A Rivertown With Museums: Paducah, Kentucky 4K.

[@ChrisHarden]

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[@charq52]

I just moved to Paducah a year ago…I like it. It was fun to see familiar landmarks. You drove very near my house AND my sister’s house! It’s a nice small town.

[@adambr25]

The building on Broadway that you weren't sure of the name is the Hotel Irvin Cobb, named after the beloved writer, satarist and one of Paducah's most famous son's. The hotel was completed in 1929 with 180 rooms, a gorgeous grand ballroom, restaurants, bars and was for decades the center of public life. It is listed as a National Historic Place. It was seriously neglected during the 60s-80s and is now an apartment building for lie income folks and the elderly. It's public spaces, such as the ballroom and the rooftop, both of which are used extensively for Weddings, Ceremonies and much more. I do truly believe that sooner rather than later, it will be renovated as an upscale hotel, after the city and state provide more modern and integrated housing for the current occupants. It truly is a grand building with an amazing history that, while in need of rehabilitation, has not been so neglected that it can't be made back into the luxurious hotel and society hub that it was for decades.

[@mgmchicago]

I lived in Metropolis, IL as a child from 1960 -1973. Paducah is right across the Ohio River and my family spent a lot of time there working and shopping. The Broadway/downtown area was quite a bustling city center at one time, but when the mall(s) opened on the edge of town in the 1970s, the downtown area rapidly declined. Despite the decline of the downtown, I still find Paducah to be rather graceful with its older architecture, wide streets and lots of open spaces.

[@jaybee608]

Good to know.

[@terrybane6206]

This is the best coverage of Paducah I've seen so far. Nice job.

[@jessemcelroy5266]

Paducah beer works used to be the grey hound bus station and that is where the rotating sign came from.

[@stilldon1726]

This is my home town and It popped up in my mentions

[@ivabasquill5764]

I used to live in the housing projects in Puducah in 1970 and went to Henry Clay Elementary. Do the projects or the school still exist and what part of town were they?

[@wildwoman8310]

A lot of people & children enjoy "The River Discovery Center" which is an educational type museum for the river/barge industries. It is near the riverfront. Many tourists enjoy going to the riverfront to watch the barges travel the river. I love that some of the downtown businesses have refurbished their stores to match the original stores & their architecture. It was always so much fun going shopping in the downtown stores. Loved the strawberry pie at Kresges along with their long packs of individual candy suckers. I also miss the beautiful fashions & shoes from the department stores on Broadway. I have always enjoyed the antique stores. U never know what U will find. The 4th of July fireworks @ the riverfront are nice too. Best part is barbeque on the river every year. The cook's do an awesome job. It has kind of a flea market effect too. Safe place to go as traffic is blocked off so one can walk around & visits the downtown stores too. Not unusual to see the large boats docking & letting tourists visit the downtown area. I haven't kept up which boats dock now but I know The Delta Queen use to stop frequently. And LOVE Groundfloor Shoe Store on Broadway too. I really miss Beth & her Mom & I hope Scott is still there!!! Always felt so welcome in their store!

[@crystalthompson81]

Used to ride my bike down there and hang out until dark. Got kicked out of the old Executive Inn building almost everyday when I popped in there for a 15 swim in the indoor pool. Had my first kiss on that old train. This brought back a lot of memories. Thanks for the upload

[@drakonidesthevigilant5155]

I spent most of my childhood in Paducah KY. Is the Executive Inn still standing? I remember my buddy and I used to sneak into the little general store within the hotel and look at Playboys until we got kicked out

[@crystalthompson81]

@@drakonidesthevigilant5155 it's no longer standing but they put up another hotel.

[@jackbutler2080]

I moved here this past September and just love the small Rivertown atmosphere. You have done an excellent job of giving us a tour of our town... I have found the people warm, friendly, and helpful as I settle in... Great job!

