Columbus-Belmont State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Columbus-Belmont State Park |
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Columbus-Belmont State Park Anchor
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| Type | Kentucky state park |
| Location | Hickman County, Kentucky, United States |
| Area | 156 acres (63 ha) |
| Created | 1934 |
| Operated by | Kentucky Department of Parks |
| Open | Year-round |
| Built | 1861 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000806 |
| Added to NRHP | May 09, 1973 |
Columbus-Belmont State Park is a special place in Hickman County, Kentucky, right by the Mississippi River. It's where a fort was built by the Confederate side during the American Civil War. Both the North and the South thought this spot was super important for controlling the Mississippi River. The park helps us remember the battles that happened here and across the river in Belmont, Missouri.
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A Look Back: The Park's History
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In September 1861, a Confederate general named Leonidas Polk started building a strong fort here. The fort was on a high cliff next to the river. General Polk called it the "Gibraltar of the West." This meant it was as strong and important as the famous Rock of Gibraltar.
He put a huge chain across the Mississippi River to Belmont, Missouri. This chain was meant to stop Union boats from passing through. The fort also had 143 cannons! Columbus was the most northern Confederate base on the Mississippi. It protected important Southern cities like Memphis and Vicksburg. Columbus was also a key stop for the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, which brought supplies to the Confederate army.
Over time, much of the fort's earth walls, buildings, and cannons were lost. This happened because of heavy floods in the 1920s. The floods caused the riverbank to wear away. When the water went down in 1925, the giant chain was uncovered. People in Columbus decided to save it. The state of Kentucky bought the land for the park in 1934.
What to See: Park Attractions
The most famous thing to see at the park is General Polk's giant chain. It was once over a mile long, but parts were lost to floods. The anchor for the chain weighed between four and six tons! Each link of the chain was about eleven inches long. In 1934, during the Great Depression, a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps built a stone monument to display the chain.
Another interesting sight is the "Lady Polk." These are the pieces of a huge experimental cannon. It was named after General Polk's wife. This cannon was 10 feet long and weighed 15,000 pounds. It fired 128-pound cannonballs up to three miles! It was used against Ulysses S. Grant's troops at the Battle of Belmont.
However, firing the cannon many times made its metal barrel very hot. This caused the barrel to change shape. Two days after the Battle of Belmont, soldiers tried to fire the last loaded shot. But the cannonball got stuck. The cannon exploded into three pieces, sadly killing 18 Confederate soldiers. A newspaper joked that you'd be as safe at one end of the cannon as the other!
The Park Museum
There's an old farmhouse at the park that survived from before the Civil War. This building was used as a Confederate hospital early in the war. Today, this restored building is a museum and learning center.
The museum teaches visitors about the Civil War history of the area. It also shares information about the local nature and culture. The museum is open every day from May through September. It's also open on weekends in April and October.
Images for kids
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Columbus-Belmont State Park Anchor
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Map of rebel fortifications in 1862
