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On the historical marker by the replica of his cabin, it says that George Rogers Clark (1753-1818) was “A pioneer, soldier, patriot, conqueror of the Northeast territory…” His brilliant Revolutionary War campaign captured Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and Vincennes and brought the states northwest of the Ohio River into the Union. He brought 150 men and 15 families down the Ohio River in 1778 and built a fort on Corn Island to plan and implement this conquest. This fort was the beginning of Louisville, Kentucky.
His home site can be found overlooking the Ohio River on the Indiana side, across from the Army Corps of Engineer Locks and Dams and The Louisville Gas and Electric Power Plant. A visit will give you one of the best views of Louisville. You can look upstream at the downtown Louisville skyline. Directly across the river is the power plant, creating 7% of Louisville’s electricity using turbines turned by the churning waters of the Falls of the Ohio. Downstream you can see the bend in the river around Sand Island as the river slows it pace and flows southward.
In 1803 George Rogers Clark was given the land to build a cabin as payment for heroism during the Revolutionary War. Since he was a military hero, surveyor and expert in Native American affairs, people seeking his advice, some famous like Thomas Jefferson, often visited him. In 1803, his brother, William Clark, and Meriwether Lewis came to his cabin to help form the nucleus of the Corps of Discovery and set off on their epic cross-country journey. George lived in the cabin until he was injured in 1809 and moved in with his sister at Locust Grove.
Each year an event is held on the grounds called “George Rogers Clark Days.” There are re-enactments, demonstrations, speakers, music, vendors, tours, games and a free shuttle ride between the Falls of Ohio State Park and the Clark’s home site. Other times of the year use a visit to the cabin as an excuse to walk around the beautiful Falls of the Ohio State Park and stop for ice cream at the Widow’s Walk Ice Creamery nearby.
Related Links:
Falls of the Ohio George Rogers Clark Cabin - http://www.fallsoftheohio.org/clark_cabin.html
Falls of the Ohio Event Page – www.fallsofhteohio.org/events
Falls of the Ohio Facebook Page – www.facebook.com/fallsoftheohio
Widow’s Walk Ice Creamery Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Widows-Walk-Ice-Creamery/113949998679513?sk=info
July 12, 2023
