First Explored: James McBride
Carrollton, Carroll County, Kentucky
Marker Inscription
First Explored. In 1754 James McBride canoed down the Ohio to the mouth of this river-now Kentucky. Here, as first explorer, he carved his initials and the date on tree, a landmark for 30 years. Cited for part in defense of Bryan Station and Battle of Blue Licks, 1782. Installed July 21, 1964.
Erected by Kentucky Historical Society
The Story
In 1754, explorer James McBride paddled down the Ohio River to the mouth of the stream we now call the Kentucky, and there carved his initials and the year into a tree—a mark that reportedly stood as a landmark for three decades. His journey came a generation before permanent settlement, when the region was still contested hunting ground. McBride was later remembered for a role in the defense of Bryan Station and the Battle of Blue Licks in 1782.
Why it matters
McBride's carved tree marks one of the earliest recorded Anglo-American forays into Kentucky, a small emblem of the exploration that preceded the great westward migration.
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Related people
- · James McBride
Related events
- · Battle of Blue Licks
- · Defense of Bryan Station
Themes & tags
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