Explore Danville, Kentucky
Known as the City of Firsts, Danville, Kentucky, is known for its varied history. Historical markers in the community commemorate Kentucky's pioneer past, the state's founding, early medical advancements, education, the Civil War, and more.
All of these markers are located within walking distance of Constitution Square and Grayson's Tavern, which houses the offices of the Danville-Boyle County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
We hope you will use this app to explore Danville's rich history!
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General Jeremiah T. Boyle
Historical Marker #1218 commemorates the establishment of Boyle County. It was named after Judge John Boyle, a state representative, congressman, and prominent judge. Boyle's son--Jeremiah Tilford…
John Todd Stuart
Historical Marker #2244 in Danville commemorates John Todd Stuart, who was Abraham Lincoln's first law partner. When Abraham Lincoln moved to Springfield, Illinois, Kentuckian John Todd Stuart…
Centre College
Historical Marker #923 in Danville commemorates Centre College, an institution of higher learning that the Washington Post has called "one of the premier intellectual gathering points in its…
Courthouse a Hospital
Historical marker #756, located at the Boyle County Courthouse in Danville, commemorates the occupation of the structure as a field hospital during the Civil War. When the Battle of Perryville…
Danville Presbyterian Church
Historical Marker #754 commemorates the Danville Presbyterian Church, which was used as a hospital following the Battle of Perryville.When the Reverend David Rice traveled through early Kentucky, he…
John A. Jacobs
Historical Marker #2005 in Danville commemorates Jacobs Hall, a structure at the Kentucky School for the Deaf (KSD). The marker also recognizes the namesake of the building, John A. Jacobs, who was…
Theodore O'Hara
Historical Marker #24 commemorates Danville native Theodore O'Hara who wrote the famous poem, "The Bivouac of the Dead." Born in Danville on February 11, 1820, O'Hara was an attorney and journalist.…
Trinity Episcopal Church
Historical Marker #1442 notes that Trinity Episcopal Church is "one of the oldest church buildings in Danville." Constructed in 1830 by resident Robert Russel Jr., the early members of the church…
John Marshall Harlan
Historical Marker #1606, located at the Boyle County Courthouse in Danville, commemorates John Marshall Harlan, a Boyle County native, Civil War veteran, and U.S. Supreme Court justice. Born a few…
First Hemp Crop
Historical Marker #1279 in Danville notes the first recorded hemp crop in Kentucky, which was grown on Clark's Run Creek in 1775. Hemp has a long history in the state. From its first recorded…
Ephraim McDowell, 1771-1830
Historical Marker #2281 commemorates the life and legacy of Ephraim McDowell, the "father of abdominal surgery." A native of Rockbridge County, Virginia, Ephraim McDowell moved to Danville,…
Walker Daniel
Historical marker #190 in Danville commemorates the town's namesake, Walker Daniel. One who knew Daniel called him "a young gentleman of rare talents," and one who "gave promise of great…Lewis and Clark in Kentucky: Danville
Historical Marker #2216 in Danville commemorates the visit from Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, leaders of the Corps of Discovery Expedition to the Pacific Ocean and back from 1803-1806.…
Grayson's Tavern
Historical Marker #755 commemorates Grayson's Tavern, a popular meeting spot in Danville constructed by Benjamin Grayson in 1785. Used by local residents and travelers, Grayson's Tavern was an…
Danville's African American Business District
Historical Marker #1958 in Danville commemorates an African American business district that stood near present-day Constitution Square for more than 100 years. After the Civil War, African American…
Ephraim McDowell House
Historical Marker #2284 in downtown Danville commemorates the Ephraim McDowell House. There, in 1809, Danville physican Ephraim McDowell performed the world's first successful abdominal operation…
School for the Deaf
Historical Marker #197 in Danville commemorates the founding of the Kentucky School for the Deaf (KSD), "the first state-supported school in the United States for the instruction of deaf…
Site of Log Courthouse
Historical Marker #49 at Constitution Square in Danville commemorates the site of Kentucky's earliest district court sessions. Before 1792, Kentucky was part of Virginia. Therefore, ten years…
Willis Russell House
Historical Marker #2386 notes the location of the Willis Russell House in Danville. Russell, a free man of color who lived in the house, taught African American children during the mid-nineteenth…
First USCT Recruits at Camp Nelson
Historical Marker #2388 in Danville notes the African American community's contributions to the U.S. Army during the Civil War. In many instances, enslaved and free men of color who tried to join the…Tour curated by: Kentucky Historical Society