Fort Nelson (Kentucky)

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Fort Nelson, built in 1781 by Richard Chenoweth, was the second on-shore fort on the Ohio River in the area of what is now downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Fort-on-Shore, the downriver and first on-shore fort, had proved to be insufficient barely three years after it was established. In response to continuing attacks from Native Americans and the threat of British attacks during the Revolutionary War, Fort Nelson was constructed between what is currently Main Street and the river, with its main gate near Seventh Street. It was named after Thomas Nelson, Jr., then the governor of Virginia. (Kentucky was part of Virginia at the time.)

In the fort's place today stands Fort Nelson Park.

[edit] References

• Yater, George H. (1987). Two Hundred Years at the Fall of the Ohio: A History of Louisville and Jefferson County, 2nd edition, Louisville, KY: Filson Club, Incorporated. ISBN 0-9601072-3-1. 

[edit] See also

• Corn Island (Kentucky) — location of first Louisville area settlement
• History of Louisville, Kentucky
• Long Run Massacre
• Shippingport, Kentucky

[edit] Gallery

Satellite image showing location of Fort Nelson in relation to other early Louisville area settlements

Fountain in the center of Fort Nelson Park

Fort Nelson Park nameplate

1885 sketch of the fort

v • d • e List of Parks in Louisville Metro Area Kentucky Parks Beargrass Creek · Belvedere · Bernheim Forest · Blackacre · Central Park · Cherokee Park · Chickasaw Park · Extreme Skate Park · Fort Nelson Park · Iroquois Park · Jefferson Memorial Forest · Seneca Park · Shawnee Park · Tom Sawyer State Park · Waterfront Park Indiana Parks Charlestown State Park · Clark State Forest · Falls of the Ohio State Park · Lapping Park · Perrin Park · Sam Peden Community Park · Warder Park