Kentucky 2020 Day 3

This monument honors the memory of President Zachary Taylor, our 12th president. He was president from 1849-1850, when he died in office. His grave is in the building to the right. His original grave was the small mound to the right in the back near the trees.

Crypt of President Zachary and First Lady Margaret Taylor

Springfield, the home of Zachary Taylor. Born in Orange County VA while his parents were visiting relatives, Taylor grew to adulthood in this house in Louisville KY.

The Capitol as seen from an overlook from the west

Approaching the Capitol from the north

The Capitol is closed due to the Wuhan Flu, so I could not go inside.

Kentucky Governor’s Mansion, just east of the Capitol

This historic distillery dates back to 1792. It was closed when I came by for a look, so I couldn’t get any souvenirs. It still had a sweet “angels share” aroma in the air.

These warehouses hold thousands of barrels for years!

Lincoln Museum is in the town square of Hodgenville. It is a pretty neat little museum. It is really everything Lincoln – hundreds of images of Lincoln throughout. This is the real Lincoln’s top hat!

This is a very rare photo of the log cabin in which Lincoln was born

Newspaper announcing Lincoln’s death

Several scenes from Lincoln’s life are displayed in the museum. This is growing up in the log cabin.

Lincoln the railsplitter.

Lincoln calling on Mary Todd, his future wife, at her Lexington home

Lincoln-Douglas debate

Lincoln writing the Emancipation Proclamation

Lincoln with son Tad sitting in Matthew Brady’s studio. Brady was the most famous and prolific photographer during the Civil War.

Gettysburg Address stage

Lincoln’s second inauguration

Lee surrenders to Grant

The Lincolns at Ford’s Theater

Mammoth Cave National Park in central Kentucky contains the longest system of caves in the world, with over 412 miles of surveyed passageways! This is the Historic Entrance to the cave for the tour.

Looking back up the stairs we just descended.

Approaching the cave tour from the entrance. The temperature inside the cave is 54 degrees year-round. Same as Luray Caverns in Virginia.

Artifacts from saltpeter mining, which was done by slaves prior to the Civil War.

The Rotunda. This is a large flat circle ceiling near the entrance of the cave.

These pictures do not do justice to the size and scale of this 1.5 mile passage. It is really: you have to see it to believe it.

This is called the Methodist Church, because in the 1800s a small Methodist Church met for worship here. The preacher preached from atop a large rock ledge on the upper left.

This is a close up at the Methodist Church. Notice the rock just left of center. It looks like the face of a man!

This formation looks like a reptile

The “Giant’s Coffin” – this large rock formation looks like a casket!

One of several stone houses near the end of one trail. These houses were part of a tuberculosis sanitarium. They had to walk in the cave over a mile to get here!