By 1920 New Albany produced more plywood than any other community in the world. In recent years, New Albany's economy has become much more diverse, embracing such items as prepared dough products, plastic moldings tools and machinery, fireproof file cabinets and safes, computer equipment and automotive parts. New Albany is also the home of Indiana University Southeast, a regional campus serving nearly 6,000 students with associate, bachelor, and graduate degree programs. A two-level rear porch provides a spectacular view of the Ohio River. Today the house is owned by the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and serves as its meeting place.
Tours are available by advance reservations only.
Stretching for several blocks along Main and Market streets east of downtown, Mansion Row constitutes the best single collection of Federal, Italianate, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, and Victorian architecture in the Louisville Metropolitan area. During the 19th century such notables as industrialist Washington C. DePauw, merchant William S. Culbertson, U.S. Speaker of the House Michael C. Kerr, physician Asahel Clapp, and playwright William Vaughn Moody enriched this neighborhood. Conveying a sense of New Albany's 19th century commercial prominence is the State Bank of Indiana Building. The highlight of Mansion Row, this opulent French Second Empire mansion was erected between 1867 and 1869 by William S. Culbertson, one of Indiana's richest merchants and philanthropists. The woodwork was crafted by local boat builders, and the tin roof was shipped from Scotland.