History

Discover the dramatic history of Paducah, the only major city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with an Indian name.

When General William Clark platted a town at the northernmost point of what is now the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway, he named it in honor of the Padouca Indians.

The focal point of Paducah's abundant architectural treasures, the 1905 Market House tells the story of a town that has survived tremendous challenges. Located in the center of the Market House, the William Clark Market House Museum provides a glimpse of Paducah's rich heritage and colorful past.

Founded in 1827 by William Clark of Lewis & Clark fame, Paducah's origins and prosperity can be attributed to its strategic location at the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee rivers. The River Discovery Center, a Save America's Treasures project housed in downtown's oldest standing structure, preserves that heritage. State-of-the-art, interactive exhibits highlight the history and habitats of the four rivers region encompassing the Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland and Mississippi rivers.

Basic Listings

Hotel Metropolitan

• 724 Oscar Cross Dr.
  Paducah, KY 42001
• Phone: (270) 443-7918
• Region: Upper Town
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Save America's Treasures project, this 1908 hotel housed famous African-American entertainers and sports figures including Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Chick Webb's orchestra, B.B.… more

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Legendary Chief Paduke Statue

• 19th & Jefferson St.
  Paducah, KY 42001
• Region: Mid Town
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Legend has it that General William Clark, who founded Paducah, named it in honor of the "Padouca" Indians, a subtribe of the Chickasaw who lived and hunted in the area until the Jackson Purchase in… more

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Lloyd Tilghman House & Civil War Museum

• 631 Kentucky Avenue
  Paducah, KY 42001
• Phone: (270) 575-5477
• Region: Historic Downtown
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1852 Greek Revival home owned by Sons of Confederate Veterans was once the residence of Gen. Lloyd Tilghman, CSA. Exhibits highlight Western Kentucky's role in the War Between the States. Tues.-Sat.,… more

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Paducah "Wall To Wall"

• Water Street, Jefferson-Washington Sts.
  Paducah, KY 42001
• Phone: (270) 443-8783
• Toll-Free: (800) PAD-UCAH
• Region: Historic Downtown
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Paducah's historic downtown is bordered on its east side by a 12.5 mile floodwall. Three blocks of the concrete wall, overlooking the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers, now feature beautiful… more

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Paducah Cell Phone Walking Tour

• 128 Broadway
  Paducah, KY 42001
• Phone: (270) 854-3050
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Just dial, listen and experience Paducah's rich history through the many historic and architectural treasures of earlier times.… more

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Paducah Railroad Museum & Gift Shop

• 200 Washington Street
  Paducah, KY 42001
• Phone: (270) 442-4032
• Region: Historic Downtown
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A project of the Paducah Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society showcases equipment and memorabilia from the romantic past of America's railroads. Groups are encouraged to call for tours.… more

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Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

• Martin Luther King Blvd.
  Paducah, KY 42001
• Region: Mid Town
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Monument commemorates the life of Dr. King.… more

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River Discovery Center

• 117 S. Water St.
  Paducah, KY 42001
• Phone: (270) 575-9958
• Region: Historic Downtown
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State of the art, interactive exhibits, including a flood and water show and 15-minute film, tell the story of the four rivers region. New pilothouse simulator allows users to pilot a towboat,… more

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Steam Locomotive No. 1518

• So. Water Street & Kentucky Avenue
  Paducah, KY 42001
• Region: Historic Downtown
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A Mikado steam engine, the last "Iron Horse" used by the I.C.R.R., serves as a memorial to the passage of the Steam Age.… more

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Wacinton Indian

• 2915 Park Avenue ,Noble Park
  Paducah, KY 42001
• Region: Mid Town
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View Wacinton, a hand-carved wooden statue, that stands near the entrance of Noble Park, 2915 Park Ave. A 56,000-pound red oak carved by Peter "Wolf" Toth in 1985 honoring the Chickasaw who claimed… more

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Whitehaven Welcome Center

• Exit 7 Off Interstate 24 On Highway 45 ,1845 Lone Oak Road
  Paducah, KY 42001
• Phone: (270) 554-2077
• Region: Lone Oak
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Kentucky’s Gateway to the South, this white Classical Revival house with Corinthian-columned front portico is the only historic home serving as an interstate welcome center. Whitehaven features period… more

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William Clark Market House Museum

• 121 S. 2nd St. (1905 Historic Market House)
  Paducah, KY 42001
• Phone: (270) 443-7759
• Region: Historic Downtown
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Rotating exhibits tell the story of a town that has survived tremendous challenges, including the Battle of Paducah and the 1937 flood. The meticulously reconstructed century-old interior of the List… more

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