[@allendean9807]

We just had our offer on a mini farm just outside Paducah accepted last night! We are super stoked to go from outside Lexington to this area!

[@jaybee608]

Glad to get your view on this city. I'm in Nashville, looking to retire in a nice small town.

[@allendean9807]

@@jaybee608 we have been here since June 18th. I am in love with this place. It’s definitely much slower than Nashville. The people are very country. But they are polite, welcoming and kind. Our.title slice of Heaven is EC act,y what i wanted to have to spend my old many years upon!

[@brianrankin7602]

I used to spend my summers with my grandparents there in Paducah and I have fond memories of the place. I haven't been there in 10 years and it seems like its slowly dying which is quite unfortunate. Someone mentioned the festivals are no longer being put on. THAT SUCKS! I loved it when they were in full swing. They used to do concerts on the stage by the river and they drew the crowds. Hank Williams JR played there one summer.

[@ChrisHarden]

The festival inactivity be due to nothing other than the madness of the pandemic in 2020. I don't know that for sure, but if that's the case I'd be surprised if the festivals don't return this year or next.

[@brianrankin7602]

@@ChrisHarden Thank you for the clarification. I was under the impression the festivals were canceled several years ago. Yes, the pandemic has been a challenge for many. Thank you for your videos.

[@ljones98391]

Thank you so much for this, Chris. Havent seen anything like it with this much information, history and touring the area. All the best to you.

[@barbararobbins441]

Thank you, I enjoyed the whole ride. What a BEAUTIFUL place

[@MikeRuh01]

A year ago I got in my truck and started driving. I live outside STL Mo, And ended up in Paducah. I never knew the town was so deep. Or that wall keep the town from flooding when the water level is high. Well the water level was high and even Metropolis Il was flooded as will. But while in Paducah I had a great burger and beer at the Paducah beer works . Talked to a bar made there and she explained to me about the wall. Went to an antique shop. And found out that I need to start quilting! Because finding out there was a quilt museum and how much the quilts sell for sometimes? Hell's yeah!

[@DavidLSmith-sm9us]

The Paducah beer works you mentioned used to be the greyhound bus station. The top revolving sign had the gray hound logo on it. This is a very historic riverboat town with a lot of land marks and history.

[@adamlong5753]

As a local, who has spent the majority of their life here. I'd like to say that anyone who doesn't like this video, should be happy you didn't point out all the abandoned businesses turned meth squater houses you drove past, nor did you show the nursing home escapees from the city council in their thrift store santa jackets, standing outside the inflatable "convention center", or as we locals call it "Paxton's Pimple."

[@crimaridia1521]

Thank you. After seeing this I'd love to visit, enjoy that bbq and sit on the steps at the riverfront park area. I hope you do more on KY's cities.

[@makensienickols165]

The building on right used to be Irvin Cobb Hotel...that is his pic on side of building smoking cigar. Now it is apartments for disabled, privately owned by out-of-town management company.

[@weedsmith9317]

I was just down there a month ago or so, a Buddy of mine lives in Murray. I live in upstate NY hell of a new world down there

[@nahtanhastone4413]

i live in paducah and i havemt been around town much this last year i stay home probably only leave the house a few times a month. and ive seen things in your video thay have changed so much around town since the pandemic started.

[@nrwjones]

This is my hometown. Thanks for sharing this.

[@Sayres434]

Nice work

[@jennyanddrake]

Awesome video! I am a Paducah Native and live on Broadway. Paducah is a really great place to live. You should definitely come back around the first of September though and partake in BBQ on the River!

[@taylorleigh186]

What he said! If covid doesn’t have it cancelled again! BBQ on the river is the best! Usually always crowded but always good food!

[@bendummitt888]

Little Tractor and Equipment on the left at 2:23. Iconic local area business that was started in Metropolis and has grown to 3 locations. The employees are legendary,

[@eandsm4620]

If I ever live close to a relative, this would be the berg. Thanks for the video!

