Great River Road
Kentucky's Mississippi River History

Departure: Paducah, Kentucky
Destination: Columbus-Belmont State Park, Kentucky
Time to allow: 1 day

This tour of Great River Road - Kentucky takes you for a historical journey along the Mississippi River.

Day 1

  • Start: Paducah

    Paducah lies at the confluence of the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers and is the county seat of McCracken County. Twenty blocks of the Paducah Downtown Commercial District have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

  • Stop 1: Wickliffe Mounds State Park

    From previous stop: same location
    Directions:

    Travel west from the gateway city of Paducah, KY to Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site.
    Suggested time at this stop: 1 hour

    Kentucky’s Mississippi River history is showcased at the Welcome Center which offers visitors an introduction to the Wickliffe Mounds, provides interpretive historical tourism opportunities, information on park activities and is the admission desk for the museum.

    Wickliffe Mounds is the archaeological site of a prehistoric Native American village of the Mississippian mound builders. Located on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi river, the village was occupied from about AD 1100 to 1350. The Mississippians built a complex settlement with permanent houses and earthen mounds situated around a central plaza. They farmed the river bottoms and participated in a vast trade network. They also buried their dead here with dignity and respect. After the 1300’s the Mississippians at Wickliffe Mounds abandoned the village.

    In 1932, amateur archaeologist Colonel Fain W. King purchased the site and began excavating the mounds. Later joined by his wife, Blanche Busey King, they continued their excavations and operated the site as a tourist attraction known as the Ancient Buried City. Today, the Wickliffe Mounds museum exhibits the excavated features of the mounds, outstanding displays of Mississippian pottery, stone tools, bone and shell implements, the architecture of Mississippian mounds and houses, burial practices of the Mississippians and a bird’s eye view of the bluff atop the ceremonial mound.

    The museum consists of 3 excavated mounds with archaeological features, Mississippian burial practices, displays of artifacts from the site and a mural of a Mississippian village. The Ceremonial Mound is intact and can be accessed for a beautiful bird’s eye view of the park. A Hands-On Activity Touch Table rounds out a museum tour where visitors can use prehistoric tools, and learn about Mississippian artifacts, technology and their environment. These interactive exhibits are just a sample of the historic resources available to the traveling public along the Great River Road.

  • Stop 2: Fort Jefferson

    From previous stop: 3 minutes / 1 mi (1.6 km)
    Directions:

    Travel south on US 51 as you leave the Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site. Turn right at the intersection of US 51 and US 60 in Wickliffe, KY. Continue south on US 51 for approximately 1 mile and Fort Jefferson will be on your right.
    Suggested time at this stop: 30 minutes

    The site of Fort Jefferson will be clearly marked by a large cross. Fort Jefferson was a southwestern Ballard County town on the Mississippi River about one mile south of Wickliffe. It was founded in 1858 near the site of George Rogers Clark’s 1780 fort, which became known as Clarksville, and was occupied until 1781. The Fort Jefferson post office opened in 1860, but moved to the new town of Wickliffe in 1879. A later Fort Jefferson post office operated from 1891 to 1892. The town is gone and the site is now the home of the Westvaco paper factory. This site also offers a unique Mississippi River scenic overlook.

  • End: Columbus-Belmont State Park

    From previous stop: 30 minutes / 19 mi (30.4 km)
    Directions:

    Proceed south on US 51 for approximately 4 miles. Turn right on KY 1203 and continue south. Follow the KY 1203 and National GRR route markers to the intersection of KY 123. Turn right on KY 123 and proceed south to Columbus Belmont State Park.

    Columbus-Belmont State Park is a 156-acre site that played a fascinating role in the War Between the States. This is the site of fortifications built by the Confederates and later occupied by Union forces. The 1861 Battle of Belmont, a raid fought to test the strength of this Confederate stronghold, marked the opening of the Union’s Western Campaign. It was also Union General Ulysses S. Grant’s first active engagement in the Civil War. Some of the artillery, which shelled the Union troops, and the six-ton anchor that held the great chain stretching across the river, are on display in the park.

    There is a 2.5-mile self-guided hiking trail in the Park. Dramatic images of the Civil War come to mind when walking on the bluffs and massive earthen works that formed the Confederate trenches.

    Students of all ages can learn about the area and the Civil War in the newly renovated museum. The park has a snack bar, gift shop, miniature golf, a picnic area and playground with shelters that are available for rental up to one year in advance. The museum is open daily May through September and weekends in April and October (or by appointment).

    Campers relax amid beautiful settings on the river cliff campground. The campground has 38 sites with utility hookups and grills. A central service building offers rest rooms, showers, and laundry facilities. Pets are allowed if restrained. Campground open year-round with limited facilities during the winter months.

Totals for Day 1

Total Distance Traveled: 20 miles / 32.0 km
Total Travel Time: 33 minutes
Total Stopping Time: 1 hour 30 minutes