Historical Markers and War Memorials in Crittenden County
Marion is the county seat for Crittenden County
Adjacent to Crittenden County, Arkansas
Cross County(18) ► Lee County(5) ► Mississippi County(52) ► Poinsett County(7) ► St. Francis County(9) ► DeSoto County, Mississippi(27) ► Tunica County, Mississippi(11) ► Shelby County, Tennessee(490) ► Tipton County, Tennessee(34) ►
Touch name on this list to highlight map location. Touch blue arrow, or on map, to go there.
On Old Highway 64 (Business Highway 64) 0.1 miles east of Main Street (State Route 50), on the right when traveling east.
Named for Adolphus Fountain
Crawford
Born Aug. 15, 1848
Died Feb. 21, 1876
Confederate soldier of Arkansas,
he fought under Gen. Price. — — Map (db m116177) HM
The Cherokee came from East Tennessee and North Carolina area. General Sam Houston was Governor of Tennessee until he resigned and joined the Cherokees in the Indian Territory, now Oklahoma. His wife Talahina, was the daughter of the Cherokee chief . . . — — Map (db m234420) HM
The next two (2) miles is a part of Military Road used in transporting Indians to Oklahoma Territory between 1832 and 1841. From a group of 16,000 Cherokees, 4,000 died enroute. Other tribes to move West were Chickasaw and Choctaw. The great war . . . — — Map (db m234419) HM
On Court Street north of East Military Road, on the right when traveling south.
This granite marker on the south lawn was erected by Crittenden County United Daughters of the Confederacy, and dedicated October 4, 1936, as a memorial to those who served with Confederate military during the War Between the States. The magnolia . . . — — Map (db m116781) HM
On East Military Road at Cypress Drive, on the right when traveling east on East Military Road.
The Crittenden Bank & Trust, the town’s third bank, began operation January 9, 1909, replacing the Bank of Marion which had failed in 1908. Three other short-lived banks were housed in this building. The last banking operation here was that of . . . — — Map (db m116727) HM
On Court Street west of Cypress Drive, on the right when traveling south.
The Health Department, dedicated May 4, 1938, was built with funds by the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA). When additional space was needed, the Crittenden County Negro Business Men's League, led by George Walker, Jr. and John Gammon, . . . — — Map (db m116780) HM
On Court Street near Cypress Drive, on the right when traveling north.
Dedicated to all veterans of Crittenden County
To the men and women who served their country in war and peace with honor
We shall not forget — — Map (db m234719) WM
In 1673, another European expedition arrived in Arkansas. Canoeing down the Mississippi River from the Illinois country (the upper Mississippi River Valley), Father Jacques Marquette, Jesuit missionary, and Louis Joliet, a coureur de bois . . . — — Map (db m234417) HM
On Cypress Drive, on the right when traveling north.
The original Delta was a land of enormous stands of oak, gum, cottonwood, hickory, pecan, elm, pine and cypress, some of which had stood for perhaps 500 years. Cypress and tupelo could be found in the bottoms, along with water-tolerant oaks, . . . — — Map (db m234414) HM
On June 18, 1541, Hernando de Soto's Spanish expeditionary force crossed the Mississippi River and became the first Europeans to enter Arkansas. For the next two years, the Spaniards explored through Arkansas with a large number of captive Indians. . . . — — Map (db m234415) HM
On North Currie Street east of Currie Avenue, on the left when traveling east.
Woolfolk is author of The History of Marion and History of Crittenden County, an award-winning newspaper editor, graduated from Memphis State Law School in 1985 at the age of 68, entered into private practice, and served as Marion . . . — — Map (db m116783) HM
On East Military Road at Briarwood Street, on the right when traveling east on East Military Road.
Originally, the first floor had eight
classrooms and the upper floor housed
the auditorium. The ground-level
basement housed only the furnace room
and restrooms until 1928 when part of
the basement was also used for the
school's first . . . — — Map (db m221334) HM
On Military Road east of Cypress Drive, on the right when traveling east.
Designed and built by Major Moore for Thomas Koser, the building was completed December of 1911. The building, which is constructed of native hardwoods, brick and concrete, had pressed tin ceilings and hardwood floors. The hotel had its own water . . . — — Map (db m116726) HM
On East Military Road at Currie Avenue, on the right when traveling west on East Military Road.
