A new documentary offering a fresh perspective on the Ohio
Morgan Atkinson interviewing Frances Kern Mennone, friend of the Ohio River Way.
Get a fresh look at an old friend and see the Ohio River as you never have before. In a one-hour story spanning 981 miles, This Is the Ohio, a new documentary by Morgan Atkinson, inspires, entertains, and offers a fresh perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the Ohio River and its communities.
The film premiered on Wednesday, January 24th, at the Louisville Free Public Library to a packed audience of around 400 people. Find one of the upcoming showings to witness a light-hearted approach to the rich history and unmatched beauty of the Ohio River coupled with a serious undercurrent in presenting the urgent need to care for this vital waterway. Here are the scheduled showings:
- January 24: Louisville, KY – Louisville Free Public Library.
- March 2: Milton, KY - Richwood on the River.
- March 19: Louisville, KY – Riverside, Farnsley-Moreman. Register HERE
- March 20: Portsmouth, OH – Shawnee State University.
- April 4: Boone County, KY – Boone County Enrichment Center. Register HERE
- April 8: Kenton County, KY – Erlanger branch, Kenton County Public Library. Register HERE
- April 17: Cincinnati, OH – MadTree Brewing. Register HERE
- April 22: New Albany, IN - Carnegie Center for Art and History. Registration TBA.
- April 25: Ashland, KY – Highlands Museum and Discovery Center. Registration HERE
- May 2: Frankfort, KY - Paul Sawyier Public Library. Registration HERE.
- May 10: Louisville, KY – Louisville Waterfront Park. Details TBA
- May 21: Tell City, IN – Perry County Public Library. Register HERE
“I traveled 981 miles, from Pittsburgh to Cairo, Illinois, with several things in mind,” said Morgan C. Atkinson, Louisville-based filmmaker, writer and producer. “I questioned the river’s true identity. I asked, ‘Is it solely a commercial highway essential to the economic well-being of the United States? Or is it a natural wonder water providing incredible opportunities for recreational users? How about its status as America’s second most endangered waterway?’ I found the answers to be in all of the above.”
Morgan McGarvey, U.S. Representative for Kentucky’s 3rd Congressional District, is interviewed in the program. He noted how the Ohio River has not received as much funding from the EPA as other waterways. “The Ohio River is the largest body of water in America that doesn’t currently receive Federal funding. That’s got to change,” said Rep. McGarvey. “Having a clean river is essential. A major effort I am working on as co-chair of the Ohio River Caucus is to make sure the Ohio River is getting the resources it needs, that it deserves.”
The packed room at the premiere of This is the Ohio in Louisville.
The Ohio River is the source of drinking water for more than five million people. More than 25 million people, almost 10% of the U.S. population, live in the Ohio River Basin. This Is The Ohio promises to open the eyes of all who thought they knew the river they’ve grown up alongside of or have come to love over time along with igniting a newfound interest in those who have never even given it a second thought.
“In many ways the story of the Ohio River is the story of Kentucky, of our histories, cultures, struggles and triumphs,” said Michael Washburn, Executive Director of Kentucky Waterways Alliance. “Morgan’s film deftly showcases this past while eloquently arguing that the restoration of the Ohio River is necessary for a sustainable future. This message is as important as it is timely as organizations like ours are working to secure federal support for Ohio River restoration.”
Vice Chair of the Ohio River Way, Dr. David Wicks, was one of the first to preview the film. He also serves as the executive producer of the documentary. “This Is The Ohio touches on what a great and underutilized resource the Ohio River is for recreation and for its community,” said Wicks. “More than just a way of encouraging our elected officials to take action with our streams, this film invites everyone out to get involved and find out how they can be part of this impactful movement that, really, affects us all.”
“My intent is to leave viewers with one thing in mind: What can we do to bring the Ohio River nearer to its original state, described by many as ‘the beautiful river’? My hope is that, by the time the credits roll, the audience will see the Ohio River in a new light,” finished Atkinson.
So, did Atkinson find the answers to his pressing questions? Make sure to watch the film - either at an in-person showing or on PBS once it’s released - to see. For updates on the documentary’s release on TV and online, you can subscribe to the Ohio River Way’s newsletter.