McConnell Springs | |
  | |
| Location | Lexington, Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°3′19″N 84°31′40″W / 38.05528°N 84.52778°W |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000874 |
| Added to NRHP | January 17, 1976[1] |
McConnell Springs is a twenty-six acre park and recreation area located at the historic springs where the city of Lexington, Kentucky was named.[2]
Geography edit
McConnell Springs lies in the northwestern area of Lexington, Kentucky in Cahill Industrial Park. The park is located off of Old Frankfort Pike inside New Circle Road near downtown Lexington. [3]
Geology edit
Springs edit
McConnell Springs' two artesian springs are a visible part of the of the karst spring system located at the site. Water in the Blue Hole and Boils maintain a constant temperature of 56 degrees F indicating that the water in the karst system flows a long distance. The steady temperature allows a micro environment to develop at these springs. [4]
Blue Hole edit
The Blue Hole, the first artesian spring, is an open body of water that is approximately 15 feet deep.
Boils edit
The second artesian spring
Finial Sink edit
Flora and fauna edit
History edit
Prehistoric edit
Paleo-Indian period edit
Archaic period edit
Woodland period edit
Fort Ancient Tradition period edit
European settlement edit
In 1775 William McConnell, a Pennsylvanian, claimed the McConnell Springs site for use as a Presbyterian colony. [5]
Agricultural and industrial use edit
Trotter gunpowder mill edit
In 1810 Samuel Trotter purchased property that included McConnell Springs and built Trotter Powder Works, the largest gunpowder factory in Kentucky. During the War of 1812, gunpowder made at the factory was used in several famous battles, including the Battle of New Orleans and battles for control of the Northwest Territory. [6]
Ruins edit
Recreation and educational use edit
Park edit
For recreation and fitness there are two miles of hiking trails passing by the springs, plants, wildlife, stone fences, and ruins of historical buildings.
Education center edit
Archaeological research edit
Management edit
McConnell Springs is owned by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government and is managed through the Division of Parks and Recreation. The Friends of McConnell Springs
The Friends of McConnell Springs edit
The Friends of McConnell Springs is an independent non-profit organization that works with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Division of Parks and Recreation to assist in the restoration and preservation of McConnell Springs.
Citations edit
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2008-04-06.
- ^ "McConnell Springs web site". McConnell Springs. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. 2008-04-06.
- ^ O'Malley, Nancy. "McConnellSprings in Historical Perspective" (PDF). University of Kentucky, Department of Anthropology. pp. p. 9. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
{{cite web}}:|pages=has extra text (help) - ^ "Final Sink" (PDF). Interpretive Notebooks. The Friends of McConnell Springs. pp. p. 3. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
{{cite web}}:|pages=has extra text (help) - ^ "The Blue Hole" (PDF). Interpretive Notebooks. The Friends of McConnell Springs. p. 4. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ "The Boils" (PDF). Interpretive Notebooks. The Friends of McConnell Springs. pp. pp, 3–4. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
References edit
External links edit
{{Registered Historic Places}}:
[[Category:Parks in Lexington]]