Near Charlestown in Clark County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Swimming Pool: Perfect summer fun!

Photographed by Tom Bosse, June 13, 2026

1. The Swimming Pool: Perfect summer fun! Marker

Inscription.
Making a Splash!
At a time when homes had no air conditioning, a dip in Rose Island’s swimming pool was the ultimate way to cool off on a hot summer day. Simmers could climb onto a round platform in the pool’s center and spin round and round, or even use nearby trees as “diving boards”.

The First Pool of its Kind
The concrete swimming pool was said to be the first filtered-water pool in the Midwest. Water was pumps from either Fourteen Mile Creek or the Ohio River. The pool was so well constructed that it held water for many years until it was filled in for safety reasons.

Did you know?
Pool lifeguards were paid five dollars a day in the mid-1930s.

“I was a lifeguard from 1934-37, and I enjoyed it. The pool was built in 1934, and it was a dandy pool for the time. My biggest problem was to keep people from climbing the trees and diving in.” – Thomas Lindley

[Captions:]
The Rose Island staff ensured the enjoyment of guests. Arrive without a swimsuit? They would rent you one for the day.

Erected by Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in

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this topic list: Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the Rose Island Amusement Park series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1934.

Location. 38° 25.591′ N, 85° 37.221′ W. Marker is near Charlestown, Indiana, in Clark County. It is on Trail #7 east of State Park Drive, on the right when traveling east. The marker stands in Charlestown State Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3000 State Pk Dr, Charlestown IN 47111, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Indiana.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: History Talks: Advertisements and Articles from Rose Island (a few steps from this marker); The Zoo at Rose Island: Those amazing animals! (within shouting distance

Photographed by Tom Bosse, June 13, 2026

2. The Swimming Pool: Perfect summer fun! Marker

of this marker); The Rose Island Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); An Enormous Dining Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Great Flood of 1937 (within shouting distance of this marker); Rose Island Cottages (within shouting distance of this marker); All Aboard the Steamboats! (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Building a Resort (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charlestown.

The Swimming Pool image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, June 13, 2026

3. The Swimming Pool

Credits. This page was last revised on July 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 27, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.