Fort Duffield Walking Tour
Welcome to the Fort Duffield Walking Tour — a self‑guided experience that leads you through one of
Kentucky’s most remarkable Civil War earthwork forts. Each station highlights a key feature of the
fort and the stories of the soldiers who built and guarded it during the winter of 1861–62.
You may explore the tour in order, or jump directly to any station using the links below. QR codes
placed throughout the fort will take you to the same pages on your phone.
Walking Tour Stations
- Station 1 — The Trail Up the Hill
- Station 2 — The Main Entrance
- Station 3 — The Parapet Walls
- Station 4 — The Rifle Pits
- Station 5 — The Powder Magazine
- Station 6 — The Winter Huts
- Station 7 — The Lookout Point
- Station 8 — The Star‑Shaped Earthworks
- Station 9 — The Salt River Valley
- Station 10 — Preservation & Restoration
About the Fort
Fort Duffield was constructed in late 1861 by the 9th Michigan Infantry and the 1st Wisconsin Infantry.
Its position atop Muldraugh’s Hill allowed Union forces to protect the vital river‑to‑wagon supply route
feeding Louisville and the armies moving south into Kentucky and Tennessee.
The fort never saw direct combat, but its presence deterred Confederate movement along the Ohio River
corridor. The earthworks you see today remain among the best‑preserved Civil War fortifications in the
region.
Voices of the Soldiers
Many of the men who built Fort Duffield left behind letters and diary entries describing their labor,
sickness, cold nights, and daily life on the hill. You can explore their words in the
Voices of the Soldiers exhibit.
Trail Information
- The trail is steep in places — please use caution.
- Wear sturdy shoes and watch for uneven ground.
- Stay on marked paths to protect the earthworks.
- QR codes at each station link to detailed pages.