Come Sit a Spell.
Every River Has a Story.
Old Cypress is a storyteller, singer and guide who leads children on adventures through history, nature, rivers and community — where every tree, every flood and every song carries the memory of those who came before.
✦ OLDCYPRESS.ORG ✦
Meet Old Cypress
Storyteller. Singer. Guide.
Old Cypress has spent a lifetime listening — to rivers, to trees, to grandparents, to communities. Now he brings those stories to life for the next generation.
As an educational leader within the SWAMPY system and Swecology, Old Cypress weaves together history, ecology, music and community memory into adventures that children never forget.
He believes every child deserves to know the story of the land beneath their feet — the rivers that shaped their city, the floods that tested their ancestors, the forests that fed and sheltered generations before them.
Old Cypress doesn't just teach history. He helps children feel it, sing it and carry it forward.
🎵 Songs & Oral History
🌿 Nature & Ecology
📖 Community Storytelling
Stories Along the River
Louisville & the Ohio River — A Living Timeline
The Ohio River didn't just flow past Louisville — it built it. For thousands of years, this river has carried people, stories, trade, struggle and song. Come explore the living timeline of one of America's great rivers.
Ancient Times
Long before Louisville, the Falls of the Ohio drew people to its fossil-rich shores. Ancient sea creatures left their marks in stone millions of years ago.
Lewis & Clark (1803)
Before their famous expedition, Lewis and Clark camped near the Falls of the Ohio, recruiting men and preparing for the journey that would map a continent.
Steamboat Era (1800s)
Louisville became a booming river port. Steamboats carried cotton, whiskey, passengers and dreams up and down the Ohio. The river roared with commerce and song.
Portland & River Communities
Neighborhoods like Portland grew up along the river's edge — working communities of boatmen, laborers, immigrants and families who made their lives beside the water.
The Falls of the Ohio
The only natural barrier on the entire Ohio River, the Falls forced travelers to stop — and Louisville grew up around that pause in the journey.
When the River Rose
The Great Flood of 1937
In January 1937, the Ohio River rose higher than anyone alive had ever seen. It swallowed streets, homes, neighborhoods and memories. Nearly one million people were displaced across the Ohio Valley — the greatest flood disaster in American history.
What Happened
- The river crested at 57.1 feet in Louisville — nearly 30 feet above flood stage
- 70% of Louisville was underwater
- Families fled by boat through their own neighborhoods
- The National Guard, Red Cross and neighbors helped each other survive
- Communities rebuilt — but the river had changed everything
What the Flood Taught Us
- Rivers need room to breathe — floodplains and wetlands act as natural sponges
- Wetlands absorb floodwaters and protect communities
- When we drain wetlands and build on floodplains, floods become more dangerous
- Understanding rivers means understanding floods — and how to live wisely beside the water
"The river doesn't forget. And neither should we. Every flood carries a lesson about how we live beside the water." — Old Cypress
Louisville Through Time
A City That Kept Changing
Louisville has always been a city in motion — shaped by rivers, railroads, wars, music, migration and the courage of its communities. Let's travel through time together.
🏨 The Brown Hotel & the 1920s–30s
Louisville's grand Brown Hotel opened in 1923, becoming a gathering place for travelers, musicians and community leaders. The Hot Brown sandwich was invented here — a Louisville legend born in a kitchen.
📉 The Great Depression (1930s)
Hard times hit Louisville hard. Families struggled, breadlines formed, and then — the great flood of 1937 arrived on top of everything else. But communities held together.
⚔️ World War Two (1940s)
Louisville factories shifted to war production. Men and women went to work, went overseas, and came home changed. The city changed with them.
🪵 Post-War Logging & Industry (1940s–50s)
After the war, Louisville's industries boomed. Forests were logged, rivers were channeled, and the landscape was reshaped by a generation determined to build a new future.
🚗 The 1950s & Transportation
Cars, highways and suburbs transformed Louisville. Streetcars disappeared. New roads cut through old neighborhoods. The city spread outward — and some communities were left behind.
✊ The Civil Rights Era (1960s)
Louisville's Civil Rights movement was powerful and brave. Leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited the city. Communities marched, organized and demanded justice — and Louisville changed.
Stories of Change
What Was Here Before Us?
Every place has a story of change. The forest that became a neighborhood. The wetland that became a parking lot. The river that was straightened, dammed and channeled. Old Cypress invites children to ask the big questions.
What was here before us?
Before your school, your neighborhood, your street — what was growing, flowing or living here? What stories does the land remember?
What changed — and why?
Who made the decisions that changed this place? What did they gain? What did they lose? Were all voices heard?
What did we gain? What did we lose?
Change brings new things and takes old things away. What do you wish had been saved? What are you glad was built?
What should we carry forward?
Every generation inherits the choices of those before them. What will YOUR generation choose to protect, restore and remember?
Old Cypress believes every child is a historian, an ecologist and a storyteller. The questions you ask today shape the community you'll build tomorrow.
Story + Song
Where History Comes Alive
Old Cypress doesn't just tell history — he sings it, plays it and invites everyone to join in. From old river ballads to community songs, from tall tales to true stories, every performance is an adventure.
🎵 Traditional Music
Old Cypress brings traditional songs of the Ohio River Valley to life — work songs, folk ballads, river chants and community hymns that carried people through hard times and good ones.
