Paducah/McCracken County, Kentucky
Paducah in McCracken County, KY, is known best for its commitment to the arts and to its outdoor spaces along rivers. Developed at the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers, McCracken County has been vital to our nation’s history and present-day lifestyles and it’s brimming with culture, evidenced by a long list of famous athletes and entertainers who have called Paducah home.
Visit Paducah!
Cultural Experiences
Paducah is proudly recognized as a UNESCO Creative City thanks to its dedication to appreciation and commitment to the arts, both performing and visual.
The city has a long history of making musicians feel welcome, as it has hosted legendary figures including Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, B.B. King, Ike and Tina Turner, and much more. This musical history is captured at the Hotel Metropolitan, a humble two-story structure which many icons of blues, soul, and R&B stayed at for performances in Paducah.
The hotel has become a key symbol of Paducah’s history, and it has been recognized by preservation groups from around the country, including the Save America’s Treasures Grant program.
Its musical history doesn’t stop there, however, as it has a continuous legacy of producing and hosting incredible talent. With various venues across the county where music lovers can enjoy a live performance (including the sizable Carson Center, which hosts national Broadway touring shows), it is no wonder why so many country, bluegrass, and Christian performers and musicians hail from Paducah, including the all-time top-selling Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman. Fun fact: the saxophonist who originated “Yakety Sax,” better known as the iconic theme to “The Benny Hill Show,” is from Paducah as well.
Visual art is no less appreciated in McCracken County, in fact it is uniquely celebrated at the National Quilt Museum, which attracts visitors from around the world. Officially designated a national museum by the U.S. Congress, there is no better place to appreciate the art of quilting, regardless of one’s experience with the medium. Kentucky is uniquely qualified to host a quilting museum given its numerous barn quilt trails in different counties.
If quilting doesn’t sound like your thing, another local museum steeped in Americana you can check out is the Paducah Railroad Museum just up the road. Visitors are greeted outside by an impressive historic locomotive complete with several cars, and inside there is plenty of antiquated railroad equipment and models to see. It is a great place to learn about freight rail through an interactive simulator, as well as historic images and info plaques.
The other side of Paducah’s transportation history, the water, gets its own educational venue in the city. The River Discovery Center offers interactive science experiences, Civil War and local 1937 flood history, impressive models, a music station, live animals, a play area, and more.
Brewing, distilling, and culinary arts are also much appreciated in Paducah, and there are local spots to satisfy your cravings. Historic Downtown especially has several options if you want to grab a drink made in Kentucky, whether it’s wine, beer, or spirits.
Paducah is home to many tried-and-true American chain restaurants, but that doesn’t mean it lacks in options if that’s not your thing. Cajun, Italian, Mexican, and more all fill out the comprehensive list of eateries around Paducah, and experiences range from a fancy sit-down at Cynthia’s Ristorante to casual homestyle grub at Loopy Larry’s. Locals often laud Freight House for its fine dining, and its owner won in an episode of Chopped and was twice a runner-up on Top Chef.
Between barbecue, bars, burritos, bakeries, and bowls of ice cream, there are tons of local flavors you won’t find anywhere else.
Outdoor Recreation
The Tennessee River provides limitless opportunities for outdoor recreation, including paddling, boating, and of course, fishing. Catfish and bass are the signature catches of the area much like the rest of the RiverLine. If that’s not enough, its connection to the Ohio River offers even more opportunities and variety.
Hiking and nature walks are easily accessible via Paducah’s five mile greenway and riverfront trail, but if visitors need more the nearby Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge provides an additional three miles of seasonal hiking trails. Hunting and birding are also popular at the refuge, and it has plenty of sanctuaries for local species. Be sure to do your research before heading out, as you never know what you may see in such a biodiverse and essential habitat.
Bob Noble Park offers scenic waterscapes, as well as unique architecture which can make guests feel as though they’re traveling through time when they enter its gates. There are plenty of ways for families to blow off some steam there, including a playground and skate park, as well as some multi-use trails.
