Grand Rivers Furnace.
Built ½ mile west, 1890-91, by the Grand Rivers Coal, Iron and Railroad Co. Two stacks, each one 60 ft high with a maximum inner diameter of 13½ ft., together could produce 45,000 tons of iron yearly, using . . . — — Map (db m47239) HM
During the late 1800's iron created a boom in Kentucky, and the discovery of iron ore in the Grand Rivers area attracted Thomas Lawson and the Grand Rivers Company to the area.
The company owned 18,000 acres of mineral lands, 3,000 acres of . . . — — Map (db m244272) HM
At the time of early settlement, Kentucky looked very different than it does today. Over two million acres of the state were native prairie, maintained through the use of fire by American Indians over thousands of years. Exclusion of fire, . . . — — Map (db m174681) HM
"We found them in the forest camped for the night by the road side under a severe fall of rain accompanied by heavy wind. With their canvas for a shield from the inclemency of the weather, and the cold wet ground for a resting place, after the . . . — — Map (db m174684) HM
Hiking Trail Map
You are invited to walk along the same path the Cherokee traveled in 1838-1839.
Retracing the Trail of Tears
During that harsh winter, 11 detachments containing more than 10,000 Cherokee passed through this area, . . . — — Map (db m174657) HM
Over 1,400 Cherokee men, women, and children from Peter Hildebrand's detachment spent two bitterly cold weeks camped in this area during the harsh winter of 1838-1839.
The detachments ahead of them had successfully crossed the icy Ohio River, . . . — — Map (db m174648) HM
The stream in front of you is a tributary to McGilligan Creek, a unique stream in western Kentucky. Most rivers and streams in this part of the state are muddy and full of sediments. McGilligan Creek, a rocky, clear-flowing stream with a . . . — — Map (db m174690) HM
Protect
The story of Mantle Rock Nature Preserve begins with its rare and fragile sandstone glades, which inspired The Nature Conservancy to protect the area. Glades are characterized by low-fertility soils in which only certain species . . . — — Map (db m174695) HM
Here, you leave the historic Trail of Tears original route. It turns to your right, across the creek onto private property, and continues to the Ohio River. The Cherokee crossed the river at Berry's Ferry, landing at Golconda. From there, they . . . — — Map (db m174687) HM
Mantle Rock is the largest freestanding arch east of the Mississippi River. It is 188 feet long and 30 feet high. Some of the plants found here are not known to grow anywhere else in Kentucky. This very beautiful and historic place has many . . . — — Map (db m159929) HM
Home to thousands of men, women, and children, the Cherokee Nation once spread across Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama. The 1830 Indian Removal Act required that the Cherokee surrender their land and move west.
In 1838, more . . . — — Map (db m174647) HM
"...we have Suffered a great deal...The roads are in very bad Order as the ground was frozen very deep...We have been lying by about two weeks...The [river] has been full of large quantities of floating Ice...we must calculate on suffering a . . . — — Map (db m174656) HM
"The Indians as a whole carry in their countenances every thing but the appearance of happiness. Some carry a downcast dejected look bordering on the appearance of despair…" - New York Observer, January 26, . . . — — Map (db m174677) HM
This tree was only a seedling when the Cherokee paused here. Imagine the scene - it was a tree like this one that a weary Cherokee man sat against in a winter camp. His family struggled to make a simple, warm, resting place for his family elder, . . . — — Map (db m174682) HM
This area was part of different counties as they were developed.
1780 Lincoln, county seat at Harrodsburg. One of 3 original Ky. counties
1792 Logan, county seat at Logan Court House now Russellville.
1797 Christian county seat at . . . — — Map (db m244270) HM
Sept. 1861, Union forces occupied strategic Smithland. The junction of the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers became a rendezvous and staging area for troops and supplies in support of Gen. Grant's campaign against Fort Donelson. Two forts, on hills . . . — — Map (db m159503) HM
For Robert R. Livingston, 1746-1813 N.Y. provincial convention 1775; Continental Congress 1775-77, 1779-81; one of the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence. Sec. of Foreign Affairs, 1781-83. Administered oath to Washington, first . . . — — Map (db m159390) HM
Rocky Hill, one mile north, home
of Lucy Jefferson Lewis, youngest
sister, Thomas Jefferson author
of Declaration of Independence
and third president of U. S. She
was born in 1752, Albemarle Co.,
Va. Came to Ky., 1808, with her
husband Dr. . . . — — Map (db m170133) HM
(left side of marker)
When Crittenden County was separated from Livingston County in 1842 the county seat for Livingston County was moved to Smithland from Salem. Planning and construction for this courthouse began that same . . . — — Map (db m159384) HM
During winter of 1838-1839, the Cherokees were forced to leave their Smoky Mountain homes for Oklahoma territory. Mantle Rock, a 40-foot sandstone arch, was used for shelter on their "Trail of Tears." Since the icy Ohio River had no ferry traffic, . . . — — Map (db m136462) HM
Ned Buntline. Pen name of Edward Z. C. Judson,
father of the dime novel, came to
Smithland to publish his works;
lived here in 1845. He brought
fame to “Buffalo Bill” (William Cody)
thru stories and promotion
of his renowned . . . — — Map (db m170134) HM
Hopewell Furnace. Also called Ozeoro, built ½ mile
north in 1848 by Wm. L. Hiter,
Wm. Lewis and Henry F. Given. A
brick stack 30 ft. high, 9 ft. in
maximum inner diameter, it was
charcoal-fueled
powered with air blast by steam. In 33 . . . — — Map (db m170127) HM
Underwood Furnace. Built ¾ mile north in 1846-47
by James C. Sloo and Leonard
White. It was a brick structure
with a steam powered air-blast,
using locally made charcoal fuel
to produce pig iron from ore
mined nearby. Iron was shipped
by . . . — — Map (db m170130) HM
