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Our museum is growing, and our website is growing with it. We’re making updates one page at a time to better share the River Discovery Center experience.
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For a limited time, the River Discovery Center invites visitors to experience Driftwood, a visiting exhibit that brings the river journey of Harlan and Anna Hubbard to Paducah.
In 1946, Harlan and Anna Hubbard set off from Brent, Kentucky, in a shantyboat Harlan built by hand. Together, they traveled down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers toward New Orleans and the Louisiana bayous. Their journey was rooted in a desire to live more simply, closer to nature, and with more time for art, writing, and the world around them.
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Driftwood shares a story of river travel, creativity, independence, and a life shaped by water. It invites visitors to step into the Hubbards’ world and consider why their story continues to speak to people who are drawn to art, history, nature, and the idea of choosing a different path.
Driftwood is inspired by Jessica K. Whitehead’s biography, Driftwood: The Life of Harlan Hubbard, and explores the life, work, and river journey of Harlan and Anna Hubbard.
The exhibit shares the story of their shantyboat journey, their creative partnership, and the life they built together along the river. Through this exhibit, visitors can better understand Harlan’s art and writing, Anna’s role in the journey, and the lasting appeal of a life lived with purpose, patience, and close attention to the natural world.
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Part of what makes Driftwood especially meaningful is how naturally it belongs in the Founders Room. Displayed inside the oldest building in downtown Paducah, the exhibit feels closely connected to the river story it tells. Visitors can move through Harlan and Anna Hubbard’s journey, then look out from the same room toward the Ohio River, the waterway that shaped their travels, their creative work, and the life they chose together.
The setting gives the exhibit a sense of place that is hard to recreate anywhere else. It allows visitors to experience Driftwood as a story rooted in Kentucky, shaped by the river, and shared in one of Paducah’s most historic riverfront spaces.
Exhibit Dates
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Driftwood will be on view from June 11 through August 6, 2026 in the Founders Room
at the River Discovery Center.
River Discovery Center
117 South Water Street
Paducah, Kentucky
The exhibit is included with regular museum admission and may be viewed during normal museum hours.
Jessica K. Whitehead is the author of Driftwood: The Life of Harlan Hubbard and the creator of the exhibit. Her work brings the story of Harlan and Anna Hubbard to new audiences through research, storytelling, and a deep appreciation for Kentucky’s river heritage.
Through her biography and this exhibit, Whitehead helps visitors better understand the Hubbards’ journey, their creative work, and why their story continues to resonate.
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Exhibit Experiences
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Guided Watercolor Class with Yeiser Art Center | $5 Donation
In partnership with Yeiser Art Center, the River Discovery Center will host a guided watercolor experience inspired by Driftwood.
Participants will begin by viewing the exhibit at the River Discovery Center, then head to the riverfront to create their own watercolor painting inspired by the Ohio River and the artistic legacy of Harlan Hubbard.
Beginners are welcome. No experience is needed. You're welcome to bring your own supplies, or we'll provide you with painting essentials. Spots are limited. Click date below to sign up and reserve your spot.
Tuesday, June 23 | 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 28 | 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Friday after 5 - Art Night Passport Stop
During the July 10 Art Night edition of Friday After 5, Driftwood will be a featured stop on the downtown art passport checklist.
Pick up a printed passport at the Yeiser Art Center booth for $5, then visit participating downtown art experiences to collect stamps. Return your passport to Yeiser before the end of the night for a chance to win raffle prizes.
RDC will offer free admission to Driftwood during Friday After 5 and is donating multiple one-year family memberships, valued at $100 each, as raffle prizes.
Friday, July 10 | 5 - TBD
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Closing Reception and Book Signing at
the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce
The Driftwood exhibit will close with a special reception and book signing at the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday, August 7.
Guests will have the opportunity to meet exhibit curator and author Jessica Whitehead, view Harlan Hubbard watercolor works on display at the Chamber, and celebrate Paducah’s continued connection to Hubbard’s art, writing, and life along the river.
This event will offer a meaningful close to the exhibit while highlighting the way Harlan Hubbard’s work continues to be preserved and shared in Paducah.
Time & details coming soon.
Check back. More Driftwood experiences coming soon.
