North Corbin in Laurel County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken
Kentucky's Most Famous Citizen
Photographed By Craig Swain, September 5, 2010
1. Side A: Birth of a Legend
Inscription.
Birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Kentucky's Most Famous Citizen.
Birth of a Legend Kentucky's Most Famous Citizen. Colonel Harland Sanders began the part of his life that brought him fame in a small gasoline service station on the opposite side of this highway. Born on September 9, 1890, near Henryville, Indiana he left school at twelve to support his family. He held a wide variety of jobs as farmhand, soldier, railroader, secretary, insurance salesman and ferryboat operator until 1930 when he came to Corbin, moved his family in quarters behind the station and started pumping gasoline. This was then a main route to Florida from the north. Traffic slowed during the Great Depression so Sanders, who enjoyed cooking, augmented his meager income by selling meals to tourists. His food was liked. His reputation grew and his career as a restauranteur began.
Birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken. In 1932 Colonel Harland Sanders bought the small restaurant near this site. Here he combined good cooking, hard work, and showmanship to build regional fame for his fine food. His restaurant and motel, now gone, flourished. To serve his patrons better Sanders constantly experimented with new recipes and cooking methods. Here he created, developed, and perfected his world famous Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe. In 1956 plans were announced for a Federal highway to by-pass Corbin. Threatened with the traffic loss, then 66 and undaunted, sold the restaurant and started traveling America and selling seasoning, and his recipe for fried chicken to other restaurants. His success in this effort began the world's largest commercial food service system and made Kentucky a household word around the world.
Birth of a Legend Kentucky's Most Famous Citizen
Colonel Harland Sanders began the part of his life that brought him fame in a small gasoline service station on the opposite side of this highway. Born on September 9, 1890, near Henryville, Indiana he left school at twelve to support his family. He held a wide variety of jobs as farmhand, soldier, railroader, secretary, insurance salesman and ferryboat operator until 1930 when he came to Corbin, moved his family in quarters behind the station and started pumping gasoline. This was then a main route to Florida from the north. Traffic slowed during the Great Depression so Sanders, who enjoyed cooking, augmented his meager income by selling meals to tourists. His food was liked. His reputation grew and his career as a restauranteur began.
Birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken
In 1932 Colonel Harland Sanders bought the small restaurant near this site. Here he combined good cooking, hard work, and showmanship to build regional fame for his fine food. His restaurant and motel, now gone, flourished. To serve his patrons better Sanders constantly experimented with new recipes and cooking methods. Here he created, developed, and perfected his world famous Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe. In 1956 plans were announced for a Federal highway
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to by-pass Corbin. Threatened with the traffic loss, then 66 and undaunted, sold the restaurant and started traveling America and selling seasoning, and his recipe for fried chicken to other restaurants. His success in this effort began the world's largest commercial food service system and made Kentucky a household word around the world.
Erected by Presented by innumerable friends of Kentucky's greatest goodwill embassador.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1812.
Location. 36° 57.593′ N, 84° 5.62′ W. Marker is in North Corbin, Kentucky, in Laurel County. Marker is on Dixie Highway (U.S. 25) south of Colonel Sanders Street, on the right when traveling south. At the roads edge, directly in front of the Kentucky Fried Chicken (Sanders Cafe). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Corbin KY 40701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. Directions: From I-75 take exit 29, go south on 25E one mile, then right on 25w one-half mile. Located on the right. Look for the large KFC bucket sign, usually visible above the trees.
Regarding Birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Colonel Harland Sanders died on Dec. 16, 1980, after which his body lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort. He was buried in Louisville’s Cave Hill Cemetery.
Additional keywords. London, KY
KFC
Photographed By Craig Swain, September 5, 2010
3. Marker in front of the First Kentucky Fried Chicken
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, March 30, 2012
4. Birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken Marker
Photographed By Craig Swain, September 5, 2010
5. Original Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant
Photographed By Craig Swain, September 5, 2010
6. Kentucky Fried Chicken Sign
A familiar sign throughout the United States.
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, March 30, 2012
7. Display Inside Sanders Cafe
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, March 30, 2012
8. Sanders Cafe Kitchen
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, March 30, 2012
9. Sanders Cafe Cash Register and Counter
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, March 30, 2012
10. Colonel Sanders Statue inside Sanders Cafe
Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2018. It was originally submitted on November 16, 2009, by Laurel County History Museum & Genealogy Center of London, Kentucky. This page has been viewed 4,218 times since then and 92 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on September 17, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 4. submitted on September 14, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. 5, 6. submitted on September 17, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on September 14, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
