Feb 2020 (2) MAYSVILLE, KENTUCKY - World of Big Things

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After perusing the museum (twice around), we checked into the French Quarter Inn. This is the only hotel in town within walking distance of the museum.

The public areas are quite elegant. The rooms rather average. But we did get a river view for only $110 including taxes.

The Ohio River was definitely high, too high. Its muddy waters flowed fast, and across the way it looked like it covered the frontage road and even reached garage door levels.

It's a good thing Maysville has a substantial cement floodwall (https://maysville-online.com/news/143332/flood-of-1937-proved-the-need-for-a-floodwall) or water would be near flowing onto the streets. This levee wall is almost three miles long and ranges in height from 11 to 30 feet.

It is wide enough to handle double train tracks. We heard the choo-choos off and on all night, but we have some near our home in Kalamazoo, so they didn't really bother us.

The wall might be an eyesore except for the large and colorful murals depicting historical events here and there (http://www.cityofmaysville.com/contact/floodwall-mural-project/). This one commemorates hometown gal, singer, and actress Rosemary Clooney (aunt of George Clooney). She was born, married, and buried here. Next is a mural of the famous Russell Theatre which still stands in downtown Maysville.

Here's one with a big paddle-wheeler and Maysville shoreline.

This image displays Shawnee Indians in the 1600s on a bison hunt along Buffalo Trace in the dead of winter.


The little opening to the right would ordinarily take you to a riverfront greenbelt on the other side of the levee. But look at the water height today. Street level starts at the lighter "arc" area at the top of a series of steps. We read a few days later that iron gates would be put across this opening to prevent flooding onto the streets.


We continued our stroll around town. We saw homes of every ilk. From this mix-n-match, "we're doing the best we can"...

...to lovely historic row houses. 

Some with slave quarter entrances from olden times.

This was one of our favorite row houses.

We saw this wee little building squeezed between two others. Not a miniature, but really narrow. I'm not sure even a double bed would fit inside.

We stopped by the Bank of Maysville ATM, the oldest independently-owned bank in Kentucky. It was established in 1835 and has had only seven presidents since its founding.

Time to wet our whistles. Chandler's didn't look like much from the outside, but we would highly recommend it. Inside was warm, cozy, welcoming, and a nice selection of booze.

Darla was our bar tender. Part of the time we were her only customers, so we could make conversation. She poured a nice drink (even gave us a few samples of local bourbon), as this is the start of the famed Kentucky Bourbon Trail. She offered the lowdown on the town, how it was surviving, recommendations for breakfast, and much more. Thanks, Darla!

We ended up having dinner there also. I had shrimp and cheesy grits. Mike had pork pot roast. Every bite was delish!

Honestly, by that time we were toasted. So much so that Mike left his lucky Lewis Hamilton F1 ball cap there. That craziness hasn't happened in a looooong time. We returned giggling to our lodging and watched the river roll by.