[@michaelgarrity6090]

Paducah is now a nice stop for those in boats doing the Great Loop now they they put in a nice municipal dock complete with fuel. It seems like a relatively prosperous place.

[@jermaschinot]

The floodwall has the most incredible series of murals I've ever seen. The whole history of the area from prehistoric times to the atomic age, beautifully painted. Did I miss that?

[@sonicasharda354]

I’m born and raised in Sacramento, CA and lived in Paducah for a few years on Martin Luther King Jr Dr. I moved to Belleville, Illinois about 7 months ago. I feel so blessed to get out of that little town. Lol I do NOT miss it at all

[@sonicasharda354]

@@rodneybyassee1928 u must be still stuck in that devil town lol Feeling the need to reply to my comment 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@allendean9807]

First off, where in the 916 did you live? I lived in Hillsdale( north Citrus Heights, near Kirby Rd.) , Rosemont, ( graduate from Hiram Johnson high school, ‘85) and just off Bradshaw, ( 4 miles west of Rancho Cordova) near the river. Moving outside Paducah- just got my offer accepted on an 11-acre mini farm- something i could NEVER get in NorCal! Heh.

[@tacocruiser4238]

Looks like a nice town that is past it's prime. The good news is that it's declining somewhat gracefully instead of collapsing like some other places on this channel.

[@nahtanhastone4413]

i think paducah would be alot better and thriving if we had a mayor who actually cared about our town. the last mayor ruined alot of traditions this town did including alot of festivals that brought in alot of money tonlocal businesses.

[@Mrtraveler01]

*looks downriver at the town where the Ohio ends*

[@queenspenterprise7261]

My grandparents use to take us to Paducah to go shopping when we visit them in Bardwell Kentucky I miss visiting Kentucky and going into the city unfortunately my grandfather died and I haven’t been down south since

[@johnnightshade5779]

I from Paducah, Tilghman class of 87. I haven't been back in Yeats, but I have heard that it's not the same. No more summer festivals or concerts at the river front. I also heard that there are alot of outsiders from Cairo, East St. Louis and Chicago tearing Paducah to shreds.

[@zillaf1840]

I was surprised that you failed to mention the Carson Center (concert venue) when you were right there at the flood wall. I also wish you had shown the beautiful artwork on the flood wall itself. I understand it's difficult to include everything but you decided to describe it in a way that definately didn't include the 70 or 80 restaurants/shopping in and around the Kentucky Oaks mall area. Just letting viewers know that there is a lot more to Paducah than it being a quaint little river town.

[@ChrisHarden]

Hmm. At least the thumbnail for the video has the art wall on it.

[@terrieirvin8637]

He hit most of the spots but it's what you can expect when you don't even get out of the car. He did completely miss the railway museum even though he drove right by it .

[@allendean9807]

@@eliora1482 wow. I wonder, where do you live? Is it in the United States? Because, I’ve lived all over this god forsaken wasteland, and you’ll be hard pressed to find one corner of it not rife with bullshit. Or are you, perhaps, just a keyboard warrior, keen to insult others, whilst covering all the mirrors in your house, for fear the reflection will destroy you? In 2018, i picked Kentucky off a map, on my way back from over a year in Europe. The people here are warm hearted, kind, and community means something here. Like everywhere else, it’s not without its concerns. But I’m a California native. I’ve lived in Detroit. Tulsa. Plano. Olympia and Tacoma. Kentucky is pretty cool. It can be a quiet, peaceful place. And, you can still buy land. Land is something no one can take away from you, unless you let them. There’s a lot to love here. I hope someday you find peace. Own a home of your own. Build something that your children will inherit, and continue to build upon. That, my lovely is the actual American dream.

[@DeOndertoon]

These are excellent!

[@collin-u2k]

You should come to Owensboro Kentucky and check it out, there's lots of new things being built every few months. It's a very fast growing city with interesting buildings, places, and people

[@spyro39671]

Building you asked about is the old Irvin Cobb hotel , I believe it’s been turned into apartments now

[@ChrisHarden]

Love informative comments like this. Thanks!

