Of Oceangoing Ships, Cowboys and Dynamited Skyscrapers

04.06.2009

Anniversaries are grounds for jubilation! But the “Odd Jubilees” project insists that such festivities don’t always have to commemorate round-number occasions! In this spirit, project principals present a few special and somehow rather bizarre moments in Linz history.

In February, “Odd Jubilees” revived ski jumping on Linz’s Pöstlingberg mountain. For the continuation of the oddness on June 7, a few unexpected facets of Linz’s personality are being dredged up. Linz is situated on the Danube - everybody knows that, right? But can you imagine a fleet of oceangoing ships setting sail from Linz? Strange but true: in 1959, the first of four such vessels was launched here; it crossed the Atlantic to load coal in New York for its home port, Linz. And speaking of America: did you know that Linz has a cowboy museum? I reckon that one took ya by surprise, pardner! Then, as night gets ready to fall, it’s time to head up to the Harter Plateau, where two enormous 20-story housing projects once stood. Their sudden demise in 2003 was a gigantic spectacle witnessed by 50,000 fascinated onlookers. “Odd Jubilees” commemorates the occasion.

50th Anniversary of VÖEST’s Deep Sea Fleet
ÖSWAG, Linz Shipyard, Hafenstr. 61
11 AM Launch of the “Linzertor”
12 Noon Tour of the shipyard

6,612 Days of Cowboy Museum Fatsy
Traundorfer Str. 266, Linz/Pichling
Shuttle service from the Linz09 bus stop at Untere Donaulände 26 departs at 1:30, 2:50, 4:15 and 5:30 PM
2 PM Tours of the museum, shows and a lineup of event

321 Weeks since the Big High-Rise Demolition on Harter Plateau
Harterfeldstr. 7, Linz/Leonding
Shuttle service from the Linz09 bus stop at Untere Donaulände 26 departs at 6:30, 7:15 and 8 PM
7-10 PM, Blow-up Party featuring a picnic, music and explosively razing a cardboard model of a high-rise

Details and dates/times at http://www.linz09.at/en/projekt-2106431/seltsame_jubilaeen.html

Free admission