Fort Hill (Frankfort, Kentucky) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Archeological Site 15 FR 368
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1871. Downtown Frankfort is seen in the foreground, while South Frankfort lies across the river in the background. Fort Hill is in the lower left hand corner.
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| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Nearest city | Frankfort, Kentucky |
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| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built | 1862 |
| NRHP reference No. | 85002370 |
| Added to NRHP | September 12, 1985 |
Fort Hill, once called Blanton's Hill, is a high hill that looks over downtown Frankfort, Kentucky. It's famous for having two old forts made of earth from the American Civil War. Today, Fort Hill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site. It's also a public park where people can visit and learn about the past.
Contents
Fort Hill's Civil War Story
Protecting Kentucky's Capital
During the American Civil War, soldiers built forts on Fort Hill. These forts were meant to protect Frankfort, which was the capital of Kentucky. Kentucky was a Union state, meaning it stayed loyal to the United States government. The forts helped guard the state government from attacks.
When Confederates Took Over
In September 1862, soldiers from the Confederate States of America took control of Frankfort. This was a big deal because Frankfort was the only Union capital that the Confederates ever captured during the entire Civil War!
Even though Kentucky was a Union state, some people in western Kentucky tried to set up their own Confederate government in Bowling Green. A man named George W. Johnson was chosen as their first Confederate governor. He died in a battle. After him, Richard Hawes became the next Confederate governor.
A Quick Inauguration
On October 4, 1862, Governor Hawes was being sworn in at the Old Capitol Building in Frankfort. But while the ceremony was happening, Union soldiers appeared on a hill west of the city. This made Governor Hawes and the Confederates quickly finish the ceremony and leave Frankfort.
The Union forces then advanced on Frankfort. Four days later, a big battle called the Battle of Perryville happened nearby. Even though the Confederates did well in that battle, they couldn't stay in Kentucky and left the state.
Building the Forts
In March 1863, two new forts made of earth were built on Fort Hill. They were called Fort Boone and the larger New Redoubt. Army engineers, soldiers from the 103rd Ohio Infantry, and local workers helped build them.
In 1864, local soldiers at Fort Boone successfully defended Frankfort. They stopped an attack by Confederate cavalry led by John Hunt Morgan. This showed how important the forts on Fort Hill were for protecting the city.
Fort Hill Today
Today, Fort Hill is a beautiful park and historic site. From the top, you can see amazing views of Frankfort and the Kentucky River Valley. The park is called Leslie Morris Park and covers about 124 acres. It has thick forests and still preserves the remains of the two Civil War earthwork forts.
The park is also used for Civil War reenactments, where people dress up and act out historical events. A very old log house, built around 1810, has been moved to the site. It's called the "Sullivan House" and has exhibits about Fort Hill and how log buildings were made in Kentucky. The Sullivan House also hosts "living history" events, where you can experience what life was like long ago.
Images for kids
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This is a tour being given at Fort Boone, during the summer of 2005.
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A view of downtown Frankfort and the new state Capitol form the top of Fort Hill, next to Fort Boone.
