Department of Parks
Settlement of Boone Station Set For July 15

FRANKFORT, Ky. – When Daniel Boone decided Fort Boonesborough was getting too crowded, he packed his belongings and along with his family and a few others, moved to a new location in December 1779 to what is now Fayette County.

The settlement where Boone lived near Athens is now a 47-acre state park and will be the site of a July 15 program called “The Settlement of Boone Station.”

Visitors will be able to see what life was like in Boone’s day with the construction of a shelter, demonstrations on cooking and the use of tools, spinning, log hewing and firewood splitting. The Historymobile from the Kentucky Historical Society will also display information about Boone.

And Daniel Boone himself is expected to make an appearance.

“Anyone interested in Kentucky history – especially the story of Daniel Boone – will be interested in this event,” said Parks Commissioner J.T. Miller. “This will be a great day to take the family out to learn about Boone and pioneer life in Kentucky.”

The event is free and will run from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. At 11 a.m., Archaeologist Nancy O’Malley of the University of Kentucky, an expert on pioneer settlements, will speak about what has been found at the site. At noon, Neal Hammond, an author and historian from Shelbyville who has written about Boone, will speak about the pioneer.

Boone lived at Boone Station for about three years and then moved on because of questions about land claims, an issue that eventually caused him to leave Kentucky.

To get to Boone Station State Historic Site, take exit 104 off Interstate 75 and head east on Athens-Boonesboro Road until you reach a four-way stop. Turn left and travel .2 of a mile and turn right on Gentry Road. The park will be on your left. Signs will also be posted guiding visitors to the park.

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The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 52 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. Each year, Kentucky parks draw 7 million visitors and contribute $317 million to the economy. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov