KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

KYHistorical Society

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Abner Gaines House
(Marker Number: 1765)

County: Boone
Location: Walton, US 25

Description: In 1790s Abner Gaines built this Federal style mansion and became owner of first stage line between Lexington and Cincinnati, 1818. House used as inn and stagecoach stop. It has 3 stairways and 10 carved mantels. Abner's son, John P. Gaines, was appointed governor of Oregon Territory in 1850. House listed on National Register of Historic Places, 1980.

(Subjects: National Register of Historic Places | Stagecoach Stops)

Big Bone Lick, Three Miles
(Marker Number: 32)

County: Boone
Location: Big Bone Lick State Park, KY 338

Description: Discovered in 1739 by French Capt. Charles Lemoyne de Longueil. Early explorers found countless bones and teeth of extinct Pleistocene elephants, the mammoth and the mastodon. This saline-sulphur spring was popular for salt making until 1812; also a health resort from 1815-30. Its waters were noted for mildly curative qualities.

(Reverse) Big Bone Lick: Robert Smith, an Indian trader, recognized the significance of the large bones. From 1751-80, Big Bone Lick had many visitors, including Christopher Gist, John Finley, Mary Ingles, John Floyd and the McAfee brothers. Thomas Jefferson sent expedition headed by William Clark to collect bones; the next largest collector was N. S. Shaler. Some tusks measured 8-10 feet long.

(Subjects: Clark, William | Floyd, John | Indians | Jefferson, Thomas | Springs)

Boone County, 1798
(Marker Number: 1253)

County: Boone
Location: Southbound rest stop, I-75

Description: Formed by legislative act from a part of Campbell County. Named for Daniel Boone, renowned Kentucky pioneer-explorer. Big Bone Lick, graveyard of the mammoth, was discovered in 1729 by Captain M. de Longueuil. In 1756, Mary Inglis was brought here by Shawnees, the first white woman in Kentucky. In 1765-66, extensive bone collection sent to England.

(Subjects: Boone, Daniel | Indians | Shawnee Indians)

Center of Population of U.S. in 1880
(Marker Number: 1640)

County: Boone
Location: Exit 184 off of I-75, then .2 mi. W. on KY 236 [Donaldson Highway]

Description: The exact center of the population of the United States in 1880 was located within a few hundred yards of this plaque. North latitude: 39o, 4', 8". West longitude: 84o, 39', 40". Population base in 1880 was 49,371,340.

Lewis and Clark in Kentucky - Big Bone Lick
(Marker Number: 2124)

County: Boone
Location: Big Bone Lick State Park, 3380 Beaver Rd., KY 338

Description: In Oct. 1803, while traveling down Ohio River to meet Wm. Clark for expedition to Pacific, Meriwether Lewis visited Big Bone Lick. He was to gather fossilized bones for Pres. Thomas Jefferson. In Sept. 1807, Clark supervised a 3-week dig for bones at Jefferson's request.

(Reverse) Big Bone Lick - Scientists consider William Clark's dig at Big Bone Lick in 1807 as establishing American vertebrate paleontology. Bones found here by Clark included mastodon and mammoth. Prehistoric native American artifacts found were given to Dr. Wm. Goforth in Cincinnati. Sponsored by Friends of Big Bone, Ohio River Chapter-Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, National Park Service, Kentucky Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission.

(Subjects: Clark, William | Jefferson, Thomas | Lewis and Clark Expedition)

Major John P. Gaines
(Marker Number: 1194)

County: Boone
Location: KY 338, 21/2 mi. W. of I-75

Description: Home site of John Pollard Gaines, 1795-1857. Fought in War of 1812. In state legislature, 1825-36. Major in the lst Ky. Cavalry and an aide-de-camp to Gen. Winfield Scott in Mexican War. Elected to Congress, 1847-49, while prisoner of war. Governor of the Territory of Oregon, 1850-53, appointed by President Zachary Taylor, who was a comrade in arms in Mexico.

