House Board
of Trustees, and individual donors.
Visit the Betts House Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday, 11 am - 2 pm, 2nd and 4th Saturdays, 12:30 - 5 pm. Other days and
times are available by appointment. The Betts House is closed New Year's
Day, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving & Christmas Day Please call (513) 651-0734 or email BettsHouseRC at fuse.net
