List of American Civil War monuments in Kentucky facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Kentucky is a state in the United States that saw a lot of action during the American Civil War. Even though it stayed part of the Union (the North), many people in Kentucky supported the Confederacy (the South). Because of this, you can find many monuments across the state that remember the soldiers and events from both sides of this important war.

These monuments help us remember the past and the people who lived through this challenging time. The first Confederate memorials were quite simple. For example, the Confederate Monument in Cynthiana was put up in 1869, making it one of the earliest ones. Over time, these monuments became more detailed and grand. By the late 1800s, many Confederate monuments focused on remembering the "Lost Cause" – a way of looking back at the Confederacy and celebrating its history.

Kentucky's Civil War Monuments

Kentucky's Civil War Monuments

In 1997, a special group of 61 monuments in Kentucky were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is like a national list of important historical places that should be protected. Two other major monuments were already on this list, so they weren't part of the new group.

It's interesting to note that even though Kentucky sent more soldiers to fight for the Union (about 125,000) than for the Confederacy (about 35,000), most of the monuments on the National Register are dedicated to Confederate forces. This shows how complex Kentucky's role was during the Civil War.

What Are These Monuments?

These monuments come in many shapes and sizes. Some are tall statues of soldiers, while others are simple markers or even fountains. They are placed in different locations, like courthouse lawns, cemeteries, or battlefields. Each one tells a small part of Kentucky's Civil War story.

Notable Monuments in Kentucky

While there are many monuments, some stand out. For example, the Confederate-Union Veterans' Monument in Morgantown is special because it honors soldiers from both the Union and Confederate sides. There are only two monuments like this in Kentucky. Another unique one is the Bourbon County Confederate Monument, which is shaped like a chimney!

The Adolph Bloedner Monument in Louisville is the oldest monument in Kentucky, built in 1862. It remembers Union soldiers. On the other hand, the Confederate Monument in Cynthiana was the first monument in Kentucky to honor the Confederacy, built in 1869.

Some monuments, like the Confederate Memorial Fountain in Hopkinsville, are actually fountains. There are four such fountain monuments in Kentucky. Others, like the Unknown Confederate Soldier Monument in Horse Cave, are made from unusual materials, like geodes (rocks with crystals inside).

Many monuments were moved over time. For instance, the John C. Breckinridge Memorial and the John Hunt Morgan Memorial in Lexington were moved to Lexington Cemetery in 2017. The Confederate Monument in Louisville was also moved from the University of Louisville to Brandenburg in 2017.