Merchants' Row and Other Sites

In addition to recognizing the importance of protecting battlefield land, the PEP appreciates the historical heritage of the entire community. As such, we are dedicated to the preservation of Perryville’s architectural treasures and the interpretation of the varying threads of its historic fabric.

The Karrick-Parks House

Perryville stands out among our nation’s historic tourists sites for its unique combination of military and civilian history. To compliment efforts at the battlefield, the PEP has turned its attention to the restoration of historic Merchants’ Row, one of the only surviving 19th-century mercantile districts in the nation, and other endangered structures in town. We have contracted with nationally renowned historic preservation architect Joseph K. Oppermann in these efforts.

Currently the Enhancement Project is finishing a reconstruction and interpretation project on the Perryville cave walls, which will make the site more visible and accessible to visitors. Work also continues on consolidating the Karrick-Parks House windows. Future restoration efforts will include the remaining Merchants’ Row structures, the Parks General Store, the Johnson-Brinton House that will serve as the future home of the battlefield museum, and the J.J. Polk House and Office.

House/Historic Merchants' Row

In addition to preserving historic structures, the PEP serves as the primary interpreter of Perryville’s story. Recently a research project was completed documenting one of Perryville’s most unique stories — Sleettown. Sleettown was a post-Civil War African-American community that achieved full self-sufficiency. With the help of the Kentucky African-American Heritage Commission, we were able to utilize the availability a first-hand accounts from Sleettown descendants to produce a comprehensive report and information brochure for distribution.

For more in-depth information on the historic structures of Merchants' Row, click here.