Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Claiborne Landing
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Carville, Louisiana
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Belle Grove
Mississippi River Walk
Photographed by Jason Voigt, August 2, 2024
1. Claiborne Landing / Carville, Louisiana / Belle Grove Marker
Marker was replaced with one put up by Mud Island Park
A.Claiborne Landing
Mile 188.3 AHP
This was the plantation home of William C.C. Claiborne. At the age of 21, Claiborne helped write a constitution for the new state of Tennessee and five years later President Jefferson appointed him Governor of the Mississippi Territory. He was one of the commissioners who took possession of the vast Louisiana Purchase in 1803, and the President then appointed him Governor of the Orleans Territory. Claiborne bought his plantation in 1811, but his plan of becoming a planter was canceled when he was elected Louisiana’s first Governor the following year. While in office, he offered a $500 reward for the head of a pirate, Jean Lafitte. Lafitte promptly responded by offering a $5000 reward for the head of Governor Claiborne.
B. Carville, Louisiana
Mile 189.3 AHP
The semi-tropical climate and uncertain sanitation of 19th Century Louisiana made it one of the few parts of North America in which leprosy was found. While never widespread, there were enough cases that Louisiana established a leprosy treatment hospital in 1894 at the Indian Cap Plantation near Carville. Up to that time, public superstition had relegated the disease’s victims to a wretched “pest house” in New Orleans. The U. S. Public Health Service bought Indian Camp in 1921 and established
this page online
C. Belle Grove
Mile 191.0 AHP
Early boatmen named the snag-filled channel behind Island No. 89 “General Hull’s Left Leg.” General William Hull was a hero of the American revolution, but during the War of 1812, he fell into disgrace by surrendering the fort at Detroit without a fight. He was court-martialed and sentenced to the firing squad but the President intervened to save him. Island No. 89 is now part of the Arkansas mainland. The connection between the old channel and the General’s leg is unknown.
Erected by Mud Island Park. (Marker Number 15.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers • War, US Revolutionary • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #03 Thomas Jefferson series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1803.
Location. 35° 8.79′ N, 90° 3.565′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It can be reached from Island Drive. Marker is located at Mud Island Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 25 Island Dr, Memphis TN 38103, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, in the Upper South, in the Mississippi Delta, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Donaldsonville, Louisiana/Bayou Lafourche/Geismar, Louisiana
Photographed by Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010
2. Claiborne Landing/Carville, Louisiana/Belle Grove Marker
Also see . . .
1. Carville, Louisiana. Carville is a neighborhood of St. Gabriel in Iberville Parish in South Louisiana, located sixteen miles south of the capital city of Baton Rouge on the Mississippi River. Carville is the hometown of Democratic political consultant James Carville and was named for his grandfather, the postmaster. The National Hansen's Disease Museum in Carville records the history of the U. S. Public Health Service Hospital, which for a hundred years treated leprosy (now
Photographed by Jason Voigt, August 2, 2024
3. Claiborne Landing / Carville, Louisiana / Belle Grove Marker
2. Jean Lafitte. Jean Lafitte (c. 1780 – c. 1823) was a French pirate and privateer in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century. He and his elder brother, Pierre, spelled their last name Laffite, but English-language documents of the time used "Lafitte". The latter has become the common spelling in the United States, including for places named after him (Submitted on March 14, 2018, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)
3. Leprosy. Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a long-term infection by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis.[3][4] Initially, infections are without symptoms and typically remain this way for 5 to 20 years.[3] Symptoms that develop include granulomas of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes.[3] This may result in a lack of ability to feel pain, thus loss of parts of extremities due to repeated injuries or infection due to unnoticed wounds.[2] Weakness and poor eyesight may also be present.[2] (Submitted on March 14, 2018, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)
4. William Hull. William Hull (June 24, 1753 – November 29, 1825) was an American soldier and politician. He fought in the American Revolution and was appointed as Governor of Michigan Territory (1805–13), gaining large land cessions from several Native American tribes under the Treaty of Detroit (1807). As a general in the War of 1812, Hull is best remembered for surrendering Fort Detroit to the British on August 16, 1812 following the Siege of Detroit. After the battle, Hull was court-martialed, convicted, and sentenced to death. However, after he received a pardon from President James Madison, his reputation recovered somewhat. (Submitted on March 14, 2018, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 30, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 14, 2018, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 698 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 30, 2024, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. 2. submitted on March 14, 2018, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 3. submitted on August 30, 2024, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
