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Civil War 150: “Baker Hill and Downtown Bowling Green.”

By Admin, BuyLocalBG.com, BuyLocalBg@gmail.com/
Thursday, July 14th, 2011 10:00 AM CST

Baker Hill and Downtown Bowling Green are not what you expect of a Civil War site when you see it but, there is so much history still to be consumed. Baker Hill may just be a historical marker and a field but, it’s such an important part of our history.


The sign says it all.

In this field stood Fort Baker to stand against the Union Troops entering from the North and the East. From here Union General Ormsby Mitchel (a Union County Native) launched his bombardment of Bowling Green. At that time the Confederate army was blowing up the L&N, Setting fire and evacuating Bowling Green. Side note: Ft. Mitchell Kentucky is named after General Mitchel who after taking Bowling Green defended the Union’s strength in Nashville and then the capture of Huntsville, Alabama.

A marker remembering the politicians involved with the Confederate State of Kentucky.

The heart of Bowling Green is without a doubt Fountain Square. In Fountain Square you will find many reminders of the short but honored control of the City by the Confederates. Although no battle took place in Bowling Green’s city, some of the commercial buildings around the square were burned. The city did survive two occupations of two separate armies but, the city was left in shambles by the end of the war. In fact the courthouse used to be located on Fountain Square pre-civil war but, a new one was built after the war a block over.

Another factor to Fountain Square is that the original fountain was replaced in 1881, due to deteriorating. J. L. Mott Iron Works out of New York built the most recent fountain with various Goddesses around the park and on the fountain. In fact the city buildings on the square were inhabited by the Nahm brothers who built many of the large businesses in downtown Bowling Green.

If you want to skip ahead to get more detail or start learning more today, check out the Civil War Trail (website link for trail) via the Convention and Visitors Bureau or Kentucky Museum on WKU’s Campus.

Past Civil War 150:

Part 1: Mt. Moriah Cemetery, resting place of  “African American Union Soldiers.”

Part 2: The Confederate Graveyard and Monument of Bowling Green. Also, the Most Dangerous Confederate.

Part 3: “Defending the L&N Railroad Wayside Exhibit.”

Part 4: “Mt. Ayr & Fort Underwood”

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