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Civil War Discovery Trail
Click here to download a printable pdf of the brochure.
Click here to view a video on the Civil War Discovery Trail
Click here to see a 360 degree virtual tour of Fort Webb
Download the FREE Civil War Audio Tour here
Kentucky was of such great strategic importance, that
Abraham Lincoln stated in an 1861 letter, “I think to lose Kentucky
is nearly the same as to lose the whole game.” With Kentuckians
divided between North and South, the state adopted a policy of neutrality
at the beginning of the Civil War. The status ended in early September
1861, when Confederate troops under General Gideon Pillow seized the Mississippi
River town of Columbus, Kentucky. The Union army under General Ulysses
S. Grant responded by taking the cities of Paducah and Smithland, Kentucky.
Fully realizing its importance to
the Southern cause, Confederate General Simon Bolivar Buckner led approximately
4000 troops to occupy Bowling Green on 18 September 1861.
Both sides wanted control over Bowling Green and Warren
County. The county’s productive farms and its ample quantities of
fresh water promised plentiful supplies for an army. The center of a reliable
and defensible transportation network made Bowling Green one of the state’s
most strategic cities. The Louisville-Nashville Railroad, a system of
roadways, and the Big Barren River could be relied upon to move men and
supplies quickly and efficiently. Guns placed on the fortified hills around
the city could easily defend these transportation routes. Confederate
General Albert Sidney Johnston, commander of the Confederate defenses
between the Appalachian Mountains and the Indian Territory, chose Bowling
Green as his headquarters. A pro-Confederate state government formed in
Russellville, the county seat of neighboring Logan County, in November
1861. It declared Kentucky to be a “free and independent state”
and made Bowling Green the Capital of the Confederate State of Kentucky.
By late 
1861,
Bowling Green became the heart of the Confederacy’s efforts in Kentucky.
The new year brought serious concern to the Confederate occupation force. A Union victory at Mill Springs, in Eastern Kentucky, on 19 January 1862, and General Grant’s victories at Forts Henry and Donelson to the west, made Bowling Green untenable for the Confederates. Union General Don Carlos Buell advanced his Army of the Ohio southward from the Green River. Under the command of General Ormsby Mitchel, Bowling Green was bombarded from across the Barren River. The Confederate army evacuated the city, and by mid-February 1862, the city fell into Union hands. Federal troops controlled Bowling Green and Kentucky for the rest of the war.
By 1864, there was a vigorous effort by the federal government to recruit and enlist slaves in Kentucky. Bowling Green and seven other military camps were designated to receive and protect those recruits.
Download the Introduction to the Civil War Audio tour
1. Lost
River Cave & Valley Lost River Cave and Valley served as a camp for both Union and Confederate troops in this area. Lost River offered a natural water supply and the beauty of the cave provided a diversion from the ugliness of war. On one of his “lightning raids” into Kentucky, John Hunt Morgan allegedly hid in the cave when escaping from pursuing troops. There is an admission fee to tour Lost River Cave. For more information call 270 393-0077 or visit www.lostrivercave.com. From I-65, take exit #22, US231, heading
north. GPS Points: 36 57.209N/ 86 28.423W Also visit Octagon Hall, about ten miles south of Lost River cave on US 31W. http://octagonhall.topcities.com/index.htm |
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2. " Jonesville” Historical Marker This marker denotes the original site of Jonesville, an African American community that was founded in 1867 by Charles L. Jones, an emancipated slave. It is unknown how a black man, immediately after the war, would have had the resources to own so much land. The property may have been purchased with funds saved from his war service. This reconstruction era settlement grew to include several hundred residents, an elementary school, businesses, and two churches. Turn right on US 31W North/Nashville Road GPS Points: 36 58.979N/ 86 27.732W |
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3. The Kentucky Building & “Confederate State Capital of Kentucky” Historical Marker, US 68 The Kentucky Building houses the Kentucky Library, the Kentucky Museum and the Center for the Study of the Civil War, which have tremendous resources for Civil War research, including manuscripts, books, newspapers and artifacts. A small admission fee is charged at the Museum which houses the Civil War exhibit, "A Star in Each Flag: Conflict in Kentucky." The marker, located at the opposite corner of the building from the parking area, identifies Bowling Green as the State Capital. For more information, call 270-745-2592 or visit www.wku.edu/Library/kylm/. Continue on Hwy 68/80/Big Red Way intersection GPS Points: 36 59.339N/ 86 27.253N |
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4. Fort Lytle, Western Kentucky University Also known as Fort Albert Sidney Johnston, this fort is located at the summit of the hill on Western Kentucky University’s campus. The Confederate army began construction of this fort during its occupation of Bowling Green, but it was completed by Union forces. There is no readily available parking on weekdays. Leaving the Kentucky Building turn right
on Kentucky St.; GPS Points: 36 59.243N/ 86 27.153W |
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5. Grider
House Private Residence This antebellum home owned by a Union sympathizer, was captured by the Confederate Army. A garrison of soldiers was stationed to protect this house, which served as Kentucky’s Confederate Capitol Building. It was the residence of the Confederate Governor, and provisional government meetings took place there as well. This hill also contained a “lunette fort” and mounted three cannon. 0.2 miles follow one-way lane down from
