Valley View in Madison County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Valley View Ferry

Photographed by Don Morfe, April 17, 2002

1. Valley View Ferry Marker

Inscription. The Valley View Ferry has been operating since 1785 making it the oldest continuously operating business in Kentucky and perhaps the oldest ferry in America. Valley View Ferry was chartered near the community of Valley View, a thriving river town that, at that time, was larger than Lexington.

From 1888-1932, the Richmond-Nicholasville-Irvine-Beattyville Railroad, RNIB, crossed the Kentucky River near this point. The ghostly remains of the support structures are visible just downstream.

Keep Your River Clean
The Valley View Ferry is operated by the Valley View Ferry Authority, a cooperative venture among Fayette, Jessamine, & Madison Counties. Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday: 6am-8pm; Saturday: 8am-6pm; Sunday: 9am-6pm.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1785.

Location. 37° 50.815′ N, 84° 26.101′ W. Marker is in Valley View, Kentucky, in Madison County. It is on Tates Creek Road (KY 169). The Ferry crosses the Kentucky River. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Richmond KY 40475, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is 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 the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Valley View Ferry (within shouting distance of this marker); Stone Kitchen

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(approx. 4.6 miles away); Richmond Garden Club (approx. 4.6 miles away); White Hall (approx. 4.6 miles away); Laura Clay (1849-1941) (approx. 4.7 miles away); Mary Barr Clay (approx. 4.7 miles away); Kentucky & the Emancipation Proclamation (approx. 4.7 miles away); White Hall State Historic Site (approx. 4.7 miles away).

More about this marker. This marker has been replaced by a Kentucky Historic Marker near the entrance gate on the north side of the creek.

Valley View Ferry image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, April 17, 2002

2. Valley View Ferry

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 2, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,136 times since then and 106 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 2, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.