Discover McCracken County: Art, Rivers and Nature

The Ohio River and the Tennessee River meet in Paducah. The city combines its connection to the rivers with quilt art, murals and history. For a trip to McCracken County, you can give different weight to cultural attractions, time outdoors and seasonal events. If you’re looking for a hotel as a base, here are ideas for different interests—from art and local history to trails and wildlife watching.

Quilt Art and Murals in Paducah

You can discover the Paducah Wall to Wall Murals on a self-guided walk along the concrete floodwall in downtown. More than 60 life-size panoramic paintings tell the story of Paducah’s history; they were created by Robert Dafford and the Dafford Murals Team. The walk combines art with a tangible look at the city’s history. Paducah has been part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the Crafts and Folk Art category since 2013.

The National Quilt Museum is also dedicated to contemporary quilt art. Its collection includes 320 quilts by quilters from across the United States and around the world; the quilted works of art were created after 1980. The museum has 30,000 square feet of exhibition space. It also offers educational opportunities and programs focused on contemporary quilting. This makes it a destination in its own right for anyone interested not only in individual works but also in the diversity of this art form.

Places with History

The Hotel Metropolitan in Paducah is a museum dedicated to African American heritage. Mrs. Maggie’s Memories is a fitting complement: this living-history experience shares personal stories about the past of the historic African American hotel and ends with a slice of homemade chess pie. Scheduling for this experience may vary.

Other places and collections offer further insights into history. The Whitehaven Welcome Center is a restored 1860s mansion with period furnishings and memorabilia about Alben Barkley. The Paducah Railroad Museum displays equipment and memorabilia from the history of railroads in the United States. At the River Discovery Center, the film “Rivers: Heart of a Nation” is shown in the Founders Room; the center also offers a view of where the Ohio River and Tennessee River meet. Personal memories, railroad history and the significance of the rivers sit side by side, so a visit doesn’t have to focus on just one topic.

Trails, Rivers and Nature

The Environmental Education and Recreation Area at Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge has paved, gravel and unpaved trails for hiking and wildlife watching. Seasonal sightings may include nesting songbirds, wildflowers, amphibians, white-tailed deer, waterfowl and bald eagles; sightings aren’t guaranteed. The variety of trails and the seasonal nature of wildlife watching make this a different kind of outing from the museums and art attractions.

The Clyde F. Boyles Greenway Trail is more than five miles long, runs through Paducah and connects city parks, the McCracken County trail system and the riverfront landscape. It connects to the approximately 1.5-mile-long McCracken County trail system via the Bob Leeper Pedestrian Bridge. This brings together a longer greenway through Paducah and the approximately 1.5-mile-long McCracken County trail system on different scales. At the River Discovery Center, you can also use an audiovisual presentation of the Mississippi River watershed and select departure and destination cities to compare routes, elevations and total distances traveled.

Free kayak events are held every year on the Clarks River and the Ohio River in Paducah-McCracken County. Dates and registration details may change; check the latest event information before your trip.

Carson Park and Seasonal Events

Carson Park was given to McCracken County in 1936 for horse shows, county fairs and horse training. Located in central Paducah, the park includes the McCracken County Fairgrounds and a historic racetrack. Public harness training can be watched there daily from October through May. Since this is a seasonal offering, it’s a good idea to check the details before your visit.

The McCracken County Fair at Carson Park is a weeklong summer tradition featuring rides, classic fair food, dachshund races, games, prizes and vendor booths. Dates and programming may change. Another festival, the Lower Town Arts & Music Festival, brings together local visual art, regional live music, food and craft beer; program details may also vary. For everyday local fare, the Paducah Homegrown Farmers’ Market offers produce such as fruit and vegetables, meat, eggs and dairy products, as well as crafts, baked goods and food from local vendors. Offerings and seasonal hours may change.

Whether you plan your trip around quilt art and history, river landscapes or seasonal events, the experiences described here offer different highlights. You can plan your stay in McCracken County around the topics that interest you most.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Paducah, Kenton, Whitley County, Floyd County, Franklin, Warren, Hardin, Lawrence County.

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