Kentucky War Memorial

Kentucky War Memorial is a historic site in Kentucky, at a modelled elevation of 223 m. Jeptha Knob stands 361 m to the west, 13 miles off. The nearest named place is Daniel Boone's Grave, a historic site 0.1 miles away. Old Frankfort Pike passes 3.7 miles off. 22 named summits stand within 25 miles.
The story
The Kentucky War Memorial is a memorial to Kentuckians who have died in all wars. On a high-point called the "State Mound" in Frankfort Cemetery in Frankfort, Kentucky, the memorial consists of a 65-foot-tall monument erected in 1850, nine low stone monuments built in a semi-circle, and two low straight monuments. The 1850 monument honors men who died up until 1850 and it lists the battles and the officers who fell. The semi-circular area to the south of the tall monument lists the wars, and the straight monuments list the names of all of Kentucky's fallen. The wars mentioned include: War of Independence, War of 1812, the Texas War of Independence, the Mexican War, Civil War, Spanish–American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and Persian Gulf War. In 1848, an act passed by the state legislature appropriated $15,000 for its construction. The 65-foot-tall granite monument, topped by a statue of Victory, was unveiled in 1850. The monument was erected to stand over the graves of 17 Kentucky soldiers who had fallen at the Battle of Buena Vista. Their interment in Frankfort Cemetery on July 20, 1847, was marked by a eulogy from John C. Breckinridge, a supporter of the war. According to a popular story, this mass funeral inspired Mexican-War veteran, Theordore O'Hara, to pen his famed poem, "Bivouac of the Dead". However, O'Hara was still with the army in Mexico in July 1848.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Wikidata Q28407072, linked from the OpenStreetMap record's article tag.
How to reach it
- 3.7 mi off the Old Frankfort Pike, National
- 10.1 mi off the Midway-Versailles Road (US-62)
- 12.1 mi off the Pisgah Pike Scenic Byway
- 38.1 mi off the Ohio River Scenic Byway, National
Named places within 25 miles
- Dolly Graham Park: 0.3 mi
- Dolly Graham Park: 0.4 mi
- Fantasy Forest and Community Garden: 0.4 mi
- Blanton Landing Park: 0.5 mi
- Frankfort Public Boat Ramp: 0.8 mi
- The Bull: 0.3 mi
- Whitney M. Young Jr.: 0.6 mi
- Nexus: 0.6 mi
- Now Get!: 0.8 mi
- Barnacle: 1.1 mi
- Daniel Boone's Grave: 0.1 mi
- Confederate Monument: 0.1 mi
- William Goebel's Grave: 0.2 mi
- Gold Star Families Memorial Marker: 0.7 mi
- Kentucky Covid Memorial: 0.7 mi
- Community Garden: 0.4 mi
- Govern's Mansion Garden: 0.7 mi
- Capitol Rose Garden: 0.8 mi
- Floral Clock: 0.8 mi
- Yuko-En on the Elkhorn: 16.4 mi
- Fort Hill: 1.0 mi
- Buttimer Hill: 1.4 mi
- Poplar Hill: 3.2 mi
- The Backbone: 3.5 mi
- Locust Hill: 3.7 mi
- Kentucky Military History Museum: 0.5 mi
- Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History: 0.6 mi
- Capital City Museum: 0.7 mi
- Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and Museum: 11.7 mi
- Nostalgia Station: 12.2 mi
- State Capitol Overlook: 0.9 mi
- Buffalo Springs Park: 11.0 mi
- Old Friends Thouroughbred Retirement Farm Tours: 14.6 mi
- Mud Madness Motorsports: 15.0 mi
- Bulleit Distilling Co. Visitor Experience: 15.4 mi
- Farm Spring: 2.1 mi
- Buffalo Springs: 11.0 mi
- Big Spring: 12.2 mi
- Linsday Spring: 18.8 mi
- Preston Spring: 19.9 mi
- Kleber WMA: 12.4 mi
- Shechem Ministries: 14.5 mi
- Dr. James R. Rich WMA: 15.3 mi
- Veterans Memorial Wildlife Management Area: 19.2 mi
- Firebrook Wetlands and Nature Sanctuary: 20.4 mi
- Scott County (Georgetown) Rest Area Southbound: 17.6 mi
- Scott County (Georgetown) Rest Area Northbound: 17.7 mi
- Benson Creek Falls: 4.1 mi
- Lovers Leap: 7.0 mi
Summits around it
The highest named summits within 25 miles of Kentucky War Memorial. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.
| Summit | Bearing | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeptha Knob | W 265° | 361 m | 13.4 mi |
| Jeptha Knob | W 265° | 360 m | 13.9 mi |
| The Backbone | NNE 33° | 262 m | 3.5 mi |
| Indian Gap Hill | NNE 12° | 259 m | 9.6 mi |
| Hickman Hill | E 96° | 251 m | 4.6 mi |
| Elk Hill | WSW 247° | 239 m | 20.7 mi |
| Driscol Hill | SW 224° | 231 m | 21.0 mi |
| The Mound | S 187° | 226 m | 14.9 mi |
When to go
Light through the year
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:44 | 19:17 | 19:52 |
| June solstice | 06:17 | 20:27 | 21:07 |
| September equinox | 07:28 | 19:03 | 19:38 |
| December solstice | 07:53 | 16:42 | 17:23 |
Local time (America/New_York).
Climate normals
Months averaging 50–80 °F: Apr–Oct.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °F | 34 | 38 | 46 | 57 | 66 | 74 | 77 | 76 | 69 | 58 | 46 | 38 |
| Precip in | 3.3 | 3.4 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 5.1 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.8 |
1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Frankfort Capital City AP, 2 mi away.
Where this comes from
Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMapWikipediaOpenStreetMap element way/463689456
Day trips start here
- Midway · 10 mi
- Lawrenceburg · 11 mi
- Versailles · 12 mi
- Lexington · 23 mi
- Bluegrass Region · 24 mi
- Nicholasville · 27 mi
Take the scenic way to Kentucky War Memorial.
Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.




