Hopkinsville to Clarksburg and Fort Campbell Historical tour

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Dating from 1835, Hopkinsville’s first House Museum (Lone Oak) represents a transition from the Federal style of architecture to the Greek Revival. Featured in one of New York City architect Minard Lafever’s house plan books, it is one of only three documented Temple Form Greek Revival houses ever built in Hopkinsville. One was torn down at the beginning of the 20th Century, and the other survivor is the Dillard House (also from a design by Lafever), which is now Planters Bank. Lone Oak was altered in 1880 with the addition of two upstairs front rooms.

2. Trail of Tears Commemorative Park, Hopkinsville Kentucky

This historical marker is located at a place where thousands of Native Americans camped during the long exodus from the Smoky Mountain region to reservations in what is not the state of Oklahoma The park is documented as being of a scarce few camps and trail sites. This park contains Cherokee memorial with a circle of flags among other markers and is the final resting place of many Native peoples, including Cherokee leaders Fly Smith and Whitepath. Visitors to the historical park can also see a historic log cabin that includes exhibits related to the Trail of Tears. Evey year the first weekend after Labor day the commission sponsors a Pow Wow. This promotes Native Americans celebrating their heritage.

3. Site of Jefferson Davis's Birthplace

This memorial park includes the birthplace of Jefferson Davis, the only president of the Confederate States of America from 1861-1865. Located in Kentucky, a historical marker has been placed on the spot of the Davis family’s home; this site is easy to find thanks to the nearby Jefferson State Park, which also has a monument dedicated to the late politician. A politician, soldier, and a dedicated supporter of the South until his death, Davis went from being hated by his southern contemporaries to becoming an image and hero of the Lost Cause. Today, some people still see Davis as this hero while others see him as a tyrant.

4. Jefferson Davis State Historic Site

Jefferson Davis State Historic Site is a memorial to the famous Kentuckian born on this site on June 3, 1808. A 351-foot obelisk constructed on a foundation of solid Kentucky Limestone, marks the site, and an elevator to the top gives visitors a bird's eye view of the countryside. Although Davis is most well-known for his service as President of the Confederacy during the Civil War, he was actually a reluctant secessionist. Davis distinguished himself as a military and political leader not only during the Civil War, but also as a West Point graduate, Mexican War hero, Mississippi congressman and senator, and Secretary of War during the Franklin Pierce administration.

5. Green River Female Academy

The Green River Female Academy is one of the best indications of early 19th century attitudes towards equal opportunities for women in the United States. The Academy is also prime example of the transition between Federal and early Greek Revival architecture. The building, constructed in 1835, was created for the Green River Female Academy by contributions and subscriptions of southern planters which, eventually organized to become the founding members of the Green River Academy Society. Soon, the popularity of the school grew amongst families of the south and the school expanded to a campus with multiple auxiliary buildings. Kentucky at the time, along with North Carolina, were considered to have the best educational institutions in the nation.

6. Customs House Museum and Cultural Center

Customs House Museum and Cultural Center is Tennessee's second largest general-interest museum. The signature exhibit, "Becoming Clarksville: Honoring Legacies of Leadership," provides a chronological tour of social, political, and economic history. Exhibits are not only dedicated to the history of the region, but also art, science, and culture. The Customs House Museum is well-known for holding one of the largest model railroad layouts in the region, as well as its outdoor displays of historic locomotives and railroad cars.

7. Wilma Rudolph Statue

Wilma Rudolph was the first woman to win three gold medals in one Olympic games. During the 1960 summer Olympics in Rome, Rudolph won gold in the 100 meter, 200 meter, and 100x400 meter relay. As a child, Rudolph suffered from several physical ailments such as polio. In response, she recalled, she pushed herself more than other children to overcome her limitations. Rudolph also challenged segregation in Clarksville and spoke out against discrimination faced by women and people of color.

8. Fort Defiance Civil War Park

Located on the Cumberland River in Clarksville, TN, sits Fort Defiance, also known to many as Fort Bruce and to some Fort Sevier. Currently a memorial site to the events that took place there during the American Civil War, this fort played a significant role in the shifting hold of the Cumberland River between Union and Confederate forces. In the play that was the American Civil War, Clarksville and Fort Bruce were the set and stage, with the leads being John Hunt Morgan as the main Confederate and Sanders D. Bruce as the main Unionist. The story isn’t as famous as those of Antietam or Gettysburg, but the skirmishes that occurred on the border between Union and Confederate territory were vital nevertheless.

9. German Graveyard

Marking the resting places of 5 German POWs from World War 2. These hallowed ground in the woods of Ft Campbell Ky remind us that although war is short and violent death is quiet and lasting.

10. Don F. Pratt Museum at Fort Campbell

Fort Campbell began construction on February 4, 1942. After about a year construction was complete and the new Army Post was labeled as Camp Campbell. The camp housed one armored division, 2,422 officers, 42,198 enlisted men, and 23,000 various support troops. Fort Campbell is located between Hopkinsville, Kentucky and Clarksville, Tennessee. Fort Campbell is also home to two Special Forces Units and the world famous 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Fort Campbell is also home to the Don F. Pratt Museum of the 101st Airborne Division

11. Wings of Liberty Museum

The Wings of Liberty Museum will be a state of the art museum of the history of the 101st Airborne and Fort Campbell, KY. The museum will replace the Don F. Pratt Museum, currently located on Fort Campbell. The Don F. Pratt Museum is only able to display about 20% of the 101st Airborne Division's artifacts. The Wings of Liberty Museum is being constructed in a phased approach.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

Hopkinsville to Clarksburg and Fort Campbell Historical tour

Created by Mitch Roberts on October 30th 2018, 1:46:48 am.

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The tour includes museums and historical sites around Hopkinsville, Kentucky and Clarksburg, Tennessee. Highlights of the tour include the Lone Oak House, monuments such as the Wings of Liberty, and the Don F. Pratt Museum. The center of the tour is the Trail of Tears marker commemorating the experience of Native Americans as they were forcibly marched west from their homes in the Southeast to present-day Oklahoma.

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Hopkinsville to Clarksburg and Fort Campbell Historical tour

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