Henderson in Henderson County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Audubon's Mill

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 17, 2017

1. Audubon's Mill Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

John James Audubon, the famed ornithologist and painter, came to Henderson in 1810 determined to make his fortune. He tried his hand at a number of businesses, initially meeting with some success. In 1816 he decided to undertake his most ambitious project, building a steam-powered saw-and-grist mill. Property at this location was leased from the city, and construction began in early 1816. The $15,000 project was ill-fated from the start with construction delays, cost overruns and frequent equipment breakdowns. The biggest problem however was Audubon's misjudging the market; there simply was not enough lumber to saw or wheat to grind to make the mill profitable. Audubon later referred to the business as "that infernal mill." The failure of the mill in 1819 left the family destitute, hastening Audubon's departure from the city.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce • Science & Medicine • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1810.

Location. 37° 50.477′ N, 87° 35.643′ W. Marker

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is in Henderson, Kentucky, in Henderson County. Marker can be reached from North Water Street south of 2nd Street, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located along the pedestrian walkway in Audubon Mill Park, the former site of Audubon's 1816 grist & lumber mill. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101 North Water Street, Henderson KY 42420, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Good Government League (here, next to this marker); The Ohio River (a few steps from this marker); Steamboats (a few steps from this marker); The 1937 Flood (within shouting distance of this marker); General "Stovepipe" Johnson (within shouting distance of this marker); John James Audubon in Henderson (within shouting distance of this marker); Audubon Saw and Grist Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); Father of the Blues (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Henderson.

More about this marker. Marker is a large composite plaque, mounted horizontally on waist-high posts.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. John James Audubon in Henderson

Also see . . . John James Audubon, Henderson County, Ketucky Biography. On the sixteenth day of March 1816, he and Thomas W. BAKEWELL, under the firm name

Audubon's Mill Marker (<i>wide view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 17, 2017

2. Audubon's Mill Marker (wide view)

of AUDUBON & BAKEWELL, made application to the Town Trustees for a ninety-five year lease upon a portion of the river front, between First and Second Streets, for the purpose of erecting a grist and saw mill. The Town Trustees granted the petition of AUDUBON & BAKEWELL, and soon thereafter they commenced the building of a mill suitable for the times. Mr. Audubon operated his mill on a large scale for those early times. His grist mill was a great convenience, and furnished a ready market for all of the over-plus of wheat raised in the surrounding country. His saw mill also was a wonderful convenience, doing the sawing for the entire country. The timber and lumber used in building the old KERR, CLARK & Co. building, on Main Street, was sawed by his mill. (Submitted on August 15, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

John J. Audubon image. Click for full size.

Internet Archive

3. John J. Audubon

from The Biographical Dictionary of America, 1906, by Rossiter Johnson.

Audubon Millstone Exhibit (<i>old, weathered millstone; exhibit located near marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 17, 2017

4. Audubon Millstone Exhibit (old, weathered millstone; exhibit located near marker)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 30, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 245 times since then and 68 times this year. Last updated on August 16, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 15, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 3. submitted on August 16, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 4. submitted on August 15, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.