Any Civil War history hobbyist will likely plan a pilgrimage to the Jefferson Davis State Historic Site, east of Hopkinsville. The first and only President of the Confederate States of America, the historic site marks Jefferson Davis' birthplace. In a strange and inexplicable twist of fate, the site is just 100 miles away from the place that Abraham Lincoln (the President of the U.S. at the time) was born.
Standing at an impressive 351 feet tall, the Davis obelisk stands like a straight-back soldier on a base of Kentucky Granite. Visitors can take an elevator to an observation deck just below the tip of the tower. In addition to the monument, the historic site consists of close to 20 acres of land and a visitor center, with an interesting gift shop selling Kentucky handicrafts and Civil War memorabilia.