The Mill Springs Mill, located off

Kentucky Route 90 Kentucky Route 90 (KY 90) is a major east–west state highway in southern Kentucky. The route is long, and it traverses Barren, Metcalfe, Cumberland, Clinton, Wayne, Pulaski, McCreary and Whitley Counties in southern Kentucky. It runs f ...

Mill Springs The Battle of Mill Springs, also known as the Battle of Fishing Creek in Confederate States of America, Confederate terminology, and the Battle of Logan's Cross Roads in Union (American Civil War), Union terminology, was fought in Wayne County, ...

Wayne County, Kentucky Wayne County is a county in the U.S. state of Kentucky along the southern border with Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,555. Its county seat is Monticello. The county, on the south-central border with Tennessee, was named ...

, is a historic

watermill A watermill or water mill is a mill that uses hydropower. It is a structure that uses a water wheel or water turbine to drive a mechanical process such as milling (grinding), rolling, or hammering. Such processes are needed in the production of ...

built in 1877. It was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1973. It is the centerpiece of Mill Springs Park. It is located on a descent to the

Cumberland River The Cumberland River is a major waterway of the Southern United States. The U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed June 8, 2011 river drains almost of southern Kentucky and ...

. The springs uphill from the site were reportedly discovered by pioneer

Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyond the we ...

, who suggested the site would be a good location for a mill. The mill is a three-story frame building upon a basement, in plan, supported by large stone columns. Its 1972 NRHP documentation states: "When the present structure was erected in 1877, a wooden wheel of 28 feet height was installed. When it was sold in 1907, the 28 foot wheel was removed and the present 40 foot high, 3 feet in breadth, wheel was installed." With It goes on to state that "The site includes the actual mill, the numerous springs and a small area which has been converted into a small roadside park. There is also a small frame building, formerly used as a

granary A granary is a storehouse or room in a barn for threshed grain or animal feed. Ancient or primitive granaries are most often made of pottery. Granaries are often built above the ground to keep the stored food away from mice and other animal ...

, which is presently used by the Monticello Woman's Club as a gift shop." It was deemed "important because of its historical role in the local commercial trade; in the fields of industry and engineering because of the unusual 40 foot wheel." The mill was restored by the

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers , colors = , anniversaries = 16 June (Organization Day) , battles = , battles_label = Wars , website = , commander1 = ...

in 1976. Includes video and photos. The site is open on weekends, seasonally, for visitors to tour and see corn being ground.

References

Grinding mills in Kentucky Mill museums in the United States National Register of Historic Places in Wayne County, Kentucky Industrial buildings completed in 1877 1877 establishments in Kentucky Grinding mills on the National Register of Historic Places Agricultural buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Kentucky Industrial buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Kentucky {{WayneCountyKY-NRHP-stub