Road Trip: Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan

abamerica1776
Jun 24, 2021
5 min read

This portion of the road trip merges the Mid-west and the upper South across three states with plenty of presidential sites and the added bonus of several vice-president gravesites and a bonus for those intrepid gravesite explorers. If you're the sort to do all these sites in one trip then make sure you book some comfortable rooms for your trip and expect about 3-4 days to see the sites I mentioned, allowing for plenty of time and not running yourself into the ground. The last site I covered in the previous blog was President William Harrison’s gravesite in Bend, Ohio. And this is where the journey continues, moving across the Ohio River into Kentucky. Now, there’s a decision to be made here as you can drive straight to Louisville’s Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, or you can drive to Lexington and Frankfort to check-off two vice president gravesites. Fortunately, all three cities are within easy reach of each other. With this in mind, after crossing into Kentucky, you’ll head to Lexington’s Lexington Cemetery, where you’ll be able to visit the gravesites of Vice President John Breckenridge (VP under President Buchanan) and the epic and legendary former Speaker of the House, Henry Clay. The cemetery is drivable, shaded, and scenic. As far as finding the gravesites (there a case study for extremes), Breckenridge’s is easy to miss. It’s a weather worn rounded headstone lost amongst the other gravesites. Clay’s, on the other hand, is a mighty edifice, towering above the cemetery. You’ll be able to see Clay’s sarcophagus through a gated door, but you can’t enter the crypt. After you get your fill of Breckenridge and Clay, your next stop is in Frankfort. But if you have time to spare, you can visit Henry Clay’s home, Ashland, and the Mary Todd Lincoln House. Forty minutes to the northeast and overlooking the Kentucky River is Frankfort Cemetery, the site of Vice President Richard Dallas’ (VP under President Van Buren) gravesite. It’s drivable with gravesite parking but there’s little in terms of shade and lush landscapes. Johnson’s gravesite, with bas reliefs, inscriptions, and carvings, is a far cry better than Breckenridge’s gravesite. And, if you’re a fan of Daniel Boone, you’re in luck as his gravesite is a short walk from Johnson’s, but keep in mind there is some debate as to whether his remains are buried under the gravestone or if they’re in Missouri, where they were originally interred in 1820, until their removal to Frankfort in 1845. Back on the road, and 50 minutes to the west, is Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, site of President Taylor’s gravesite. The cemetery is off a main road and there is parking inside this small cemetery. You’ll see Taylor’s gravesite, as well as a statue of Taylor atop a pedestal, when you enter the cemetery as it’s the only tan colored vault in the cemetery dotted with white headstones; it also rests at the end of the cemetery’s driveway. His gravesite is well-maintained, has glass paneled doors so you can see the twin sarcophagi of husband and wife, and behind the gravesite to the left is the original Taylor family vault. For what it’s worth, nearby is the Taylor family home, Springfield, where Taylor spent 20 years. As it’s privately owned, you’re not able to visit the home. To have a complete gravesite trip in this state, you’ll need to head west to Paducah, a 3.5-hour drive on the interstate. Now why Padcuah? Well, it’s the site of Mount Kenton Cemetery, final resting place of Vice President Alben Barkley (VP under President Truman). It’s a long way to go but the only way to check his gravesite off the list-that is if you have one-and the best time. You can certainly add this stop to another trip, but it may be a real pain to do so as Paducah is not in close proximity to other gravesites or major presidential sites.

South of Louisville you’ll find the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace in Hodgenville. It’s about an hour to eighty minutes from Louisville, depending on which route you take; if you decide to make the drive to Paducah to visit Alben Barkley’s grave, this site is in the right direction. This is a National Parks Site and it is FREE! I’ve not been to this site but, like I mentioned in a previous blog for President Grant, if you want to explore the full life of Lincoln and sites associated with him then this is obviously a must visit.

On your drive to Indianapolis, there is another Lincoln site worth visiting, Lincoln Boyhood Home National Memorial in Lincoln City, Indiana. If you’re coming from Louisville, you’ll be heading west on Interstate 64 for an hour and fifteen minutes. If you’re coming from Paducah, you’ll be heading back east and then north, taking about 2 hours and forty minutes. But either way, it’s a site worth visiting and it’s FREE! Again, it’s a necessary site to explore the full life of Lincoln.

Whether you make the drive to Paducah, or you’d rather avoid it for later and resume your trip from Louisville, you’ll head north to Indianapolis to visit Crown Hill Cemetery, resting site of President Benjamin Harrison and Vice Presidents Thomas Marshall (VP under President Wilson), Thomas Hendricks (VP under Cleveland), and Charles Fairbanks (VP under President T. Roosevelt). This cemetery affords you some saved time as Hendricks and Fairbanks are found by the Gothic Chapel and Marshall a short walk from them. And not too far from the vice presidents is Benjamin Harrison. He rests near the highest part of the cemetery, his gravesite easily spotted courtesy of the American flag. With these four out of the way, and if you have time, Crown Hill is worth exploring. It’s the third largest cemetery in the country with plenty of grand monuments and memorials to marvel and study. There are plenty of notables to locate, as well. Roughly 4.5 miles from Crown Hill is the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site-the home of the 23rd president pre- and post-presidency. It’s a great home to tour, has small tour groups, and you’re allowed to take pictures. You’ll spend around 2 hours or less touring the home, small museum in the visitor’s center where you purchase tickets, and the grounds (there not extensive). If you’re ready to move on from the state capital, you’ll head north to South Bend’s City Cemetery to visit Vice President Schuyler Colfax’s grave (VP under President Grant, 1st term). His gravesite is modest and easy to miss so check for a cemetery map unless you want to meander through the cemetery.

At this point, your next and last stop for this road trip is due north for a two-hour drive to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where you’ll tour the Gerald Ford Museum (his namesake library is in Ann Arbor*) and visit his gravesite. The museum is a lot of fun and there is a lot to see including a replica Oval Office from Ford’s time in office and a replica cabinet meeting room that allows you to sit at the Cabinet table, a great opportunity for pictures. Outside the museum to the right of the entrance is the Ford gravesite; if your short on time you don’t need to purchase a ticket to see the gravesite. Piece of advice: visit this site in the late spring, summer, or early fall.

*Libraries are not part of my road trips but if you feel the need to visit it knock yourself out. From Grand Rapids to Ann Arbor will take between 2hrs and 2hrs15mins depending on the route you take.

Notables to Visit in the States:

Gerald Ford

Benjamin Harrison

Zachary Taylor

Alben Barkley

John Breckenridge

Henry Clay

Schuyler Colfax

Charles Fairbanks

Thomas Hendricks

Richard Johnson

Thomas Marshall