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

Chief Paduke

Photographed by Michael Stroud, circa June 1991

1. Chief Paduke Marker

The Jackson Purchase is a region in the state of Kentucky bounded by the Mississippi River to the west, the Ohio River to the north, and Tennessee River to the east.

Inscription. Chief of sub~tribe of Chickasaw Indians, who lived and hunted in this area until Jackson Purchase, 1818. Land here then owned by Gen. William Clark, who founded Paducah; named it in honor of friendly chief. Statue sculptured by Lorado Taft, 1909, who combined features of various Indian tribes in its execution.

Erected by Paducah Junior Chamber of Commerce. (Marker Number 793.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1818.

Location. 37° 4.734′ N, 88° 37.243′ W. Marker is in Paducah, Kentucky, in McCracken County. It is on Jefferson Street near North 19th Street, in the median. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: 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: Linn Boyd Home — 1853 (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fountain Avenue United Methodist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Gen. Lloyd Tilghman (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Paul Lutheran Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Otis Dinning Drive

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(approx. ¼ mile away); Oscar Turner (approx. 0.4 miles away); Forrest's Headquarters (approx. 0.4 miles away); Patriot Burials (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Paducah.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Dr. Reuben Saunders (1808-1891) (was approx. half a mile away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia entry for Paducah, Kentucky. (Submitted on January 16, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
2. Wikipedia entry for Jackson Purchase. (Submitted on January 16, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

Additional commentary.
1. Paducah
Paducah is located on the Ohio River below the mouth of the Tennessee River. Paducah boasts more historic markers than any other city in Kentucky. Landmarks include the legendary Chief Paduke statue, 19th & Jefferson; Wacinton carved Indian statue, Noble Park; Steam Locomotive No. 1518, downtown; and the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. monument.

Union General U. S. Grant occupied Paducah on September 6, 1861, building a pontoon bridge across the Ohio River to the Illinois

May 29, 2006

2. Chief Paduke Marker

shore. Fort Anderson was built and named after Kentuckian and Fort Sumter commander Major Robert Anderson. Attacked March 25 and April 14, 1964, the fort was successfully defended by both white and black troops commanded by Colonel Stephen G. Hicks of Illinois. In the spring of 1864, African Americans were recruited in Kentucky for federal service in the "United States Colored Volunteers." The 8th Colored artillery (Heavy) was raised almost exclusively in Paducah as were elements of five other black regiments.

The organizer of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton, came to Paducah March 13, 1884, on the steamboat "Josh V. Throop" to help direct relief work during the Ohio River flood. Relief boats traveled from Pittsburgh to Cairo in the first flood relief operation of the American Red Cross.

— Submitted January 16, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.

2. The adjacent sculpture of Chief Paduke
The adjacent sculpture, titled "Chief Paduke," was sculpted by Lorado Taft and dedicated May 19, 1909. It was relocated to this site on June 3, 1937. Made from Georgia marble, it stands five feet tall on a seven foot tall stone base.

The sculpture commemorates Chief Paduke, for whom the city was named. It was commissioned by the Paducah Chapter of the Daughters

Monument to Chief Paduke image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Stroud, circa June 1991

3. Monument to Chief Paduke

Chief Paduke for whom Gen. William Clark named Paducah

of the American Revolution for $3,000, at the suggestion of the Paducah chapter's regent, Mrs. E. G. Boone. Chief Paduke was reported to be either from a Chickasaw tribe or a Comanche tribe. The sculpture was originally titled "Paducah Fountain" and was originally placed on the northwest corner of Broadway and 5th Street, in front of the Paducah Post Office (which might have also been called the Custom House), but was moved after the Ohio Valley Flood of June 1937.

Source: Smithsonian Institution Research Information System

— Submitted January 16, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.

Nearby Hand-Chiseled Artwork image. Click for more information.

Photographed by Michael Stroud, circa June 1991

4. Nearby Hand-Chiseled Artwork

Hand chiseled in 1985 from a local 56,000 pound Red Oak to honor the Chickasaw Indians who lived and hunted in this area until the Jackson Purchase, 1818. Chief Paduke was a Chickasaw Indian.
Click for more information.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 16, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 7,910 times since then and 94 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 16, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 2. submitted on January 16, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 3, 4. submitted on January 16, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.