South Louisville in Jefferson County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Ruff Memorial Wheelmen's Bench / Cycle Carnival 1897
Front
Erected 1897 by Ky. Div. of League of American Wheelmen to honor cycling pioneer A.D. Ruff (1827-96) of Owingsville, Ky. The League's oldest member, he had bicycled to Yellowstone National Park in 1893. Marble fountain and stone bench, known to generations of cyclists as "Wheelmen's Bench," designed by famed sculptor Enid Yandell.
Back
On October 8, 1897, a parade of 10,000 cyclists passed here to celebrate a new cinder bicycling path along Southern Parkway. Viewed by 50,000 spectators, parade began at Third and Broadway and ended at Iroquois Cycle Club. Many cyclists were in costume; ladies wore bloomers. Bugles and cannon fire marked the parade's progress. Presented by the Louisville Bicycle Club - 1997
Erected 1997 by The Kentucky Historical Society & the Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 1997.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Roads & Vehicles • Sports. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1845.
Location. 38° 12.108′ N, 85° 45.876′ W. Marker is in Louisville, Kentucky, in Jefferson County. It is in South Louisville. Marker is at the intersection of South 3rd Street (Kentucky Route 1020) and Harlan Avenue , on the right when traveling south on South 3rd Street. Marker is about 25 yards North of where Harlan Avenue "T's" into South 3rd Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Louisville KY 40214, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Roscoe Goose House / Golden Goose, 1891-1971 (approx. ¼ mile away); Churchill Downs (approx. half a mile away); Highland Park (approx. 0.9 miles away); Founding of Jefferson Seminary (approx. 0.9 miles away); University of Louisville (approx. 0.9 miles away); War Memorial for University of Louisville killed during the World War (approx. one mile away); Wilson W. Wyatt (approx. one mile away); Louis D. Brandeis (1856-1941) (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Louisville.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 10, 2010, by Karl Stelly of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,888 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 10, 2010, by Karl Stelly of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. 2. submitted on January 12, 2010, by Karl Stelly of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on January 10, 2010, by Karl Stelly of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.