[@spyro39671]

@@ChrisHarden I grew up in Paducah (( live in Chicago region now )) and I was actually married in the renovated first floor of the building.

[@ChrisHarden]

Very nice! Seems like it was a good choice. It’s a beautiful building.

[@nahtanhastone4413]

it is apartments now. years ago it was public housing for disabled people but im not sure if thats still the case.

[@meetthekitties2740]

I can't believe y'all didn't go over the blue Brookport Bridge! It was even in the movie US Marshal

[@countryfriedent]

Great video! And cool editing! I was born here in 1978. Just bought a house about 3 miles west of the uranium factory you mentioned. Subscribing 👍

[@hunnigutbaumgartner5945]

Hope you're not on ground water. You should go get your thyroid checked if you live that close.

[@anartistlife1572]

Oops nevermind, i see the date now thank you for making this video good job!

[@ChrisHarden]

Haha you’re good and thanks!

[@katel3962]

Very impressed with Paducah video - looks mostly clean and well maintained, with good streets and manicured lawns. It was sounding good, up until the Super Fund site 🤢 Paducah appears to be the complete opposite of Spfld, IL which is a complete dump in disrepair.

[@nrwjones]

... by the way the beautiful building across from the church in the downtown area was the old Irvin Cobb hotel. Some of my older family members used to work there.

[@ultimatevixn]

this came on my mentions .. I have enjoyed traveling around the country with you. I must say the Cairo IL has affected me the most of all the videos I have watched so far.. There is a lot of potential there.

[@crystalthompson81]

Cairo IL is hopeless. You can drive through it to get to future city and the whole feel of it is discarded, abandoned, hopeless. Like everyone there is just waiting for something. I hope it comes....I get depressed when I drive through it. I want better for it and it had a few beautiful buildings that just seem to rise regal amongst the debris

[@leonacolson4226]

At 10:55 on your video, the building on the rod is the Irvin Cobb Hotel.

[@michaelmcelrath8536]

Hey Nostalgia i grew up in paducah untill i moved to GA back in 03 great vid you did i do like the vid you did on cairo ill i used to go that way to charleston miss to get fireworks from boomland thx man for all you do to make vids for us hope to see more

[@chadm6981]

You mean Charleston, Missouri not Mississippi. I know use to do the same thing back in the day. Live on the gulf coast of Florida now.

[@mathewhephill8686]

Thank you

[@willinmilwaukee]

Starnes Barbeque on the right at 29:31

[@brianrankin7602]

Living in PHX now and I miss Starnes BBQ

[@biggumstevens1784]

We had a string of vehicle vandalisms here, people stealing catalytic converters, that is the cause of property crime int his area. We also had a few shootings of louisville folks who came to deal drugs/start trouble in our city too.

[@ljones98391]

During the pandemic we had a disconcerting rash of catalytic converter thefts where I lived north of Hillsborough, NC. Seems to have stopped now as I've heard no reports of any more last couple of years

[@billtribble2904]

I hope Paducah and it's art community do well post-pandemic. 😷

[@mattago2]

To the right of St Francis is Hotel Irvine Cobb. They're apartments now.

[@aliviagoodwin300]

Home city right hereee

[@allendean9807]

In the process of buying an 11-acre mini farm just outside of Paducah. The town reminds me a lot of Sacramento, California- another river town. I only have one question; how is your windshield so clean? Mine was full of sacrificial bugs when i got there!!

[@anartistlife1572]

what date did you make this video? I'm trying to understand the seasons and landscape and wondering if this is current in December?

[@drakonidesthevigilant5155]

If it was December the leaves would have fallen from the trees. Looks like early to mid spring to me but I could be mistaken

[@drakonidesthevigilant5155]

Lol nvm I see the date. It's 8-04-20

[@1life0gods]

Nice to see the state put in a diverging diamond interchange by the mall. That's one of the most congested parts of town. What's the music of the background music btw?

