Located in downtown Pikeville, this marker stands in front of the Pike County Judicial Center. It…read morepoints out the history of the name for whom the county was named. It reads, "County Named, 1821. For Zebulon M. Pike, 1779-1813. Born New Jersey. Entered army, 1794; served on frontier. Sent to trace Mississippi River source, 1805, and to explore headwaters of Arkansas and Red Rivers, 1806, when he discovered Pikes Peak. Brig. Gen. Pike killed in attack on York, Canada, April 27, 1813. Military burial, Sackets Harbor, on shore of Lake Ontario, N.Y." I was not able to find reference to Pike spending time in Kentucky. He grew up on the northwestern frontier and followed his father into military service. In 1806, he commanded a second expedition into the Southwest, where he attempted to scale the peak that now bears his name and was later captured by Spanish authorities near Santa Fe. After being escorted through Texas and released in Louisiana, he published a widely read account of his travels in 1810. Pike rose to brigadier general during the War of 1812 and was killed in 1813 during the attack on York in Upper Canada. It is marker number 808 and it was erected in 1965 by the Kentucky Historical Society and Kentucky Department of Highways. [Review 72 of 2026 - 334 in Kentucky - 25262 overall]

This obelisk along US-23 / US-460 points out a Civil War battle that took place here. As a border…read morestate. quite a few groups of Union and Confederate soldiers passed through the area. This is one of those conflicts. The obelisk is about ten feet tall and has engravings on the front and back. There are also two caption markers but they have faded to the point of illegibility. The front of the monument reads, "Here, on Nov. 8, 1861, 300 men from Companies A & C, 5th Kentucky Infantry, C.S.A. and Companies B, C, & D, 1st Battalion Kentucky Mounted Rifles, C.S.A., commanded by Captain Andrew J. May, fought a delaying action against four Federal regiments; the 2nd Ohio Infantry, the 21st Ohio Infantry, the 59th Ohio Infantry, the 16th Kentucky Infantry, and a section of Battery D, 1st Ohio Light Artillery, commanded by General William "Bull" Nelson." And on the reverse, "Mustered into service just two weeks earlier and armed only with shotguns and squirrel rifles, May's Confederate mountaineers were outnumbered eight to one. Nevertheless, they detained Nelson's progress long enough to allow Colonel John S. Williams to vacate Piketon (Pikeville) and move the main body of Confederate troops to Pound Gap. Union losses were eight killed and twenty-four wounded. Confederate losses were ten killed and fifteen wounded." [Review 628 of 2025 - 319 in Kentucky - 24189 overall]

Would be a great history moment, but some of the plaques have weathered to the point they are…read moreunreadable. Hopefully state of Kentucky will fix it? Go to the nearby middle creek park for good civil war history!

The Magoffin County Pioneer Village is the realized dream of Magoffin County Historical Society's…read moreCo-founder Roy "Todd" Preston. He collected log cabins from the area that were on the verge of disappearing from existence, and moved them, log, by log, and re-assembled in a vacant lot to create the village. Each cabin has a unique story and is full of many antiques. Located in the courtyard are monuments honoring many of Magoffin County's founding families. Mr. Preston is no longer here to guide us through his village, but he has left a lasting legacy for Magoffin County that the community should be very proud of and thankful for.

The Law Enforcement Memorial in Pikeville, Kentucky is a solemn tribute to officers who lost their…read morelives in the line of duty, located at the historic Pike County Courthouse as part of the Veterans Hall of Honor and Heritage Hall exhibit. The monument is outside the courthouse bears the Officer's Prayer, serving as a public reminder of sacrifice and duty. It includes the logos of several law enforcement organizations including the Kentucky State Police, the Pike County Sheriff's Department, US Marshalls and others. It includes the names of approximately 25 officers killed in the line of duty since the early 1900s with the earliest in 1911. The memorial is named for Sheriff Roy Conway was elected to office in 1950 on a platform promising to clean up gambling, bootlegging, and corruption in Pike County. On July 28, 1950, just six months into his term, he was assassinated outside his home by two brothers whose father's drinking establishment had been raided by Conway and his deputies. The polished black stone is hard to miss in front of the courthouse. [Review 631 of 2025 - 322 in Kentucky - 24192 overall]

Officially the "Spirit of the American Doughboy", this serves as the war memorial for the citizens…read moreof Pikeville who fought for their country. This is a more modern one and does not mention the Civil War. Instead, it lists the names of those who served and died in more recent conflicts. This was originally just a World War I memorial, depicting an infantryman ("doughboy") advancing through barbed wire and battlefield debris, holding a rifle in his left hand and a grenade raised in his right. It was sculpted by E.M. Viquesney and is part of a series that were installed across the United States in the 1920s and 1930s. It stands in front of the Pike County Courthouse. On one side, "1917-1918. They gave their all in their country's service" followed by a list of names, trailing with "Lest We Forget" Again with "1941-1946" and "1950-1953" and "1961-1973". As they are listed in alphabetical order by last name, it's easy to see some families that lost more than one. Nine from the "Blackburn" family in the WWII list. Sad. [Review 629 of 2025 - 320 in Kentucky - 24190 overall]

We were staying in the area and someone told us about this battlefield. So we took a short drive…read moreout from Prestonsburg to see it. It is a very small area off the side of the road. There are interpretative signs that give the details of the battle. The Battle of Middle Creek was an engagement fought January 10, 1862, in Eastern Kentucky during the American Civil War. The battle, along with the Battle of Mill Springs, positioned the Union armies to invade Middle Tennessee. There are also small paths that you can take and walk out onto the field.

Well preserved piece of ground but beware the total battlefield is not part of this area. My own gr…read moregr gr grandfather and three of his sons, including my gr gr grandfather fought here with the 5th Kentucky CSA.

Pike County is named for Zebulon Pike, who discovered Pikes Peak (Colorado). The courthouse…read morebuilding was completed in 1889 and was designed by the McDonald Brothers. It was remodeled extensively in the 1930s and still retains is Classical Revival design. The building has a symmetrical façade and a clock tower and a small square cupola. The first story has horizontal lined brickwork and the second and third stories have a light colored brick construction. The historical marker in front was erected in 1990 and points out some history, reading "Courthouse erected 1888-89 by McDonald Bros.; later renovated 1932-33. Here was scene of Hatfield clan trials for murders of Tolbert, Randolph, Jr., Pharmer, Alifair, and Calvin McCoy. The defendants lodged in adjacent jail; found guilty and sentenced to life in prison except Ellison Mounts, hanged February 18, 1890. Courthouse and jail part of Hatfield-McCoy Feud Historic Dist." It is marker number 1866 and was erected by the Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky Department of Highways. The grounds have a number of monuments and such. There is street parking and a parking deck nearby which also serves the adjacent Appalachian Wireless Arena. [Review 630 of 2025 - 321 in Kentucky - 24191 overall]

This place is definitely worth checking out! Had no clue this place existed until we passed by it…read morewhile visiting Williamson. The history of the Coal House is very unique! There is a nice little gift shop inside as well.