• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Genuine Kentucky

Kentucky Pictures, Events, Restaurants

  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
      • Advertise
    • Facts About Kentucky
      • Kentucky Geography 101: Where is Kentucky?!
      • Kentucky’s Lakes (Listed Alphabetically)
    • Famous Kentuckians
    • Kentucky Birds
      • Joys of Bird Watching
      • Bird Watching: Keeping a Journal
      • Backyard Birds Love Water!
      • Create a Backyard Bird Watching Haven
      • How to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Yard
    • Kentucky Food
    • Kentucky History
    • Sitemap
  • Pictures
  • Restaurants
    • Best Catfish Restaurants
    • Best Pizza in Ky
    • Best BBQ in Ky
    • Bowling Green Restaurants
    • Gluten Free in Kentucky
    • