On day 79 of “The Ultimate USA Road Trip” we drive from Nashville Tennessee via the state of Kentucky to the once “Eighth Wonder of the World” in West Baden Springs.

Before we leave Nashville we visit the beautiful “Bicentennial State Park”. Located just steps from downtown Nashville, this park is home to the World War II Veterans Memorial. There are beautiful monuments, a row of 31 fountains (honoring major waterways), and a walkway that honors every county in Tennessee. There is a 200 foot granite map of the state. During the summer months, the amphitheater hosts live performances.

If you are interested you can visit the nearby “Tennessee State Museum”, this is a large museum that shows the history of the American state of Tennessee. The 130,000-square-foot building includes a Tennessee Time Tunnel that chronicles the state's history by guiding visitors through the museum's permanent collection. There is a children's gallery, six rotating galleries, a digital learning center and the two-story “Grand Hall.” Exhibits include important artifacts related to the state's history, along with displays of art, furniture, textiles, and photographs produced by Tennesseans. The museum's Civil War collections include uniforms, battle flags and weapons. There is no entrance fee for visitors.

Before we leave Nashville we stop briefly at “Buffalo Park”, this park at “Dickerson Pike” consists of ten life-size bronze Buffalo statues that were installed in 2009. This park was a turning point for the once crime-ridden area. This park was part of a revitalization project funded with more than a million dollars in federal grants from the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Buffalo was chosen because “Dickerson Pike” follows the same path the buffalo took to get from north Nashville to the salt flats along the Cumberland River.

After a coffee stop at “Shugga Hi Bakery and Café” we leave Nashville and drive over beautiful winding roads through Tennessee and Kentucky to the next short stop at “Union Hill Trading Post”, founded in 1952 as a store and grocer to serve the local community. serve. This amazing western style shop with rustic charm, rural scenery and a unique outdoor space is an absolute must stop for a photo. It once served as a restaurant and bar for Union Hill residents, racers and fans of the nearby drag strip. Here barbecues and cold beer were served while enjoying live music. The large, covered porch and stage emphasize the Western-themed exterior.

We leave Tennessee and drive into Kentucky with the first stop being the SEEK Museum in Russellville. This museum tells the unique and hidden stories of slavery and the related struggle for freedom, equality and justice. These stories are told in seven historic buildings. Educational exhibits have been installed that encourage visitors to seek knowledge, truth and understanding of these important issues.
There are two separate but related museum locations available for group or individual tours. Here, the slavery and emancipation that took place on this site until 1865 are exhibited and described. It explores the strength and resilience of the people who developed this neighborhood after the end of the Civil War and fought for civil rights while facing legalized segregation and racial violence and intimidation. Guided tours are given from Tuesday to Saturday: 10am - 4pm by appointment.
We also plan lunch in Russellville, there are several restaurants and bars in this town where you can enjoy lunch.

After lunch we drive to Fordville where we visit the Fordsville Historical Society and L & N Depot Museum, built in 1916 and closed in 1942. This railroad depot was initially served by the Louisville and Western Railway and later by the Louisville and Nashville. Today the museum contains train memorabilia and remnants of rural Kentucky life. Check hours before visiting by calling +1 270-929-5792.

We drive along part of the beautiful “Ohio River Scenic Byway”, a particularly scenic drive with exceptional views of the Ohio River. The entire Ohio River Scenic Byway is 943 miles of breathtaking hills and lush forest valleys connected by winding roads past charming villages and towns. We drive only 42 miles of this scenic route.
We briefly leave this route to take a photo at the “Mason's Lighthouse Landing Castle”, a 18 meter high limestone lighthouse built by one man over a period of 15 years in the shape of a castle.

We stop at “The Ole Country Store” in Sulfur Indiana, this is a great place to stop for fuel and plan a quick break to have a drink and maybe eat some of their famous Chili. This location exudes the old west, it is a wooden building with a veranda and an authentic gas pump.

The final stop is planned in French Lick, where we will visit the “Indiana Railway Museum” established in 1961 in the town of Westport in Decatur County, with one locomotive and three passenger cars. The museum moved to Greensburg and then to its current location in French Lick in 1978 after the Southern Railway granted a total of sixteen miles of right-of-way, stretching from West Baden, Indiana, about a mile north of French Lick, to a small village called Dubois, in the south.

The museum's collection includes more than 65 pieces of rolling stock and locomotives. The museum has on display three steam locomotives that are not running and three operational diesel locomotives. Excursions are usually powered by a diesel locomotive.

After this last stop we drive to our end point, the West Baden Springs Hotel. Escape the everyday to a luxury hotel built over a century ago. Once called the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” the centerpiece of the West Baden Springs Hotel is an awe-inspiring 200-foot atrium. Combining a comfortable atmosphere with modern amenities, the hotel creates unforgettable romantic getaways, weddings, corporate events and other special occasions. There are endless possibilities for a truly extraordinary stay at the West Baden Springs Hotel.