(Subjects: Mexican War | Taylor, Zachary | War of 1812)

Mary Ingles
(Marker Number: 859)

County: Boone
Location: Big Bone Lick State Park, KY 338

Description: Reputed first white woman in Ky. Shawnees captured her and two sons in July 1755 at site Roanoke, Va. Led to village at mouth of Scioto, separated from sons, taken to Big Bone Lick. Compelled to make salt here; adopted by chief; given few liberties. Escaped late fall with another woman. After 40 days she reached home. Died 1813, age 83. A courageous, resourceful pioneer.

(Subjects: Shawnee Indians)

Piatt's Landing
(Marker Number: 1646)

County: Boone
Location: East Bend Bapt. Church, .3 mi. off KY 338 on Lower River Rd.

Description: Near here on the north bank of the Ohio River at mile 510.5 was a riverboat landing, ferry and road to the courthouse at Burlington. The landing and large brick home that once stood near, later called Winnfield Cottage, were built ca. 1814 by Robert Piatt. He was the grandfather of Brevet Major General Edward R. S. Canby, who was born nearby. See over.

(Reverse) General E.R.S. Canby - In a cabin at East Bend, Brevet Maj. Gen. Edward Richard Sprigg Canby was born, November 9, 1817. A West Point graduate, in 1839, he accepted the final surrender of the Confederacy from Generals Richard Taylor and Kirby Smith in Alabama and Louisiana in May 1865. He was killed in California at a peace conference with Modoc Indians, April 11, 1873. Over.

(Subjects: Indians | Kirby Smith, E. | Rivers | West Point)

Richwood Presbyterian Church
(Marker Number: 1387)

County: Boone
Location: KY 338, 2 mi. W. of I-75

Description: Services have been held by this old church continuously since it was founded in 1834 by Joseph Cabell Harrison, first pastor. He and cousin John Breckinridge in 1824 founded early religious paper in Ky. Cousin of Pres. William Henry Harrison. Pastor's wife, Sophia Rice Harrison, granddaughter of David Rice, father of Presbyterian Church in Ky. Harrisons buried here.

(Subjects: Harrison, William Henry | Presbyterian Church)

Skirmish at Florence
(Marker Number: 550)

County: Boone
Location: Florence, US 25, 127

Description: Union troops had built forts around Covington to repel expected attack from CSA troops under General Heth. Detachment of 101 CSA troops camped at Snow's Pond, attacked here by scouting party of 53 USA cavalrymen Sept. 17, 1862. In the skirmish 1 Union, 5 Confederates killed and 1 Union, 7 Confederates were wounded. Larkin Vaughn, a civilian, killed by a stray shot.

(Subjects: Civil War)

Skirmish at Snow's Pond
(Marker Number: 2023)

County: Boone
Location: Old Lexington Turnpike, halfway between Walton & Richwood

Description: During 1862 Confederate invasion, rebel forces under General Basil W. Duke searched for approaches to Cincinnati. On September 25, 1862, over 500 attacked a federal camp here commanded by Brig. Gen. Quincy A. Gillmore. Many USA prisoners were marched to Falmouth and transported to Lexington, then the regional headquarters of CSA. Presented by Jack Rouse.

(Subjects: Confederate Army)

Tanner's Station 1789
(Marker Number: 999)

County: Boone
Location: Petersburg, Elem. Schoolyard, KY 20

Description: First settlement in Boone County. The Rev. John Tanner built blockhouse, and town began on 2,000 acres he and John Taylor owned. Shawnees captured Tanner's 9-year-old son here, held him until grown. An ardent Baptist, Tanner preached in Carolinas, Virginia; came to Kentucky in 1781; moved to Missouri, 1798; died there, 1812, age about 80. Town was named Petersburg, 1818.

(Subjects: Baptist Church | Forts and Stations | Indians)