THE EXHIBITIONS At Heritage Hall
HERITAGE HALLMissouri Barge Line: An Erlbacher Legacy on the River
THE KELLERMAN FOUNDATION WELCOMES YOU TO ITS EVENT CELEBRATING THE HISTORY OF THE MISSOURI BARGE LINE AND ERLBACHER FAMILY LEGACY.
JUNE 2021—OCTOBER 2021
Upon Eddie’s retirement from the Barge Line after World War II, Robert Erlbacher and his wife, Mabel, established the Missouri Barge Line company in 1945, with Mabel running the office operations and Robert managing the barge line. Robert continued building riverboats at the new barge line, completing the “Robin,” which was named after his son Robert Erlbacher II, in 1949.
THE KELLERMAN FOUNDATION PRESENTS MISSOURI BARGE LINE: AN ERLBACHER LEGACY ON THE RIVER
Historical Note:
With no formal education in engineering or construction, Robert Erlbacher and his brother Eddie began building riverboats in the early 1930s on the riverbank located a few blocks north of Broadway in downtown Cape Girardeau. The brothers had grown up around their father's successful machine and cast-iron foundry business, giving them a unique set of skills to bring to the riverboat industry.
Utilizing these, Robert and Eddie founded a company called "Erlbacher Brother Barge Line" in the mid-1930s, where they managed various shipping contracts and continued in the boat-building business.
Come to Heritage Hall to see Missouri Barge Line: An Erlbacher Legacy on the River and learn more.
Future Exhibits
Past Exhibits
2018
Through memorabilia and artifacts acquired from their family, friends and Southeast Missouri State University, attendees glimpsed into their service to this country, work history, extensive travels, and love of animals.
2018
The visionary works of M. Charles Rhinehart are collected nationally and internationally. Several of his paintings were presented at the foundation for the first time, honoring his long career.
2018
Local artist Rusty Newton presented her “Just Believe” exhibit, a Santa painting extravaganza. The exhibit opened on Dec. 1, 2018 and ran through Jan. 1, 2019.
2019
The exhibit consisted of over 30 photos of courthouses throughout Missouri, with a brief history of each one. It displayed the unique history of a number of Missouri’s courthouses.
2019
Dr. Frank Nickell contributed much to the community of Southeast Missouri over the course of his career at Southeast Missouri State University. The foundation displayed select pieces from his archive.
2019
An exhibit of items owned by private collectors, including art, antique crystal, coins and local memorabilia, porcelain pitchers and teapots, and local history related items. This exhibit was on display through March 1, 2020.