| Visit Lewis County, Kentucky |
Cabin Creek #143, Tollesboro, KY 10, west of Ribolt
Early point of entry into Kentucky for explorers and pioneers. From it, marauding Indians forded
across the Ohio River. War roads, marked with drawings of animals, the sun, and the moon, led from
its mouth to Upper Blue Licks.
Cabin Creek Covered Bridge #1572, 4.5 mi. NW of Tollesboro on KY 984
Built ca. 1870, this 114 ft. covered bridge spans Cabin Creek. The name of the builder is unknown. It
was constructed on Burr truss design, with laminated arches and truss rods added later. Louis Bower
employed arches in early 1900s. Lack of siding creates a window effect along entire length. Bridge
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 1976. (See picture below)
Route For Horses And Cattle #205, Vanceburg, KY 8 & KY 3037
In 1775, Col. Robert Patterson, Wm. McConnell, David Perry and Stephen Lowry brought the first
horses (9) and cattle (14) into northern Kentucky. Animals were brought by boat from Ft. Pitt and
driven overland from here to the early inland settlements.
Union Memorial #215, Vanceburg, Courthouse lawn, 112 Second St.
The only Union monument south of the Mason-Dixon line erected by public subscription except those
in cemeteries. This unique memorial was dedicated in 1884 to the 107 Lewis County soldiers who
gave their lives for the Union during the Civil War.
Esculapia Springs #778, Charters, AA Hwy & KY 989
Site of one of the most popular health resorts along Ohio River, 1845-60. Mineral water from spring
widely used for medicinal purposes. Resort was easy to access by boat and drew many out of state
guests until destroyed by fire in 1860. Decline in use of spring water followed. Twenty other
antebellum watering places flourished in Kentucky.
County Named, 1806 #803, Vanceburg, Courthouse lawn, 112 Second St.
Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark expedition, sent out by President Jefferson to explore the
northwest, 1804-05. Followed the Missouri River to source, crossed mountains, then Columbia River
to Pacific. Lewis born Va., 1774. US army, 1795; captain, 1800. Private Secretary to Jefferson,
1801-03. Terr. Gov. of Louisiana, 1807-09. Died, 1809, buried in Tennessee
.
Magnificent Pin Oak #1393, 1 mi. E. of Charters, N. of KY 10
One of the largest and oldest pin- or swamp-oak trees in the world. In 1970, when the highway was
relocated, it was about one hundred and fifty years old; its trunk circumference was 16.2 feet; the
diameter at breast height was five feet, and the total height was 58 feet. This historic oak is preserved
as one of nature's beautiful achievements.
Three Tanyards #1656, Vanceburg, Ky. 59 & Ky. 344
Lewis Co., rich in tanbark (What is tanbark? See below), has had several tanneries. The father of Ulysses
S. Grant was a manufacturer of leather associated with three tanyards in this area. Jesse Grant in
1846 bought a tanyard near the celebrated Esculapia Springs. He later operated a large tannery with
Grimes family, relatives in Concord. Third tanyard he owned was at mouth of Grassy at Kinniconick.
Early point of entry into Kentucky for explorers and pioneers. From it, marauding Indians forded
across the Ohio River. War roads, marked with drawings of animals, the sun, and the moon, led from
its mouth to Upper Blue Licks.
Cabin Creek Covered Bridge #1572, 4.5 mi. NW of Tollesboro on KY 984
Built ca. 1870, this 114 ft. covered bridge spans Cabin Creek. The name of the builder is unknown. It
was constructed on Burr truss design, with laminated arches and truss rods added later. Louis Bower
employed arches in early 1900s. Lack of siding creates a window effect along entire length. Bridge
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 1976. (See picture below)
Route For Horses And Cattle #205, Vanceburg, KY 8 & KY 3037
In 1775, Col. Robert Patterson, Wm. McConnell, David Perry and Stephen Lowry brought the first
horses (9) and cattle (14) into northern Kentucky. Animals were brought by boat from Ft. Pitt and
driven overland from here to the early inland settlements.
Union Memorial #215, Vanceburg, Courthouse lawn, 112 Second St.
The only Union monument south of the Mason-Dixon line erected by public subscription except those
in cemeteries. This unique memorial was dedicated in 1884 to the 107 Lewis County soldiers who
gave their lives for the Union during the Civil War.
Esculapia Springs #778, Charters, AA Hwy & KY 989
Site of one of the most popular health resorts along Ohio River, 1845-60. Mineral water from spring
widely used for medicinal purposes. Resort was easy to access by boat and drew many out of state
guests until destroyed by fire in 1860. Decline in use of spring water followed. Twenty other
antebellum watering places flourished in Kentucky.
County Named, 1806 #803, Vanceburg, Courthouse lawn, 112 Second St.
Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark expedition, sent out by President Jefferson to explore the
northwest, 1804-05. Followed the Missouri River to source, crossed mountains, then Columbia River
to Pacific. Lewis born Va., 1774. US army, 1795; captain, 1800. Private Secretary to Jefferson,
1801-03. Terr. Gov. of Louisiana, 1807-09. Died, 1809, buried in Tennessee
.
Magnificent Pin Oak #1393, 1 mi. E. of Charters, N. of KY 10
One of the largest and oldest pin- or swamp-oak trees in the world. In 1970, when the highway was
relocated, it was about one hundred and fifty years old; its trunk circumference was 16.2 feet; the
diameter at breast height was five feet, and the total height was 58 feet. This historic oak is preserved
as one of nature's beautiful achievements.
Three Tanyards #1656, Vanceburg, Ky. 59 & Ky. 344
Lewis Co., rich in tanbark (What is tanbark? See below), has had several tanneries. The father of Ulysses
S. Grant was a manufacturer of leather associated with three tanyards in this area. Jesse Grant in
1846 bought a tanyard near the celebrated Esculapia Springs. He later operated a large tannery with
Grimes family, relatives in Concord. Third tanyard he owned was at mouth of Grassy at Kinniconick.
| Kentucky Historical Society markers in Lewis County |
Cabin Creek Covered Bridge
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Tanbark is a bark rich in tannin (a soluble
astringent) bruised or cut into small pieces
and used in tanning hides into leather.
astringent) bruised or cut into small pieces
and used in tanning hides into leather.