DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE GREAT FLOOD OF 1927?

As the 100 year anniversary of the greatest flood in American History approaches, join the Louisiana Trust and our partners in highlighting and commemorating its impact on communities across the country.

Call to Artists

The Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation requests that professional artists and artist teams submit proposals for the creation of original, site-specific artwork to serve as markers in places impacted by the 1927 flood, as part of a multi-regional centennial observance.

Deadline: May 19th, 2025

Eligible for all Artists

The retrospective flood map compiled by the U.S. Coast and Geodedic Survey, 1927

The Largest Flood in American History.

The Flood of 1927 was caused by heavy rainfall from August 1926 to the spring of 1927 and inundated 23,000 square miles throughout the Mississippi River valley. Hundreds of thousands of people were displaced and hundreds of people perished. The flood was one of the worst disasters in American history and resulted in legislation authorizing the US Army Corps of Engineers to create the Mississippi Rivers and Tributaries Project to better protect communities and valuable farmland from future flooding on the Mississippi River system. This project aims to help the public gain a greater understanding of the Great Flood and its impact through markers that highlight significant sites and events. This will include actions during the flood as well as effects from the flood, such as population and economic shifts, modern levee and transportation systems, to coastal environmental and cultural loss.


Recommended Reading List:


Maps and Photos of the 1927 Flood:

How will the Great Flood of 1927 be commemorated?

The Great Flood: A Mississippi River Centennial 1927-2027" is a year-long project that commemorates the devastating 1927 flood and its lasting impact on the communities throughout the Lower Mississippi Valley. This collaborative initiative invites arts and culture organizations, artists, businesses, and local communities to participate by hosting events and programming throughout the impacted area. A key component of the project is the installation of site-specific markers to recognize the people, places and events affected by the event and its aftermath. Markers will be funded through community-driven efforts and facilitated by the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation .

Join us in exploring this powerful moment in our nation's history and contributing to the shared legacy of resilience and recovery.

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What's the timeline for this commemoration?

As the 100 year anniversary of the greatest flood in American History approaches, join the Louisiana Trust in highlighting and commemorating its impact on communities across the country.

Artist Call Launches

April 1st, 2025

Artists and artists groups are invited to submit proposals for the commemorative marker.

Artist Call Closes

May 19th, 2025

Open call closes.

Final Artists Selected

Early June 2025

All artists and artist groups that are selected as finalists will be notified.

What are ways you can get involved?

As the centennial anniversary approaches of the Great Flood of 1927, there are many ways to get involved in commemorating this historic event. Below are some ideas to get you thinking about ways to commemorate the event in your communities.

If you have ideas or questions, please reach out to greatflood@lthp.org for more information.


Arts and Music

Musical Tribute: Collaborate with local symphonies or musicians to perform period songs or new compositions inspired by the Flood of 1927.

Musical Jam Session: Organize a jam session for local musicians to create original pieces reflecting the flood's impact.

Archival Exploration

Archival Research: Dive into local library archives to uncover and share how the Flood of 1927 affected your community.

Curated Exhibition: Arrange an exhibition at a gallery or museum featuring archival photos and themed artworks related to the Flood of 1927.

Educational Programming

Lecture Series: Host lectures that delve into the historical, social, and cultural dimensions of the Flood of 1927.

Oral Histories: Partner with libraries, archives, or historians to gather personal stories from families who experienced the Flood of 1927.

Community Storytelling

Community Contributions: Encourage community members to collect and submit family photos, articles, and personal narratives about the Flood of 1927.

Memorialization & Tourism

Commemorative Marker: Take the lead in coordinating a local marker to honor the Flood of 1927.

Tourism Collaboration: Work with state or regional tourism offices to identify and promote historical sites associated with the Flood of 1927.