Jefferson Davis Memorial Obelisk - Fairview, KY
N 36° 50.524 W 087° 18.016
16S E 473228 N 4077394
Large monument that can be seen for miles.
Waymark Code: WM2V2P
Location: Kentucky, United States
Date Posted: 12/23/2007
Views: 130
The Jefferson Davis Monument State Historic Site is a Kentucky State Park preserving the birthplace of Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States of America. It is located in Fairview, Kentucky, in Todd County, nine miles east of Hopkinsville along U.S. Highway 68. The focal point of the site is a 351-foot[1] (107 m) tall concrete obelisk. Coordinates: 36.8421° N 87.3003° W
Simon Bolivar Buckner, Sr., a Confederate general, first proposed the idea of a monument for Davis during a reunion of the Orphan Brigade of the Confederate Army in 1907. Construction began in 1917 but stopped in 1918 at a height of 175 feet due to building material rationing during World War I. Construction resumed in January 1922 and was finished in 1924 at a cost of $200,000. The base was constructed of limestone quarried from the site. The concrete walls are 8.5 feet thick at the base and taper to 2.5 feet thick at the top.[1] The monument was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 as structure #73000849. The obelisk was closed to the public from 1999 until May 2004 for renovations and construction of a new visitor center. An elevator takes visitors to an observation platform at the top.[1]
The Jefferson Davis State Historic Site is one of eleven historic sites in Kentucky which include small parks and are maintained by the Kentucky Department of Parks.[2] The park covers 19 acres and includes open and covered picnic areas, as well as a playground. At the visitors’ center, visitors can watch a video describing Davis’s life and the construction of the monument. The center sells books and memorabilia about Davis, the American Civil War, and the surrounding area, as well as Kentucky handicrafts. The park is open from May 1 until October 31.
Date Created/Placed: 1917
Height: 351ft
Website: [Web Link]
Address: Not listed
Illuminated: Not Listed
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Visit Instructions:
Give a narrative of your experience. What did you think of the obelisk? Did you learn anything? Photos are always welcome too. Please no virtual visits.