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

8th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery

Photographed by Jason Voigt, August 10, 2020

1. 8th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery Marker

Front side

Inscription.
During the Civil War, Paducah was the first city in Ky. where an African American regiment, the 8th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery, was officially organized & credited to the state. Parts of other black regiments also recruited here. Slaves who joined earned their freedom. Paducah also the site of Ft. Anderson, an earthen fort built by Union soldiers.

On March 25, 1864, Confederate troops attacked Ft. Anderson. The fort’s left flank was located near here, and the 8th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery helped repulse the assault. This unit and other African American regiments recruited in Ky. and across the nation helped win the war for the Union.

Erected 2011 by Kentucky Historical Society & Kentucky Department of Highways, presented by the Friends of the 8th. (Marker Number 2361.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 25, 1864.

Location. 37° 5.547′ N, 88° 36.178′ W. Marker is in Paducah, Kentucky, in McCracken

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County. It is at the intersection of North 5th Street and Park Street, on the right when traveling east on North 5th Street. Marker is in front of the parking lot of Paducah Convention Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 415 Park 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: Death of Albert Thompson (a few steps from this marker); A Paducah CSA Hero (a few steps from this marker); Fort Anderson (within shouting distance of this marker); Battle of Paducah-March 1864 (within shouting distance of this marker); Grant's Proclamation (within shouting distance of this marker); Quilt Title: …And Our Flag Was Still There!, 2013

Photographed by Jason Voigt, August 10, 2020

2. 8th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery Marker

Reverse side

(within shouting distance of this marker); Quilt Title: Corona II: Solar Eclipse, 1989 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Flood Wall / The 1937 Flood (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Paducah.

Also see . . . 8th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery. From ExploreKYHistory.gov, this contains rare photos and an article written by Tim Talbott. (Submitted on August 15, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Photographed by Jason Voigt, August 10, 2020

3. 8th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery Marker

In front of Paducah Convention Center

Credits. This page was last revised on November 10, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 15, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 742 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 15, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.