Confederate Memorial Gateway in Hickman

The Confederate Memorial Gateway in Hickman is a granite structure with a decorated front facade and three passages that run through it: one central opening for vehicles and two side openings for pedestrians. The design creates a clear pathway while serving as a physical marker in the town's layout.

The memorial was built in 1913 following the design work of a well-known sculptor and constructed by a specialized granite company. Its creation came during an era when similar public monuments were being established across the country.

The gateway displays the names of soldiers carved directly into its surfaces, creating a form of remembrance that visitors encounter as they pass through. These inscriptions serve as a way to mark individual identities within a collective memory.

The memorial is located in a public area and accessible during daylight hours without restriction. Visitors can easily explore the structure as it stands prominently along the street.

This gateway is one of only two structures of its kind in Kentucky designed as a monument that allows passage through rather than around it. This passing-through approach sets it apart from the typical memorial designs seen elsewhere.