Buffalo Trace - Frankfort, KY - Ancient Traces and Roads on Waymarking.com

Inscription. On July 16th, 1773, James McAfee, George McAfee, Robert McAfee, James McCoun Jr., Samuel Adams and Hancock Taylor following the Buffalo Trace from Big Bone lick, crossed the Kentucky River at this point, and made the first survey upon it.

Here in the Summer of 1775, Hancock Lee, Willis Lee, Cyrus McCracken and “A Few Comrades” established Lee’s Town, at which George Rogers Clark lived for a time, and expected to make his home.

Here Willis Lee was killed by Indians in 1776, and the settlement temporarily scattered, but in 1789 it was flourishing and an important stopping place, both for travelers on the river and for those who followed the Buffalo Trace.

Erected 1931 by Susannah Hart Shelby Chapter N.S.D.A.R. Frankfort, Kentucky.

Herds of buffalo roaming across Kentucky carved rudimentary roads into the Earth later used by the pioneers during the settlement period of our state's history. Many modern roads still roughly follow the paths carved by the huge bison as they made their way from stamping grounds to salt springs.
One of these buffalo trails ran from McConnell Springs in Fayette County and forded the Kentucky River at a shallow bar near the now extinct community of Leestown. This trail is now roughly U.S. 421 or Leestown Road. The distillery located there is called Buffalo Trace in recognition of this historic crossing.
After crossing the river, the buffalo climbed the river hills to the northwest, making their way toward the Falls of the Ohio River. The movement and their wallowing scraped the vegetation from a prominent knob in the area, making it appear "bald." This moniker is still used to describe the northwestern part of Franklin County.

Feature Discription: The original Leestown area along the Kentucky River was known to have been a buffalo river crossing area. The Buffalo Trace was described as being a hundred feet wide and the dust several inches deep; in some places the hoofs of the buffaloes had worn the Web address for the route: [Web Link] Beginning of the road: Falls of the Ohio End of the road: Leestown on the Kentucky River Secondary Web Address: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
We ask that if you visit the site, please include a unique picture with your impressions of the location. If possible, and if you are not too shy, please include yourself and your group in the photo. Extra points will be given for your best buffalo imitation or if you are licking something salty.

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