Explore Adair County, Kentucky
Tour Description
Adair County, named for John Adair, a Revolutionary War and War of 1812 soldier, and governor from 1820-1824, has a wealth of history shared on its historical markers.
Over the years Adair County as served as the home to noted pioneers, politicians, soldiers, and writers.
It has been the scene of war, as well as promoter of education.
We hope you will use this app to explore Adair County’s rich history and cultural contributions
Locations for Tour
Union Colonel Frank Wolford
Historical Marker #604 in Adair County commemorates Union Colonel Frank Wolford, a Columbia native who had a controversial military career. Wolford was a vocal opponent of President Abraham Lincoln's policies in Kentucky during the Civil War,…
Governor John Adair
Historical marker #1139 in Columbia commemorates the naming of Adair County for John Adair, a War of 1812 veteran and Kentucky governor.
Born in South Carolina, Adair, a Revolutionary War veteran, moved to Mercer County in 1787. He soon became…
Adair County Courthouse
Historical Marker #1599 in Columbia notes the location of the historic Adair County courthouse.
Town life in Kentucky’s small communities used to be centered on the local courthouse square. People attended "court days" to conduct…
Columbia-Union Presbyterian Church
Historical Marker #2243 in Columbia notes the location and significance of the Columbia-Union Presbyterian Church.
One of the area's earliest setters was Colonel William Casey. About 1803, Casey generously donated land for a log church, named…
Daniel Trabue
Historical Marker #1782 in Columbia notes the service of pioneer Daniel Trabue.
When one thinks of Kentucky’s early explorers, names like Daniel Boone, Simon Kenton, and William Clark immediately come to mind. These pioneers, however, were not…
Confederate Raids
Historical Marker #707 in Columbia notes Confederate cavalryman John Hunt Morgan’s visits to the area when his rebel horsemen raided Kentucky during the Civil War.
Morgan’s raids into his native Kentucky brought him though the same towns numerous…
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 Casey…
Janice Holt Giles
Historical Marker #1813 in Adair County notes the location of the home of novelist Janice H. Giles.
Giles was born in 1905 in Altus, Arkansas. Her parents, John and Lucy Holt, were teachers on Native American reservations in Arkansas and Oklahoma.…
Male and Female School
Historical Marker #2242 in Columbia notes the location of the Male and Female School, a subscription school that served the community for several decades.
In 1853, Columbia recognized a need for better educational opportunities for local children. …
Site of Casey Home
Historical Marker #806 in Adair County notes the location of the home of Colonel William Casey, the namesake of Casey County.
Casey was one of the first explorers and settlers to venture into the Green River region of Kentucky. Born in 1754, he…