[@ChrisHarden]

The songs used in this one are: The Planes by Kyle McEvoy Pleiades by Aether New Normal by JJ Heller

[@theartofmusic1583]

10:56 that is an apartment building designed with tudor architecture.

[@ChrisHarden]

It’s an awesome looking building!

[@larrycates7655]

The building was the Irvin Cobb hotel.

[@jennaBhere]

I live here and this came up as a suggestion today. 😂

[@ChrisHarden]

That's because KZbin knows what's up!

[@jennaBhere]

@@ChrisHarden It knew I was getting cabin fever from being iced in. Lol

[@ronhughes1072]

That building is the Irvin Cobb Hotel

[@clintonpayne4690]

That was Cobb hotel You can check out the rich heritage of Paducah Through are library

[@mario28838]

I lived in paducah ky my whole life. Just moved to Murray ky. I love paducah except the south side. Not a good area. Great vid!

[@mario28838]

Ok so no, the school system is only good for rich kids... My kids are middle class and they were treated so bad that they were abused by 2 teachers but i took it into my own hands and i did to them what they did to my kids. 💁 school systems suck bad in paducah, dont send your kids there unless you can buy your way thru.

[@mario28838]

Irvin cobb apts is the building to the right :)

[@ChrisHarden]

That’s unfortunate to hear about your kids. I don’t have kids, but I would imagine that I would move away too!

[@mario28838]

@@ChrisHarden it was a very accurate vid thank u for bringing light to a much needed space. The quilt museum is almost never talked about so bringing it to light really helps put the word out there for them.

[@jefferystokes5746]

I was Born Here i left in 1981 , i live in Germany the Hotel IS Irving cobb Hotel. ITS been 10 years since been Home im comeing Home again soon maybe 2024 thankyou For this Film

[@cathyeller5722]

The crime rate of theft is high due to the Paducah Police Department eating doughnuts behind the local Walmarts. They don't even try to stop the amount of meth places in town, if you are into drugs this is the place to visit. The state police come in and harass the locals but they don't do anything about the crime either. Since everyone knows that the city police and State police don't get along nothing gets done. The roads we pay taxes for rarely get fixed and the amount of buildings that are empty and are falling apart on southside is terrible. The homeless shelter's are always full and when they do sit up a sight to help each other our wonderful city tore it down. Now they live in the empty buildings and end up setting them on fire in the winter. Downtown has no parking and is not safe to go at night. There are more closed down town buildings they put up things in the window so people don't know there is actually no store to go into to. There is a big art community that the city put their money into, instead of helping people that were living here. They brought in outsiders we will see how long they actually stay here. Now that the diffusion plant is closing down more jobs are being lost, the income is going down even more. If you live toward 1 -24 it means you have the money, the downtown southside area is the poorer side of town, and it shows. During the outbreak the city did nothing to enforce mask wearing since most people here didn't even believe it was real. The education level is bad, health care is worse, if you are really sick, Nashville is where people go.

[@neildickson5394]

Paducah should at the very least be 4 times its size. I think it was bigger in the early 50's when it was Atomic City. I don't want to say Paducah leadership is lazy, but they certainly should be way more aggressive. I've known co-workers who left Paducah simply because there was zero opportunity there. Tho I'm from KY, I find it amazing the information displayed here, and not knowing the former Irvin Cobb Hotel. Probably the most famous Hotel, and native son in Western KY. The entire film crew of "How the West was Won" stayed there in the early 60's.

[@gobigorange]

Is this where Phil McCracken got started.? I worked at Walmart in the 80’s an would crank call them to page Phil McCracken😂

[@TouchOfMaddness]

My home town

[@ogcurtthemanofconciousness7344]

You have a Great Voice Chris !! You must kill it before it kills you!😆just kidding😎Great voice thou!!!

