Falls Forum is a monthly spring lecture series that examines the Falls of the Ohio region through interdisciplinary scholarship and public engagement. Featuring invited experts and researchers, the series explores a broad range of topics including archaeology, paleontology, geology, regional history, and the natural sciences. Each lecture focuses on a rotating theme, offering in-depth perspectives on the cultural, ecological, and geological forces that have shaped the Falls and peeks into the historic stories of the Falls. Designed for lifelong learners and curious minds of all backgrounds, Falls Forum offers an opportunity to connect science, history, and place—deepening our understanding of the past while inspiring stewardship for the future.

$7 program fee. Meets in the auditorium. Exhibit gallery admission included with price of the program.

“From Lake Michigan to the Ohio River: Preserving Indiana’s Submerged Maritime Heritage ”  Presented by Dr. Charles D. Beeker

Indiana University’s Center for Underwater Science is expanding the state’s submerged heritage program through designated Shipwreck Preserves that promote both shipwreck resources and associated maritime landscapes. This presentation showcases three IU projects in collaboration with Indiana  Department of Natural Resources: the JD Marshall and Muskegon (Peerless) Shipwreck Preserves, now formally protected under Indiana’s July 1, 2025 Submerged Lands Act, and the Alice Dean Civil War Battlefield initiative, which integrates the wreck of the steamer burned by John Hunter Morgan’s cavalry in July 1863 with the terrestrial battle site. Together, these efforts demonstrate how multidisciplinary scientific investigation and policy innovation can preserve Indiana’s maritime heritage while advancing public education and resource stewardship.

Presented by Dr. Charles D. Beeker. Charles Beeker serves as the director for Indiana University’s Center for Underwater Science and Academic Diving Program. Beeker is a Registered Professional Archaeologist and PADI Master Instructor who has been teaching recreational and scientific diving classes for over 50 years. Professor Beeker served as a member of the Federal Archaeological Working Committee for the 1988 Abandoned Shipwreck Act and was appointed to the Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee in 2005. He has assisted in establishing underwater parks and preserves across the United States and Caribbean, using a model of multidisciplinary scientific investigations of the submerged cultural and biological resources.