This mural shows the famous "King of the Cowboys" on his horse, Trigger. Roy Rogers appeared in 104 films from 1935 to 1959. His final film, "Macintosh and TJ" was released in 1975. Roy Rogers' boyhood home can be seen on Roy Rogers Road and is designated with an historical marker. An annual Roy Rogers Festival is held every summer in downtown Portsmouth. Cowboy stars, memorabilia and food are only part of what is enjoyed on this exciting weekend!
Directions to Roy Rogers Boyhood home: Go north on U.S. 23 to Lucasville, turn left onto S. R. 348. Go 3.5 miles, then turn right onto Mohawk Drive and go .2 mile. Turn right onto Roy Rogers Road and go straight to the Historical Marker, The house is on a small hill. A nice place to take pictures.
1937 Flood
This mural is a northerly view of Chillicothe Street during the devastating 1937 flood. The right border shows residents stranded on rooftops awaiting rescue. In the top border are long lines of residents waiting for water at Kinney Spring. The left border tells the heart-breaking story of the only fatality of the 1937 flood. The boat moving the Tomlin family
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to higher ground, capsized, emptying its human cargo into the flooding waters. All victims were pulled to safety except Bessie Tomlin, seen holding her 18-month-old baby Alberta Tomlin (Parker), Portsmouth resident. Sea Scouts shown in the bottom border were pressed into service where needed during this disaster.
Shawnee State University Professor, Dr John Lorentz has created an award winning documentary film about the 1937 Flood. Copies of "River Voices" are available for purchase by contacting the university's book store, (740) 351-3155, or visiting the Scioto County Welcome Center gift shop.
Branch Rickey
Baseball immortal Branch Rickey, as he appeared at the height of his illustrious career, was chosen to be depicted in this mural and features Mr. Rickey signing Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 thereby becoming the first major league baseball team to break the color barrier. Also featured is a picture of the Portsmouth Red Birds in 1938, a minor league franchise owned by the Saint Louis Cardinals when Branch Rickey was the Cardinal's general manager. Other references are made to Rickey's character including
his role as a baseball player and manager, educator and orator. Mr. Rickey was born near Stockdale, geared on Duck Run northwest of Portsmouth and received his early education in Lucasville. An historical marker on Duck Run designates his boyhood home.
Kentucky Friends
In the early 1900's, Kentucky ferry boats provided transportation to and from Kentucky. In 1927 the U. S. Grant Bridge, shown in the distance and shrouded by heavy fog, became the preferred means of travel across the river. In 1932 the George Washington passenger train, also seen in this mural, began its service running a route between Cincinnati, Ohio and Washington D.C.
Jesse Stuart, poet laureate of Kentucky, and world-renowned author is featured on the right. Among his sixty published volumes are Taps for Private Tussie, The Thread that Runs So True, Man with a Bull-Tongue Plow and God's Oddling. He loved Portsmouth, taught school here, and the quotation shown in this mural eloquently expresses his feeling for our city. (Marker Number 9.)
Location. 38° 43.85′ N, 83° 0.271′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, Ohio, in Scioto County. It is on Front Street just east of Jefferson Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 411 Front St, Portsmouth OH 45662, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southern Ohio Hill Country. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Ohio River Valley, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other markers no longer nearby. Scioto County, Experience Our Heritage (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Scioto County, Experience Our Heritage (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Scioto County, Experience Our Heritage (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with
Photographed by Craig Doda, January 7, 2021
5. Branch Rickey mural
another marker now near it); a different marker also named Scioto County, Experience Our Heritage (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Scioto County, Experience Our Heritage (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Scioto County, Experience Our Heritage (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Scioto County, Experience Our Heritage (was about 500 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Photographed by Craig Doda, January 7, 2021
6. Kentucky Friends mural
Credits. This page was last revised on August 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 4, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 875 times since then and 94 times this year. Last updated on August 29, 2026, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 4, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
