On State Highway 160, 1.1 miles north of State Highway 7, on the right when traveling south. Reported missing.
For Robert P. Letcher, during term as Governor of Kentucky, 1840-44. Born Va., 1788; came Ky. in 1800. Ky. Mounted Militia, War of 1812. Legislature, 7 years, Speaker of House, two years. U.S. Congress 1823-35. Presidential elector in 1836. During . . . — — Map (db m97123) HM
On Kentucky 15 north of Breeding Drive, on the left when traveling north.
For Robert P. Letcher, during term as Governor of Kentucky, 1840-1844. Born Va., 1788; came Ky. in 1800. Ky. Mounted Militia, War of 1812. Legislature, 7 years, Speaker of House, two years. U.S. Congress, 1823-1835. Presidential elector in 1836. . . . — — Map (db m212412) HM
On Highway 805 (Kentucky Route 805) at No. 4 Hill, on the right when traveling south on Highway 805.
In the early 1900s, Jenkins and other coal towns saw an increase in their black populations, as African Americans from the rural South moved to the region seeking work in the coal mines. To segregate the children of these families from the white . . . — — Map (db m212050) HM
On Highway 805 (Kentucky Route 805) at No. 4 Hill, on the right when traveling south on Highway 805.
Dunham High School opened in 1931 as the only high school for black students in Letcher County. The school educated students from the Jenkins, McRoberts, Fleming, and Haymond areas. Dunham High School remained open until 1964, a decade after . . . — — Map (db m212103) HM
On State Highway 3086 at State Highway 2550 when traveling north on State Highway 3086.
Land bought by John C.C. Mayo and sold to Consolidation Coal Co. to develop town and coal mines. Coal company laid out streets, built houses, stores, hospital, churches, and schools. Town named for Geo. C. Jenkins, a promoter and Baltimore banker. . . . — — Map (db m97119) HM
On Main Street (State Highway 805) 0.1 miles east of Lake Side Drive (State Highway 2550), on the left when traveling east.
This Congressional Medal of Honor winner fought in Korean War. Born in Jenkins, June 1918, Second Lt. Kyle in U.S. Army with Co. K, 7th Inf. Regt., 3d Inf. Div. Lt. Kyle rallied his men amid intensive fighting to renew attacks on enemy machine-gun . . . — — Map (db m97121) HM
Near U.S. 23, 0.8 miles east of U.S. 119, on the right when traveling west.
Route through here discovered by Christopher Gist, April 1, 1751.
Brig. Gen. Garfield and 700 Union troops forced 500 CSA men from here March 16, 1862 and burned CSA supplies. On last raid in Ky. Morgan’s Raiders dislodged Union forces here . . . — — Map (db m97150) HM
On State Highway 931 at Henry Ison Hollow, on the right when traveling west on State Highway 931.
Early settlers, ca. 1816, were deeply religious and God-fearing. They chose a name for this beautiful and fertile valley from the words in The Lord's Prayer. History of this area is typical of that of many communities along the creeks and . . . — — Map (db m212410) HM
On State Highway 7, 0.1 miles south of Kaleb Baker Drive, on the left when traveling south.
James Caudill, born in Virginia in 1753, first came to Big Cowan Creek in 1787. Because of Indians, he took his family back to North Carolina. Returning here in 1792 with his family, he built a cabin, stayed several years, went back to North . . . — — Map (db m97060) HM
On Kentucky 7 south of Boot Hill Road, on the right when traveling south.
Here, at the Lower Twin Bridge, five young men lost their lives in a tragic car wreck that devastated families and stunned the community. Four of the five, Jerry Caudill, Donald Crase, George Dixon, and Doug Ison, were students at Letcher High . . . — — Map (db m212413) HM
Dedicated to all Letcher Countians that suffered on the battlefield and homefront during the War Between the States.
President Abraham Lincoln. Born in Hodgenville, Kentucky, 1809–1865.
President Jefferson Davis. Born in Fairview, . . . — — Map (db m90835) WM
Company F of the 5th Kentucky Infantry was formed on October 22, 1861 from the men of Letcher County and was commanded by Captain Benjamin E. Caudill. The company called themselves “Caudill’s Army" and was nicknamed “The Yahoos.” . . . — — Map (db m90803) HM
About 500 yards southeast of Pound Gap, along the Fincastle Trail (Virginia side) is the location of the infamous “killing rock” where the Mullins’ family and friends were massacred on May 14, 1892. Five people were killed: Ira Mullins, . . . — — Map (db m90801) HM
On U.S. 119 at Jenkins Road, on the right when traveling south on U.S. 119.
Archelous Craft of Wilkes Co., N.C., was with small band of pioneers who immigrated to upper Ky. River Valley in 1804. Born Dec. 25, 1749, in Roanoke River area, Craft was a veteran of Revolutionary War; he fought in battles of Hanging Rock and . . . — — Map (db m97149) HM
Near U.S. 119 at KY-1679, on the right when traveling south.
The Dollmaker is the tragic story of the Nevels family, who leave their mountain farm for a Detroit housing project during World War II. There, in a place both foreign and frightening, Gertie Nevels works to keep her family intact while . . . — — Map (db m212223) HM
Near U.S. 119 at KY-1679, on the right when traveling south.
Historian and social critic Harry Monroe Caudill was an eloquent and courageous spokesman for Kentucky's Appalachian region. Subtitled A Biography of a Depressed Area, Caudill's first book, Night Comes to the Cumberlands (1963), . . . — — Map (db m212409) HM
Near Pine Mountain Road (U.S. 119) at KY-1679, on the right when traveling south.
James Still's works – his novels, short stories, poetry and children's literature resonate with his affection for his chosen home, the mountains of eastern Kentucky. He used language as an artist uses paint or a musician uses notes to evoke sights . . . — — Map (db m212104) HM
Near U.S. 119 at KY-1679, on the right when traveling south.
A tale of fortunes made and lost, feuds, passion, and romance in the Cumberland Mountains, The Trail of the Lonesome Pine, stayed on the best-seller list for two years after its publication in 1908. Its author, John Fox, Jr., was already a . . . — — Map (db m212228) HM
On Main Street at Webb Street, on the right when traveling east on Main Street.
We Who Share the Peace
Honor Those Who Preserved It
World War I
Adams, John • Adams, Ralph • Anderson, Clell • Brown, David N. • Brown, George • Brown, Sylvan • Bukhart, Bradley • Cornett, Curtis • Day, Douglas • Dixon, Elijah B. . . . — — Map (db m97163) WM
On Main Street at Webb Street, on the right when traveling east on Main Street.
(Side One)
Pilot — Spy — Hero
Francis Gary Powers and the “U-2 Incident” catapulted activities of the United States into world view. This Burdine native, with other pilots directed by CIA, flew U-2’s . . . — — Map (db m97162) HM
On U.S. 119, 2.1 miles west of Kentucky Highway 806, on the left when traveling west.
(Side One)
Scotia Mine Disaster
One of the worst mine disasters in U.S. history. Faulty equipment ignited methane & coal dust due to lack of proper ventilation. On Mar. 9 & 11, 1976, twin explosions took the lives of 26 coal . . . — — Map (db m97157) HM
On State Highway 931 at Scuttle Hole Gap Road (County Road 1633), on the right when traveling east on State Highway 931.
Indians or buffalo probably were the first to follow this gap and make a trail across Pine Mountain. First white settlers, about 1800, made trail into treacherous wagon road, their only route to Virginia for supplies of flour, salt, and sugar. . . . — — Map (db m212411) HM