📖 Oral History & Storytelling
Every community has elders who remember. Old Cypress helps children connect with those memories — and encourages them to ask their own grandparents and neighbors: 'What do YOU remember?'
🎭 Audience Participation
Nobody sits still at an Old Cypress performance! Clapping, singing, call-and-response, humor and surprise keep every audience — from kindergartners to grandparents — fully engaged.
Old Cypress programs are available for schools, libraries, museums, festivals and community events.
SWAMPY & Friends
A Team of Guides for Young Explorers
Old Cypress is part of a remarkable team of educational guides within the SWAMPY system and Swecology. Together, they help children explore soils, waters, animals, people, plants, history & community — one adventure at a time.
SWAMPY
SWAMPY is the heart of the educational system — a beloved guide who leads children into wetlands, rivers and wild places to discover the wonders of ecology and nature.
Kent Glade
Kent Glade helps children explore forests, glades and the plants and animals that make these habitats home. A gentle, knowledgeable guide for young naturalists.
Davey Rockstar
Davey Rockstar brings energy, music and excitement to learning about geology, rocks, minerals and the deep history written in the earth beneath our feet.
Hydric Heroes
The Hydric Heroes dive deep into the science of water, wetlands and hydrology — helping children understand why water is the foundation of all life.
Old Cypress
Old Cypress connects history, community, music and storytelling — helping children understand that people and nature are part of one continuing story.
Each guide brings a unique perspective. Together, they form the SWAMPY & Friends educational team — ready to lead your class, school or community on an unforgettable adventure.
Swecology
Where Ecology, History and Community Connect
Swecology is a way of seeing the world — understanding that soils, waters, animals, people, plants and YOU are all part of one interconnected story. It's not just science. It's not just history. It's the living relationship between all of us and the world we share.
SOILS
The foundation of everything. Soils hold water, grow food, store history and support all life.
WATERS
Rivers, wetlands, rain and groundwater connect every living thing. Water is the great storyteller.
ANIMALS
From ancient fossils to modern wildlife, animals reveal the health and history of every ecosystem.
PLANTS
Forests, wetlands, prairies and gardens — plants shape landscapes, clean water and feed communities.
PEOPLE
Communities, cultures, histories and decisions — people are part of the ecosystem, not separate from it.
YOU
Every child is a Swecologist. Your curiosity, your questions and your choices matter.
Old Cypress plays a central educational leadership role within Swecology — helping children and communities understand that history, ecology and community are not separate subjects. They are one story.
"When you understand the river, you understand the city. When you understand the city, you understand yourself." — Old Cypress
Kids Discover History
Be a History Detective!
Old Cypress believes every child is a natural historian. History isn't just in books — it's in the ground beneath your feet, the river outside your window and the stories your grandparents carry. Ready to investigate?
What would you have seen here 100 years ago?
Think about it: Was your neighborhood a forest? A farm? A wetland? A busy river port? How would you find out?
How did children get around Louisville in the 1950s?
Think about it: No smartphones. No internet. Streetcars, bicycles and walking. What was it like to be a kid then?
Why did Louisville grow beside the Ohio River?
Think about it: Before highways and railroads, rivers were the highways. What would you have needed the river for?
What can an old tree tell us about our community?
Think about it: A 200-year-old tree has seen floods, wars, logging and change. What stories might it hold in its rings?
Who lived here before your family?
Think about it: Every neighborhood has layers of history. Who built these streets? Who planted these trees? Who came before?
What songs did people sing on the Ohio River?
Think about it: Before radio and streaming, people made their own music. What songs helped workers, travelers and families through hard times?
Start your own history investigation! Ask an older family member or neighbor: 'What do you remember about this place when you were young?'
Children's Story Gallery
Your Stories. Your Art. Your History.
This is YOUR space. Old Cypress programs inspire children to create — drawings, stories, nature journals, photographs, history projects and artwork that capture what they've discovered about their community, their river and their world.
River Adventures
What I Found at the Wetland
My Neighborhood 100 Years Ago
The Day the River Rose
Exploring the Falls of the Ohio
Songs Old Cypress Taught Us
Teachers and program leaders: Submit your students' work to be featured in the Old Cypress Children's Story Gallery. Every story matters. Every voice belongs here.
Invite Old Cypress
Bring History, Nature & Story to Your Community
Old Cypress is available for schools, libraries, museums, environmental organizations, historical societies, community groups and festivals. Every program is an adventure — combining storytelling, music, history, ecology and community memory in ways that children and adults never forget.
Who We Welcome
- Schools & Classrooms
- Libraries & Reading Programs
- Museums & Historical Organizations
- Environmental Organizations & Nature Centers
- Community Festivals & Events
- Neighborhood & Community Groups
- Teacher Professional Development
What to Expect
Every Old Cypress program is unique — shaped by the community, the age group and the stories that matter most to your place and your people.
Programs can include:
- Live storytelling and traditional music performance
- Interactive history and ecology exploration
- Oral history activities connecting children with community elders
- Nature journaling and outdoor discovery
- Curriculum-connected educational content
- Multi-visit residency programs
Old Cypress works within the SWAMPY educational system and Swecology framework — connecting ecology, history, community and the relationships among soils, waters, animals, people, plants and YOU.
Ready to begin the journey?
oldcypress.org | Part of the SWAMPY Educational System | Swecology