George Rogers Clark

The George Rogers Clark homesite is located at the bottom of the Falls of The Ohio Known for almost 200 years as Clark's Point it is situated in a sharp curve enabling Clark to have a spectacular view of the falls and also see downriver for a considerable distance. The 7 acre tract is now a part of the Falls Of The Ohio State Park and also lies within the boundaries of the 1404 acre National Wildlife Conservation Area giving this historic site state and federal protection.

Born in Virginia November 19, 1752 he attended school with James Madison and was a longtime friend of Thomas Jefferson, both would later become president. During the American Revolution he sucessfully repelled an Indian attack at Harrodsburg, Kentucky and was named a lietenant colonel in the Continental Army. The northwest frontier was under constant threat of British and Indian attack that left from their forts. Clark realized that the Americans must capture and maintain control of these forts if the Northwest Territory was to remain safe.

In May 1778 he established the first English-speaking settlement of the area on Corn Island at the Falls of the Ohio. This island at the head of the falls provided protection from British and Indian attacks. He began his daring raid with 153 frontiersman/soldiers on June 24, 1778. Clark would later write in his journal of a solar eclipse. "We left our little island, and Run about a mile up the River to gain the main Channel, and shot the Fall at the very moment of the sun being in a great eclipse which caused Various conjectures among the superstitious." Astronomical records confirm the eclipse. The boats must have passed over the Falls about 9 a.m. The expedition captured three British forts-Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and Vincennes along with British general Henry Hamilton. He was known as"the hairbuyer" because he paid money for scalps of the American settlers. After the capture of Hamilton at Vincennes Clark wanted to continue to Detroit, but his Kentucky contigent were diverted to Chillicothe, Ohio.

Clark and his soldiers were awarded 150,000 acres for service to their country in 1783. This area was north of the Falls in present day Indiana. Clarksville became the first authorized settlement in the Northwest territory. To keep his army suppplied during the war he had incurred a great debt. The state of Virginia which had ordered the expedition turned the debt to the new government, they in turn said that Virginia was responsible. Clark was left penniless in order to settle the debts.