Featured Stories
Simpsonville Massacre
Historical Marker #2283 in Shelby County commemorates the massacre of members of the 5th United States Colored Cavalry (USCC) near Simpsonville.
On January 25, 1865, Company E of the 5th USCC was transporting a herd of 900 cattle to Louisville. …
John William Bate
Historical Marker #2186, located in Danville, Kentucky (Boyle County) commemorates the inspiring life and progressive work of Black educator John William Bate.
Bate was born in 1854 at the Woodside Plantation on the outskirts of Louisville. His…
Home of Anne and Carl Braden
Historical Marker #2254 in Louisville notes the location of the home of Anne and Carl Braden, who were active in the Civil Rights Movement.
Anne and Carl Braden are probably best known for their efforts to bring fair housing to Louisville in the…
Featured Tours
Explore Harrodsburg's 250th Anniversary Marker Tour
29 Locations ~ Curated by the staff of the Kentucky Historical SocietyRandom Stories
Sally McCoy
Historical Marker #2176 tells the story of the doomed love affair between Roseanna McCoy, Randolph’s daughter, and Johnse Hatfield, son of “Devil Anse” and their daughter Sarah Elizabeth (Sally) McCoy who died only a few months after her birth.
The…
Jane Lampton House
Historical Marker #128 in Columbia notes the location of the girlhood home of Jane Lampton Clemens, the mother of Samuel Clemens, popularly known as the writer Mark Twain.
Jane Lampton was born in Adair County in 1803 to Benjamin and Margaret…
Luska Joseph Twyman (1913-1988)
Historical Marker #2019 in Glasgow honors Luska Joseph Twyman, the first African American elected to a full term as mayor of a Kentucky city.
Twyman was born in Barren County in 1913. He was educated in the county's black public schools and…
St. Mary's College
Historical Marker #1026 commemorates the history of St. Mary's College in St. Mary, Kentucky. Founded in 1821, St. Mary's College was the oldest extant Catholic college in Kentucky and was the third oldest Catholic college originally…
Boone Salt Springs
Historical Marker #151 in Floyd County notes the discovery of a salt spring by famous explorer Daniel Boone. Boone found the spring during an extended hunting expedition into what would become Kentucky.
Salt was a vital commodity in colonial…
Camp Swigert
Historical Marker #2247 in Greenup County commemorates Camp Swigert, a Union recruiting camp.
In December 1861, the 22nd Kentucky Union Infantry Regiment organized at this camp. Recruits came from Louisville and Greenup, Franklin, Carter, Lewis,…
ExploreKYHistory
A project by Kentucky Historical SocietyThe Kentucky Historical Society invites you to explore Kentucky history online and on the road with the new "ExploreKYHistory" smartphone app! "ExploreKYHistory" takes the stories behind our community-driven historical markers, adds related items from the KHS collections and combines it into a historical tour of our Commonwealth.
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