Kentucky - West Point

 

Fort Duffield was built by the Salt River near the Ohio River

 

 

Fort Duffield was named for one of the soldiers’ father, a minister. The Fort was built as a part of a Union effort to defend the Louisville Nashville turnpike approach to Louisville and the railroad near Louisville. The soldiers that died while serving at Fort Duffield died from several causes. The most common cause was infectious disease. One soldier was killed by a sniper. The labor to build Fort Duffield is evident at the site of the Fort.  Neighbor was to fight neighbor. Brother was to fight brother. The country was so divided that it’s own inhabitants were fighting and killing each other in battles. It is a sobering place; the reason for the Fort being constructed brings sorrow to one’s mind.

Tennessee - Franklin

The Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge is located northwest of the historic town of Franklin, Tennessee. The bridge was completed in 1993. The deck is supported by the bridge's cathedral arch design. The minimalist design has won multiple awards.

Kentucky - Clermont

Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest

The Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest was provided to the people of Kentucky by Isaac W. Bernheim.  The Olmsted firm provided the landscape plan for the Arboretum.  Isaac Bernheim paid for the stature of Lincoln at the Louisville Public Library.  The graves of Isaac Bernheim and many family members are at the Arboretum. During his life Issac Bernheim moved to Colorado.  He was attracted to Kentucky and he was attracted to Colorado.

Kentucky - Corbin

 T. Coleman du Pont wanted to preserve the Falls at Cumberland Falls so anyone could see them. He purchased the land with the intent to give the land to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. During the process he died.  His widow, Alice Elsie du Pont did the work  so his wishes could be fullfiled. She gave the land to build the park to the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Kentucky - Carrollton

General Butler State Resort Park 

The Butler - Turpin house at General Butler State Resort Park shows chairs, beds, tables and other furnishings of the time before 1860.  Some of the furnishings were believed to have been transported by River from Cincinnati. This would have been a perilous journey in that day. The red brick walkways surrounding the house were not original.  The residents of the Butler - Turpin house would not have seen the red brick walkways. The red brick paths were believed to have been constructed in the 1960s.

Kentucky - Whitley City

Ywahoo Creek is the source for Ywahoo Falls near Whitley City, Kentucky.  A trail goes to Ywahoo Creek where a ford can be made by foot travel.  A huge rock shelter is present at the Falls area.  The scenic Ywahoo Falls area is in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation area.  The narrow road that must be used to access the Falls Area begins at a local fueling station called Becky’s.  Adjacent to the Big South Fork property is the Daniel Boone National Forest.  The Ywahoo Falls area is a dramatically scenic natural area. 

Kentucky - Parker’s Lake

A lake was built by the Cincinnati Southern railroad in McCreary County Kentucky to provide water for the railroad’s locomotives. A Cumberland Falls station was built on the Cincinnati Southern line at Parker’s Lake. There travelers could get a wagon to go to see the Cumberland Falls.  The Cumberland Falls is considered one of the most scenic places in the Southeast. Mules were there to move the wagons to Cumberland Falls.  Travelers had to endure a rough four hour ride to get to see the Cumberland Falls.

The limestone formations

The bedrock of this area.  In a 1915 Kentucky Geological Survey publication, three formations were presented for the Louisville area.  The deep formation was described as the Saluda limestone. The name came from Saluda Creek near Hanover, Indiana. The formation overlying the Saluda formation was presented as the Brassfield formation.  The name came from the town of Brassfield, Kentucky. The uppermost of the formations was described as the Osgood formation. The name came from the town of Osgood, Indiana. The Louisville area has a firm foundation under the community. The foundation is based on three formations.

St. Matthews Brown Park

The land for the park was donated to the city of St. Matthews by the James Graham Brown family.  The park is the site for the columns that represent the limestone under the area.  The columns have features that are symbolic of 10 year, 50 year and 100 year flood events.  The columns are an artist’s work based on the limestone geology of the region. 

Louisville’s Olmsted Parks - Cherokee

Frederick Law Olmsted  shared his vision for Cherokee Park in his 1891 report to the Park Comission.  Cherokee Park was to have sloping spaces along the flowing Beargrass Creek.  Some tree planting was done but the topography was largely unchanged. In the 1960s I-64 was built through the park. The surviving area of the park remains a place of beauty.

Louisville’s Olmsted Parks - Iroquois

Eastern Redbud adds to the color in the Iroquois Park woods

 

Olmsted stated his vision for Iroquois Park in his 1891 report to the Park Commission. Olmsted said Iroquois provided “the grandeur of forest depths.”Iroquois Park was to provide the visitor with the experience of being surrounded by the forest. The central hill was to provide overlooks to view the surrounding land. Iroquois was and is unique in the park system.

Louisville’s Olmsted Parks - Shawnee

Frederick Law Olmsted provided an 1891 report to the Park Commission.  In Olmsted’s vision for the Louisville parks the topography of the land would not require much change.  Shawnee would have terraces sloping to the shore of the river.  With large areas available, Shawnee would be the Louisville park for outdoor public meetings.  The corridor of the river was to be the attraction.  Picnic areas and flower gardens were to provide visitors with settings to match with the scenic river corridor.

Coastal forts

President Lincoln tried to find a way to save the lives of the soldiers at the coastal fort at Fort Sumter without causing a war.  Fort Sumter was in the bay of Charleston Harbor.  One of  ideas he considered was to add resources to Fort Pickens.  Fort Pickens had soldiers and was located at the coastal area at Pensacola, Florida. Lincoln was unable to keep Fort Sumter but in the process of the capture of the fort the soldiers were sent North to safety.  Fort Monroe on the coast of Virginia was in the region of the South but was never captured in the war between the states.  During the war of the rebellion Lincoln stayed at Fort Monroe to meet with generals involved in operational planning.