Union Monument in Vanceburg

The Union Monument in Vanceburg is a Civil War memorial located on the Lewis County courthouse grounds, depicting a Union soldier in winter gear. The limestone figure stands tall wearing a kepi hat, the distinctive military headgear of the era.

Built in 1884, the monument commemorates 107 Lewis County soldiers who died serving the Union during the Civil War. Its construction reflected the community's decision to publicly honor those who had fought on the Union side.

The memorial shows how Lewis County remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War, standing apart from Kentucky's many Confederate monuments built after the war. This choice reveals how individual communities shaped their own remembrance of the conflict.

The memorial is located on public courthouse grounds and remains freely accessible at all times for visitors to view. Its central location on the courthouse plaza makes it easy to find and explore.

This is the only publicly funded Union memorial south of the Mason-Dixon line that stands outside a cemetery. Its placement in the courthouse square makes it an unusual location for such a commemorative monument.

GPS coordinates: 38.60060,-83.31617

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:05