Clay City in Powell County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Collecting Red River's History

Photographed by Don Morfe, April 15, 2014

1. Collecting Red River's History Marker

Inscription. The Red River Museum preserves and interprets the cultural heritage of Powell County and the Red River area. The Museum, home of the Red River Historical Society and headquarters for the Kentucky Old Mill Association, opened in July of 1967. It is housed in the old Clay City National Bank building, which has been restored and saved by the organization. Exhibits include something to delight every visitor, from prehistoric artifacts to 19th century relics. The collections include general store, post office, bank, service station and farm items, railroad collectibles, doctor’s in strument, articles from the “home spun industry,” church and school memorabilia, Native American Indian artifacts, rock and agate collections, blacksmith and iron millstones and grindstones. Many items are on loan from local residents. Visitors, researchers, students of all ages, church groups and scout troops are welcome to visit at No charge anytime! Donations are accepted and are used strictly for museum upkeep.

The Museum is now located in the small village of Clay City, but this site was once the heart of a vast industrial complex.

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It had its beginnings as the widely known Red River Iron Works, commencing around 1800. After the decline of the iron industry, massive commercial logging, lumbering and timber processing was practiced here. Although logging began in the early 1800s, it was the 1890s that marked the “log boom days” of Clay City; Our State Historic Marker denotes both of these industries.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1967.

Location. 37° 51.636′ N, 83° 55.266′ W. Marker is in Clay City, Kentucky, in Powell County. It is on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Clay City KY 40312, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s The Knobs

and in the Cumberland Plateau.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once

Photographed by Don Morfe, April 15, 2014

2. Collecting Red River's History Marker

the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Clay City Timber Industry / Early Iron Works (within shouting distance of this marker); Courthouse Burned (approx. 3.4 miles away); Persian Gulf War Memorial (approx. 3.4 miles away); War Memorial (approx. 3.4 miles away); County Named, 1852 (approx. 3.4 miles away); Woody Stephens and Forty Niner (approx. 3.4 miles away); Powell County Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.4 miles away); Pilot Knob (approx. 4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Clay City.

Photographed by Don Morfe, April 15, 2014

3. Collecting Red River's History Marker

Photographed by Don Morfe, April 15, 2014

4. Collecting Red River's History Marker

Photographed by Frank Profitt, February 5, 2021

5. Collecting Red River's History Marker

Photographed by Frank Profitt, February 5, 2021

6. Collecting Red River's History Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 857 times since then and 31 times this year. Last updated on May 21, 2014, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 20, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 5, 6. submitted on February 5, 2021, by Frank Profitt of Georgetown, Kentucky. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.