Flippin in Monroe County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Famous Tree / Indian Creek Church

Famous Tree Marker (updated) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Chad Comer, February 15, 2018

1. Famous Tree Marker (updated)

New marker erected 1/25/18.

Inscription. Famous Tree In 1894, a huge Tulip Poplar tree was felled about 1½ miles south of this site. It measured 11 feet in diameter, 35 feet in circumference. Two six-foot saws were welded together to cut it. A four-foot log from the tree was transported to Chicago for exhibition at the 1893 Columbian World's Fair and Exposition, where it won a first prize.

Indian Creek Church The main log from this tree supplied lumber to build the second Baptist Church house of Indian Creek, and a part of the Methodist Church. The first Baptist Church housed on this site was destroyed by fire in 1893. The second church house burned in 1921, and a third building was erected here.

Erected 1971 by Kentucky Historical Society & Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 1394.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Horticulture & Forestry. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1894.

Location. 36° 43.133′ N, 85° 52.404′ W. Marker is in Flippin, Kentucky, in Monroe County. Marker is on Flippin Lamb Road (Kentucky Route 249), on the left when traveling north

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. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tompkinsville KY 42167, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Fraim Cemetery (approx. half a mile away); Camp Anderson (approx. 1.3 miles away); Daniel Boone Was Here (approx. 1.4 miles away); Pikesville (approx. 1.4 miles away); Free-Town Church (approx. 5.1 miles away); Fountain Run World War I & World War II Memorial (approx. 5.2 miles away); Gamaliel Cemetery (approx. 6.8 miles away); Gamaliel (approx. 6.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Flippin.

Regarding Famous Tree / Indian Creek Church. The tree was cut and exhibited at the World’s Fair in 1893 (not 1894) and subsequently furnished lumber for rebuilding Indian Creek Church in 1894.

Also see . . .
1. Flippin, Kentucky (Wikipedia). (Submitted on January 6, 2019, by C. R. Arterburn of Lexington, Kentucky.)
2. Famous Tree/Indian Creek Church. The Story of the Biggest Tree; Rand McNally Handbook of the World’s Columbian Exposition, Excerpted; Famous Tree/Indian Creek Church Historical Marker (this old marker since replaced due to auto collision damage) (Arterburn, Charles R. Elzia and Elizabeth Douglass Arterburn of Monroe County, Kentucky. Miscellanea [2015]. Lexington, Ky: C. Arterburn, 2010.) (Submitted on January 6, 2019, by C. R. Arterburn of Lexington, Kentucky.)

Famous Tree / Indian Creek Church Marker (updated) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Chad Comer, January 25, 2018

2. Famous Tree / Indian Creek Church Marker (updated)

New marker erected 1/25/18.

Additional commentary.
1. Indian Creek Missionary Baptist Church
Indian Creek Missionary Baptist Church was first organized in 1835 as the United Baptist Church of Christ at Indian Creek, and incorporated as the United Baptist Church at Indian Creek by an Act of the General Assembly, January 22, 1867, upon application of D. E. Downing, Ellis Riggs, and J. M. Neal. (Kentucky. Acts of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. [1867]. Chapter 1051, p. 57; Landrum, Alta. History of Indian Creek Missionary Baptist Church. 1976; Indian Creek Baptist Church. Minutes. Unpublished manuscripts. 1835- )

— Submitted January 6, 2019, by C. R. Arterburn of Lexington, Kentucky.

Famous Tree / Indian Creek Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Chad Comer, January 25, 2018

3. Famous Tree / Indian Creek Church Marker

Marker with former church building (1922-2010) in background.

Indian Creek Baptist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By C. R. Arterburn

4. Indian Creek Baptist Church

Photo of fourth Indian Creek Baptist Church building (1922-2010) — Landrum, Alta. History of Indian Creek Missionary Baptist Church. 1976. This building was abandoned (2010) due to flood damage, and a new Baptist Church building was erected (2012) near Neal Cemetery. The “Famous Tree” marker is visible in the corner of the lot beside the south (left) Church entrance. This corner lot was the site of Flippin Methodist Church (1894-1964).

Famous Tree Marker (original version) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Chad Comer, January 3, 2011

5. Famous Tree Marker (original version)

Indian Creek Church Marker (original version) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Chad Comer, January 3, 2011

6. Indian Creek Church Marker (original version)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 22, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 1, 2011, by Chad Comer of Gamaliel, Kentucky. This page has been viewed 1,969 times since then and 72 times this year. Last updated on December 15, 2023, by C. R. Arterburn of Lexington, Kentucky. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 15, 2018, by Chad Comer of Gamaliel, Kentucky. 3. submitted on January 25, 2018, by Chad Comer of Gamaliel, Kentucky. 4. submitted on December 23, 2018, by C. R. Arterburn of Lexington, Kentucky. 5, 6. submitted on January 3, 2011, by Chad Comer of Gamaliel, Kentucky. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.