We’re deep into work on our novel-in-progress right now, and writing a lot of scenes that involve the Clark family. There are still a lot of great Clark sites that you can visit to get a sense of this amazing family who played such a critical role in the winning of the west. Best of all, they’re located in and around Louisville, Kentucky, a really fun city. Here are a few favorites that will be in the new book:
The Falls of the Ohio was once on the great landmarks of the Ohio River. This series of rough rapids formed a natural defense that caused George Rogers Clark to choose the area when he began his campaign in the West during the Revolutionary War. A few years later, Clark founded the town of Louisville and it became the Clark family homebase.
Today,the Falls of the Ohio State Park is a great place to visit! Located in Clarksville, Indiana, just across the river from Louisville, you can see amazing exposed fossil beds and visit a recreation of the cabin of George Rogers Clark.
Mulberry Hill was the site of the Clark family homestead, and remained in the family from 1784 until after the Civil War. While the original house was torn down to make way for an army traing camp, during World War I, the grounds later became George Rogers Clark park. The graves of parents Ann and John Clark are here along with several other family members. Because they raised a family of 10, I like to think that Ann and John would have loved the idea of a playground on their old farm.
Lots of good details about Mulberry Hill can be found in this booklet prepared for the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation (PDF format).
A couple hours drive from Louisville will take you to Vincennes, Indiana, site of George Rogers Clark’s capture of Fort Sackville, one of the great feats of the American Revolution. You can also visit Grouseland here, the home of William Henry Harrison, a major character in the new book.