Early History and Industry
The confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers has drawn people to the Paducah and McCracken County areas for centuries, and the Chickasaw people were living there when the first white settlers arrived in 1778.
George Rogers Clark, brother of legendary pioneer William Clark, claimed the land in 1795, but it remained the home of the Chickasaw until the Jackson Purchase of 1818. A little less than a decade after the purchase, William Clark arrived with a deed to the land from the U.S. Supreme Court and gave the area the name of “Paducah.” The Padoucah were a tribe west of the Mississippi who were decimated by European settlers, according to a letter Clark wrote and receipts from the French in Louisiana. By Chickasaw and material historic accounts, there was neither a chief nor a tribe named Paducah (or its many different spellings) in this region of the country.
The community was incorporated a few years later in 1830, and became the county seat of McCracken County–formed in 1825 and named after fallen War of 1812 Captain Virgil McCracken–in 1832. Much of the local history is preserved at the William Clark Market House Museum, which is as aesthetically appealing on the outside as it is fascinating inside. Another building of note is the historic and unique City Hall, which is worth checking out for its rare architectural style.
The town and county grew quickly, especially as steamboat and railroad travel exploded across the nation. Access to the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers, as well as proximity to the Mississippi, proved to be as advantageous as the Clark brothers anticipated and people flocked to Paducah for jobs in shipping and industrial production.
Paducah’s shipping and manufacturing industries have remained strong, and the river is no less a part of the city’s lifestyle and history. A flood in 1937 proved historically disastrous, causing millions of dollars worth of damage and burying 90% of the city in water. The U.S. Army Civil Corps of Engineers built a large flood wall on the river’s banks, and the flood wall murals are a major attraction today for visitors and residents alike.
The Civil War in Paducah
Given the importance of rivers and railroads during the Civil War, there was always going to be a military presence and an eye on Paducah from both sides. At the beginning of the conflict, McCracken County residents strongly leaned towards the South with their allegiance.
Union General Ulysses S. Grant recognized Paducah’s value very early on in the war and captured it in September 1861 to no resistance. The Confederacy, which had just packed up and left Paducah open for Grant’s advance, had its sights elsewhere in Kentucky as it had just captured Columbus a few days prior. Paducah turned out to be extremely valuable to the Union as it became a hub for staging soldiers and moving supplies throughout Southern territories as the war raged on.
The Union was still in control in 1864 when Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest raided Paducah, taking some much-needed supplies and wreaking some havoc. Some of Forrest’s forces went against his command and attacked a local Union base, resulting in many unneeded casualties and infuriating the leader. The Rebel attackers escaped having succeeded on their mission to secure supplies, and the Union was shaken up now knowing that Rebels could pull off a raid so deep in their territory.
Paducah had many connections to the Civil War, including several significant figures who called it home before and during the conflict. One such figure was Brigadier General Lloyd Tilghman, who quickly swore loyalty to the Confederacy like many in Paducah thanks to Union interference in spite of Kentucky’s official neutrality.
Tilghman was known for his bravery in the face of defeat, as noted by Confederate President Jefferson Davis after he lost Forts Henry and Donelson (which he helped engineer) on the Tennessee River to Union attackers.
Tilghman’s house is now a historic location in Paducah, home to a museum run by the Sons of Confederate Veterans which visitors can check out and learn about the Civil War history of Western Kentucky.
Civil War walking tours are also available for visitors who want to see notable spots around the city and learn more. In fact, Paducah history is so plentiful that you can find interpretive plaques and historic gravesites all over the city.
Paducah and McCracken County are quintessential places along the RiverLine, sitting right at Mile 1 where the Tennessee River meets the Ohio. It has played a vital role in the history of our nation, and its cultural appreciation and significance make it a great stop for anyone looking to have some outstanding food and listen to a live performance. Paducah is not to be missed by those looking for a metropolitan area with all the comforts and charm of small-town Kentucky!