When classrooms were carved out of the second floor auditorium space in the first high school. Marion students and the entire community used a tabernacle built in 1924 on the south side of the high school for events requiring an auditorium. When the . . . — — Map (db m116777) HM
On East Military Road at Cherry Avenue, on the right when traveling east on East Military Road.
May 10, 1869, a petition was submitted the county court for established of School District No. One the Marion district. The formation of the district was approved by the circuit superintendent of public schools. The school operated by the original . . . — — Map (db m116779) HM
Near Arkansas Route 77 north of East Military Road, on the right when traveling south.
First Highway constructed in Arkansas, Hopefield
to Little Rock, extended to Fort Smith and into Indian Territory, (Oklahoma). Built by the United States under supervision of the Quartermasters Department of the United States Army. Survey was . . . — — Map (db m116549) HM
This fourth County Jail building was originally a two-story brick framed structure. Some of its hardware and cell materials were used in the construction of the 1911 jail built west of the courthouse. Abandoned and vacant from 1919, it was purchased . . . — — Map (db m234418) HM
On Court Street north of East Military Road, on the left when traveling north.
One of the city's biggest fires occurred
in the early 1900's when a series of
businesses in frame buildings on the
east side of Court Street were destroyed
by fire. Volunteer firefighters brought
water from Harvard yards by train to
help . . . — — Map (db m116545) HM
Near Arkansas Route 77 north of East Military Road, on the right when traveling south.
On April 27, 1865, the steamboat Sultana exploded on the Mississippi River. She was heading north, dangerously overloaded with some 2,200 passengers, most of them freed Union prisoners of war from the Andersonville and Cahaba camps. A . . . — — Map (db m116352) HM
Near Arkansas Route 77 north of Military Road, on the right when traveling south.
Early on April 27, 1865, the overcrowded steamboat Sultana exploded on the Mississippi River near Marion, Arkansas. The vast majority of the Sultana's passengers, believed to number over 2000, were Federal soldiers, recently released . . . — — Map (db m116356) HM
On East Military Road at Sycamore Street, on the right when traveling north on East Military Road.
News of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865 overshadowed the tragedy of the Sultana, which happened two weeks later.
The actual number of casualties from the SS Sultana is unknown, but some estimates are as high as 1,800. . . . — — Map (db m242015) HM
In 1831, a group of Native Americans collectively referred to as the Five Civilized Tribes: the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee, and Seminole, were living as autonomous nations in what would be later called the American Deep South. The . . . — — Map (db m234416) HM
On Dacus Road, 0.1 miles east of County Route 27, on the right when traveling east.
In North America, the Indians
were building mounds such as
these from before the time
of Christ until after DeSoto
explored this area. These are
believed to be villages of
the Aquixo or Pacaha, 1541. — — Map (db m221347) HM
On East Broadway Boulevard (U.S. 70) at South 2nd Street, on the right when traveling east on East Broadway Boulevard.
The inaugural broadcast of West Memphis' KWEM radio station on February 23, 1947, set the stage for what would become one of the pioneering platforms for Delta blues and the beginnings of the rock 'n' roll sound.
Here at 231 Broadway Boulevard in . . . — — Map (db m221358) HM
On Dacus Road at Wheeler Road, on the left when traveling west on Dacus Road.
An old river town, once located on the banks of the Mississippi River, deriving its name from Indian mounds. Federal troops burned it January 15, 1863. — — Map (db m221342) HM
On East Broadway Avenue (U.S. 70) near Arkansas Route 38, on the left when traveling east.
In 1943, Morris Berger opened his legendary Plantation Inn
nightclub on this site in a former West Memphis gambling hall.
Billed as having the largest dance floor in the South, it became an
electrifying live-music destination for the region until . . . — — Map (db m221350) HM
On Kentucky Route 70 at Axel Creek Road, on the left when traveling north on State Route 70.
Built a mile west by Gideon D. Cobb in 1847, 9 feet across inside, 30 feet high, charcoal-fueled, with steam-powered machinery. In 1855 made 1300 tons of iron. Named for newly formed county, it was last of several ironworks operated by the Cobb . . . — — Map (db m136457) HM
On U.S. 60 at State Road 297, on the right when traveling west on U.S. 60.
Ollie M. James born 1871, three miles N.W. U.S. Representative, 1903-13, and Senator, 1913 until death, 1918. Chairman, Democratic Natl. Conventions that nominated Woodrow Wilson for President, 1912 and 1916. Last speech, in Senate Feb. 1918, upheld . . . — — Map (db m244268) HM
On Chapel Hill Road (Kentucky Route 688) 0.3 miles west of Twin Lake Drive, on the left when traveling west.
Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church
Organized in 1883 at the home of John A. Hill. Services were held in an old school house until this building was constructed on T. M. Hill's land in 1884. Rev. A. J. Thomson was first pastor. Provision for . . . — — Map (db m123791) HM
On Kentucky Route 91, 0.1 miles east of Court Street, on the left when traveling west.
For John J. Crittenden, 1787-1863, one of Kentucky’s great statesmen. 15th Governor of the state. Attorney General under three Presidents.
US Senator five times. Noted for Crittenden Compromise, 1860, futile effort to avert Civil War and . . . — — Map (db m79187) HM
On Carlisle Street just west of South Main Street (U.S. 60), on the right when traveling west.
[front side] Twenty-two Kentucky courthouses were burned during Civil War, nineteen in last fifteen months: twelve by Confederates, eight by guerrillas, two by Union accident. See map on reverse side. The courthouse at Marion was burned by . . . — — Map (db m79179) HM
On Carlisle Street just west of South Main Street (U.S. 60), on the right when traveling west.
According to local tradition, the Crittenden County Courthouse was burned by Brigadier General Hylan B. Lyon, CSA on January 25, 1865 as part of a raid into Kentucky during which Lyon’s troops burned a number of western Kentucky county courthouses. . . . — — Map (db m79189) HM
On North Walker Street north of East Bellville Street (Kentucky Route 120), on the left when traveling north.
F. Julius Fohs (1884-1965)
F. Julius Fohs was born in N.Y. but moved to Marion, Ky. in 1890. He graduated from Marion High School. Managed fluorspar mining operation, 1900-1904; served as assistant state geologist for Ky., 1905-12. . . . — — Map (db m123766) HM
On West Bellville Street (Kentucky Route 91) at North Weldon Street, on the right when traveling west on West Bellville Street.
T. J. Nunn, 1846-1917, represented Crittenden and Livingston counties in 1890 Convention which framed present constitution of Kentucky. He was Judge of Kentucky's Court of Appeals, 1903-1914; resigned because of ill health. His son, C. S. Nunn, . . . — — Map (db m123768) HM
On Sturgis Road (U.S. 60) at Adams Street on Sturgis Road.
Returning from reconnaissance and foraging mission to Ohio River, CSA Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest with cavalry here Dec. 1, 1861, learned of threats to and arrests of Southern sympathizers. While capturing a few instigators, regimental Surgeon S. M. . . . — — Map (db m123762) HM
On Carlisle Street at Court Street, on the left when traveling west on Carlisle Street.
Graduate of Dycusburg High (1927)
AB Murray State (1931)
MA University of Kentucky (1932)
PhD Clark University (1939)
War journalist, Professor, Military Biographer, Researcher, Pioneer of Oral History Techniques. Founder & President of . . . — — Map (db m244267) HM
Near Piney Cemetery Road at Kentucky Road 506, on the right when traveling west.
Organized May 1812 during the Great Awakening by Rev. Finis Ewing who preached the Whosoever Will Gospel.
The first Cumberland Presbyterian Church organized in Kentucky — — Map (db m244265) HM
On Copperas Springs Road at Kentucky Road 506, on the right when traveling north on Copperas Springs Road.
Considered first Cumberland Presbyterian church in Kentucky. Organized 1812 by a founder of the C.P. denomination, Rev. Finis Ewing. First structure made of logs; used as a place of worship and public school. Second building 1843; third structure . . . — — Map (db m244255) HM
On South Main Street at East Depot Street, on the right when traveling north on South Main Street.
Senator W. J. Deboe
Born 1849, eight mi. SE of here. Deboe was elected County School Superintendent and opened law office, 1889. State Senator, 1893-97. Elected by Legislature to U.S. Senate, 1897. He wrote the 17th Amendment to the U.S. . . . — — Map (db m123770) HM
On U.S. 641, 0.1 miles south of Hastings Lane, on the right when traveling south.
County seat, 1804, of the original Livingston County. A Presbyterian Church was started, 1797, by the Rev. Terah Templin. County seat moved to Salem, 1809. U.S. Army used earlier buildings as supply depot on the "Trail of Tears," Cherokee . . . — — Map (db m123795) HM
