Frankfort in Franklin County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Governor William Goebel

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2013

1. Governor William Goebel Marker (panel 1)

Inscription.
(panel 1) Governor
William Goebel
The able and most effective advocate
and champion of the peoples cause
their loved and loyal friend.

On January 30th, 1900, he was shot
down by an assassin from the private
office of the then Secretary of State.

Born January 4th, 1856
Died February 3rd, 1900

”Tell my friends to be
brave and fearless and loyal
to the great common people.”
His last words.

(panel 2)
”I would be blind if I did not see the devotion that has been manifested towards Senator Goebel. I would be blind if I did not recognize how earnest is his purpose. When I remember that Mr. Goebel entered the State Senate at the age of thrity-one, has been there twelve years, and that a lawyer of his acknowledged ability while serving in the Senate was never charged with abandonment of the plain people, or with being a hireling of the corporations, and when I remember that even his enemies admit he never prostituted his ability for greed, I can understand how the plain people look to him as the champion of their rights.”
William Jennings Bryan
Covington Oct. 18, 1899.

(panel 3) Erected by
the State of Kentucky
in memory of
Kentucky’s martyr Governor
William
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Goebel
who devoted and gave
his life
in defense of
the rights of the people.

”The question is: are the corporations
the masters or servants of the people.”

(panel 4) Served as State Senator
fourteen years
1886 to 1900.

Member of
Constitutional Convention
1890 to 1891.

Author of
The Anti-Lottery Law,
Franchise Tax Law.

The Pioneer in
American Railway Rate
Regulating Legislation.

The champion of
School-book Legislation
Fellow Servant Law,
Employer’s Liability Law.

Erected 1914 by State of Kentucky.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is January 30, 1900.

Location. 38° 11.987′ N, 84° 52.606′ W. Marker is in Frankfort, Kentucky, in Franklin County. Marker is at the intersection of West Broadway Street and St. Clair Street, on the right when traveling west on West Broadway Street. Marker is located on the Old State Capitol grounds, on the south side of the property, near the main front entrance from West Broadway Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 West Broadway Street, Frankfort KY 40601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

Governor William Goebel Marker (<i>panel 2</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2013

2. Governor William Goebel Marker (panel 2)

are within walking distance of this marker. Inauguration Elm (a few steps from this marker); William Goebel (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Kentucky State Prison Keystone (within shouting distance of this marker); Old State House (within shouting distance of this marker); 1864 Attack on Frankfort (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gov. George Madison (1763-1816) (about 300 feet away); Confederates Here (about 300 feet away); Father of Kentucky Historical Society Highway Marker Program (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Frankfort.

More about this marker. This monument/marker consists of a larger-than-life bronze sculpture, atop a large, 8-foot tall granite pedestal, with 4 panels of text making up the 4 sides of the pedestal.

Regarding Governor William Goebel. Goebel remains the only state governor in the United States to be assassinated while in office.

Also see . . .
1. William Goebel Statue at the Old State Capitol. The statue of Governor William Goebel in front of the Old State Capitol is a reminder of the deeply divided politics of Kentucky at the end of the 19th century. Goebel was the only Kentucky governor to ever be assassinated. The statue

Governor William Goebel Marker (<i>panel 3</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2013

3. Governor William Goebel Marker (panel 3)

was commissioned in 1910 by the Kentucky State Legislature and dedicated in 1914. Niehaus had earned a national reputation in 1881 for his statues of the recently assassinated President Garfield. The sculpture is a larger-than-life cast bronze statue mounted on an inscribed granite base. (Submitted on September 26, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. William Justus Goebel. William Justus Goebel was an American politician who served as the 34th Governor of Kentucky for four days in 1900 after having been mortally wounded by an assassin the day before he was sworn in (though he was on his deathbed by that time). (Submitted on September 26, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Governor William Goebel Marker (<i>panel 4</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2013

4. Governor William Goebel Marker (panel 4)

Governor William Goebel Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2013

5. Governor William Goebel Monument

Governor William Goebel Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2013

6. Governor William Goebel Statue

Credits. This page was last revised on November 20, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 26, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 223 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 26, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.