[@korbin5408]

In Kentucky I live close to Paducah but I’m a country boy and I live in the country of Kentucky

[@MattC78]

Lone Oak is pretty nice. You missed it.

[@josephlalock8378]

looks like kryptonite isn't superman's only weakness

[@muddy1944]

Any plans on doing some Tennessee or Oklahoma vids?

[@ChrisHarden]

I plan on going to every state and when Canada opens back up, I want to go there too. Just can’t tell you when I’ll get to each place as there’s so many cities and towns everywhere.

[@fmachine86]

Back in the 80s/90s this place was a lot nicer. Or maybe that’s just my nostalgia clouding my judgement.

[@Keonny77]

You didn't get to see White Haven!?

[@davidrice3337]

Why be a degenerate racist ? Society doesn't need racist , prejudiced people like yourself running around preaching to people we definitely need to have a good peaceful conversation - I look forward to it keano

[@GTV_69]

passed all the good things to do in the first 30 seconds. mall is to the right

[@larrybargon5018]

Meh. Depends on the perspective of good.

[@MikeRuh01]

So that's what it looks like on the other side of the flood wall? The barmaid had told me that there was a park there

[@theartofmusic1583]

I love this! Also, the population decline rate is declining itself, so hopefully next census we will see a little growth.

[@wildwoman8310]

There are several nice stores in downtown area on Broadway Street which ends at the riverfront where large barges often stop to restock their kitchens . Many of these shop owners have maintained or refurbished several of their buildings with much of the original woodwork & architecture of the stores I saw with my family as a child. I love the downtown area. Brings back a lot of childhood memories when we grew up & life was much simpler.

[@allendean9807]

Well, you’ve got three more coming- just got my offer of an 11- acre mini farm accepted, just outside of Paducah.

[@Guddy2Shuzz]

I'll be coming soon I hope. As soon as my house sells, I'll be looking to rent a spot till I decide if I buy or not. Looks great to me! ❤

[@davidtatum8682]

I live in paducah. Nice job I must say.

[@ChrisHarden]

Thank you sir.

[@canecorsomom2023]

I've lived in Paducah my whole life and didn't know all this.

[@MidwestDankAlumni]

Nobody moves to Paducah because Paducah's the shit- Joe Rogan

[@aviewer9668]

If a school wants a good enough grading it’ll hide all it needs to and pass all the dinguses that don’t deserve it to get there idk if school systems being good in a place where not much else is. Probably inflated, but what do I know

[@scoobysnakz715]

270

[@nationalparknrd6565]

Irvin Cobb hotel

[@dycryptthis5445]

O.o

[@ned6938]

To bad the police and Sheriff's are so corrupt there. If you visit that town you are likely to go to jail for nothing more than being there.

[@aidenmowery2003]

Gtfo outta my town

[@Play_In_Traffic]

I'll be honest...I live here and this place sucks. There's really nothing job wise and a lot of them don't want to pay. They'd rather cater to the quilters than any other interest group, which is sad because they did have another convention or 2 and they chased them away because they only cared about the retirement age population. To be honest, this place has become a retirement home for the rich. There's really nothing to do here.

[@crystalthompson81]

I used to know a mark Thompson that lived in Paducah 😁

[@adambr25]

Perhaps you aren't looking around enough? I agree that if looking at the same ol places, it may seem that way, but places like the Johnson Bar, 1857 Hotel, the bars restaurants and boutiques around market house square, the Freight House by celeb chef Sarah Bradley, the Carson Centers Broadway style productions, the Market house theater and their local productions, the coke building's renovation not to mention festivals like BBQ on the River and even the fact that Paducah now has a yearly fun, family friendly Pride Festival. So much more must be done if our area is to 1)retain our own people and 2) bring in new folks.

[@tophermagellan6017]

You could of seen some better places. I am from there. It's kind of disappointing

[@Thumper11456]

I have lived here for 25 years. Its not worth visiting