Walk Through the History of the Civil War May 10th

Kentucky was the ultimate battleground state during the Civil War, so important to both sides that it’s the only state to have a star on both the Confederate and Union flags. This rich history will come alive again at Cave Hill Cemetery on May 10th. Take a walking tour of one of Louisville’s most famous landmarks, and see this history in a whole new way.

A City Oasis

Cave Hill Cemetery is located at 701 Baxter Avenue, near the center of Louisville. But once you step inside this beautiful part of the city, you’ll feel like you’re stepping into another world entirely. Cave Hill is a quiet little refuge, one of the city’s oldest and most prestigious cemeteries, originally chartered by the Kentucky General Assembly in 1848.

A large clock tower will greet you at the Baxter Avenue entrance when you visit. The bell inside weighs a whopping 2,000 pounds, and the building was built back in 1892. Cave Hill takes up 296 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. It’s an arboretum in addition to being a cemetery, filled with a dazzling array of flowers and foliage. During the guided walking tour, you’ll get to see many of the visual highlights of this landmark while you learn more about Louisville’s integral role in the Civil War.

A Walk Back in Time

The Civil War Walking Tour will take you to the very first graves in the cemetery. These early graves were placed in 1861. They represent the soldiers who died around Louisville during the first flush of war. You’ll also find 12 men who served in the 32nd Indiana Infantry Regiment. They were killed at the first Civil War battle in Kentucky. More than 5,500 soldiers are buried here, the majority of them casualties of the Civil War. One large plot represents unknown Civil War soldiers who died in Kentucky fighting for their cause.

Visit Cave Hill at 5:15 on May 10th to enjoy the Civil War walking tour, led by historian and author Bryan Bush.