Explore the History of Epidemics in Kentucky
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way Kentuckians live and interact with one another, but this was not the first time civilians have been forced to adapt due to health concerns.
This tour will take you across the state and share the narratives of talented physicians, caring inn-keepers, and prominent politicians, among countless other Kentuckians, who sought to serve those around them during some of the most devastating epidemics in our history.
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Markers #1057 Dr. Reuben Saunders
Historical Markers #966, #1057, and #1452 in, Paducah, Kentucky, honor the medical service and accomplishments of Dr. Reuban Sanders who was instrumental in treating western Kentuckians during the fourth, and final, cholera epidemic of Kentucky.
Marker #1503 Dr. Carl Clifford Howard/Local Humanitarian
Historical Marker #1503, in Summer Shade, Kentucky, honors the accomplishments and medical advancements of Dr. Carl Clifford Howard, a doctor who helped fight tuberculosis during the twentieth century.
Marker #2519 St. Matthew Church/Act of Compassion
Historical Marker #2519, in Louisville, Kentucky, honors the efforts of the St. Matthew Church of Christ and the House of Ruth during the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1990s.
Marker #1823 Bedford Springs and Hotel
Historical Marker #1823, in Trimble County, Kentucky, notes the significance of the Bedford Springs and Hotel during the second cholera epidemic in the state.
Marker #1999 Buena Vista/Todd House: Historical Marker #1999, in Frankfort, Kentucky, notes the location of Buena Vista, the summer home of the Todd family, which also served as the family’s escape during the first cholera epidemic in Kentucky from 1832 to 1835.
The Todds were among the first white families to set roots in Kentucky. During the eighteenth century, the Todd brothers John, Robert, and Levi, settled in the land that is now central Kentucky.…
Marker #2152 Dr. James E. Randolph
Historical Marker #2152, in Covington, Kentucky, honors the medical service of Dr. James E. Randolph, who was the first black physician to work at the St. Elizabeth Hospital in Kenton County.
Marker #1671 Keene Springs Hotel
Historical Marker #1671, in Jessamine County, Kentucky, notes the Mason Singleton’s hotel that served as a shelter for Lexington residents during the second cholera epidemic.
Marker #1928 African American Physicians
Historical Marker #1928, in Lexington, Kentucky, honors the medical service of African American physicians who practiced in Central Kentucky during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Marker #1342 Olympian Springs
Historical Marker #1342 in Bath County, Kentucky, commemorates the site of Olympian Springs, a famous resort of the nineteenth century.
Marker #1815 Governor Simeon Willis
Historical Marker #1815, in Ashland, Kentucky, commemorates the political service of Judge and Governor Simeon Willis, who improved the healthcare of Kentucky during the mid-1900s.Tour curated by: Olivia Dale (Intern at the Kentucky Historical Society)