hilltop; turn left on Normal/ State St. GPS Points: 36 59.157N/ 86 26.669W |
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6. “College Hill”
Historical Marker, Fort C.F. Smith was located south of town on College Hill, now referred to as Reservoir or Hospital Hill. Some of the limestone blocks used to build its walls and foundation are still visible, as well as earthworks constructed under the command of Colonel Benjamin Harrison, who later became President. This was the largest and most elaborate fort in Bowling Green’s defensive system. It was described as a large “bastion fort” and may have mounted up to 25 cannon. A highway marker is located at the corner of Main and Park Streets and a “John Hunt Morgan Trail” interpretive panel is located to the right of the picnic pavilion. 0.4 miles turn right at 4th stop sign onto
Main St. GPS Points: 36 59.327N/ 86 26.227W |
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7. "Civil War Occupations”
Historical Marker, The marker describes the occupation of this area by both Confederate and Union troops. There is also a stone monument in Fountain Square Park that recognizes Bowling Green as the Confederate Capital of Kentucky. The Kentucky Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy erected the monument on 10 December 1949. Turn around and return down Main St. to
Fountain Square Park and “Circle the Square” GPS Points: 36 59.581N/ 86 26.481W |
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8. “Warren
County’s Chief USA Civil War Officers” Historical Marker,
This marker recognizes Warren County’s Chief Union Civil War Officers and lists those who received the Confederate Medals of Honor in 1863. From the square, walk one block south on College Street to the Warren County Courthouse at the corner of College and 10th Streets. GPS Points: 36 59.563N/ 86 26.567W |
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9. “Baker
Hill” Historical Marker, Fort Baker stood on a hill north of the city on Barren River to defend Bowling Green against the troops coming from the north and east. It was from here that Union General Ormsby Mitchel launched his bombardment of Bowling Green while the Confederate army evacuated the city. Sadly, this hill was partially leveled to develop the four-lane highway, US 31W. From the square, turn left at Old Louisville
Rd./State St. GPS Points: 37 00.324N/ 85 25.235W |
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10. “A
Civil War Defense Line” Historical Marker This general area of Bowling Green was used as a defensive line by both Confederate and Union Troops. Return on Old Louisville Road/State Street GPS Points: 37 00.062N / 86 25.842W |
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11. Riverview
at Hobson Grove Historic House Museum & “Hobson House”
Historical Marker Construction of Riverview began in 1857 but was not completed until after the Civil War. During the occupation by both Confederate and Union troops, the house’s foundation and four walls were used as a fort, while the basement was used as an ammunition depot for the entire fortification system of Bowling Green. Today this house is fully restored and open to the public for a small admission fee. For more information call 270-843-5565. www.bgky.org/riverview Leaving the park turn right on US 31W/ Riverview
Drive GPS Points: 37 00.694N/ 86 27.597W |
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12. James R. Hines Boatlanding
Park The Big Barren River was a major contributing factor to making Bowling Green a strategic location for both armies. The river offered a plentiful supply of fresh water for the troops and it was an ideal way to move men and supplies quickly and efficiently. This area was protected by the guns of Fort Baker. Nearby was one of several military hospitals located in the Bowling Green area. This small park beside the river offers opportunities for fishing, boating and picnics. Return to Jackson St. and turn left GPS Points: 37 00.968N/ 86 26.577W |
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13. Fort
Webb Park & “Fort Webb” Historical Marker Now located in a city park, this fort has retained its original configuration since the time it was constructed by the Confederate army. A historical marker explains its unusual earthworks which were described as a “lunette fort with embankments” and three mounted cannon. This marker also includes a map of Civil War fortifications in Bowling Green. Turn left on Boatlanding Road GPS Points: 37 00.778N/ 86 25.975W |
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14. Confederate
Monument & “Home of Thomas Hines” Historical Marker The Confederate Monument, located in Fairview Cemetery’s older section, was dedicated in 1876 before a crowd of 12,000. Several hundred bodies, moved to this site, are believed to be buried in concentric circles around the obelisk carved from local limestone. Outside the cemetery gates, a historical marker identifies Thomas Henry Hines, a Butler County native and Confederate spy who was known as the most dangerous man of the Confederacy. Return on Country Club Drive to Beech Bend
Road; turn right. GPS Points: 36 59.524N/ 86 25.175W |
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15. Mt. Moriah Cemetery, St. Joseph’s Lane Mt. Moriah Cemetery is an African-American graveyard established in the late 1870s. It includes several graves of Union soldiers. To locate the graves of Civil War soldiers, look for rectangular monuments with the inscription in a carved “shield.” Common abbreviations are “C. Inf.” for Colored Infantry, “Col” or “Col’d” for Colored, “USCC” for U.S. Colored Calvary, “USCHA” for U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery, “USCI” for U.S. Colored Infantry and “USCT” for Colored Troops. Charcoal or other types of “rubbings” of monuments causes deterioration of old stone. Instead, please use photographs as your souvenir. Continue through the cemetery keeping to
the right. GPS Points: 36 59.784N/ 86 25.197W |
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Kentucky Caves, Lakes & Corvettes Region