Located between Confederate Tennessee and Unionist Kentucky, residents of Bowling Green at first refused to choose sides during the Civil War. On Sept. 18, 1861, however, rebel troops arrived and changed the town's neutral stance. Bowling Green was proclaimed the Confederate capital of Kentucky later that year. The Confederate army battled with disease rather than soldiers, and Union troops did not arrive until after the rebels evacuated the town.
The city is a cultural center for southern Kentucky and has a variety of industries, including automobile and clothing manufacturing, dairying, livestock raising and tobacco farming.
Visitor Centers
Bowling Green Area Convention and Visitors Bureau 352 Three Springs Rd. Bowling Green, KY 42104. Phone:(270)782-0800 or (800)326-7465
Self-guiding Tours
The Bowling Green Civil War Discovery Trail Driving Tour features forts, memorials and other sites relating to the conflict.In addition, several walking tours lead visitors to the city's historic sites, homes and buildings. Information is available for walking tours of the Upper East Main, College Hill and ShakeRag historic districts. The downtown Heritage Walk covers 18 markers. The 80-mile Duncan Hines Scenic Byway begins and ends at the Duncan Hines historical marker in front of the 1940 structure that Hines built as his home and office at 3098 Louisville Rd. (US 31W). Maps and brochures for all tours are available at the convention and visitors bureau and at the visitor center in the National Corvette Museum
Shopping
Belk, Dillard's, and JCPenney are among the more than 80 stores at Greenwood Mall, at I-65 exit 22.
Things to Do
Beech Bend ParkThe Historic Railpark and Train Museum at L & N Depot