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

Historic River Front

Photographed by Jason Voigt, August 10, 2020

1. Historic Riverfront Marker

front

Inscription.
(front:)

Here the Tenn. River flows into the Ohio. Owen's Island opposite Kentucky Ave. There in 1779 George Rogers Clark's small army landed to prepare for its defeat of the British in the Illinois country. In 1780 Col. John Donelson landed 30 boats with 30 families that had floated down river from east Tenn. After stopover went up Ohio and Cumberland, founded Nashville. Over.

(reverse:)

Here Capt. Nicholas Roosevelt's New Orleans made port, 1811. First steamer to ply the rivers from Pittsburgh to New Orleans. In 1861 Union troops under Gen. U. S. Grant landed here to occupy Paducah for duration of the war. Clara Barton arrived, 1884, on the "Josh V. Throop" during American Red Cross' first major flood relief operation. Over

Marker presented by Downtown Paducah Kiwanis Club.

Erected 1967 by Kentucky Historical Society & Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 1065.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil • War, US Revolutionary • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1779.

Location. 37° 5.287′

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N, 88° 35.635′ W. Marker is in Paducah, Kentucky, in McCracken County. It is on Broadway Street east of South Water Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker is at Paducah's Riverfront park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Broadway St, Paducah KY 42001, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Jackson Purchase.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the South,

in the Upper South,

and in the Ohio River Valley.

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

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Chickasaw Tribe in Kentucky (a few steps from this marker); First County Seat - Braxton Small (a few steps from this marker); Iced Solid - Clear to Illinois! (a few steps from this marker); Woodland and Mississippian Indians (a few steps from this marker); Marine Ways (a few steps from this marker); Federal Occupation of Paducah (a few steps from this marker); Paleo and Archaic Indians (a few steps from this marker); Visitors Coming to Paducah (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Paducah.

Also see . . . Historic Riverfront (ExploreKYHistory.gov). More information related to the history of Paducah's relations with the river (Submitted on September 8, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Photographed by Jason Voigt, August 10, 2020

2. Historic Riverfront Marker

Reverse

Photographed by Jason Voigt, August 10, 2020

3. Historic Riverfront Marker

At Paducah's Riverfront Park (reverse side, though dark, is visible)

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, 2003

4. Historic River Front Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on May 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 13, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 858 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 13, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. 4. submitted on May 30, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia.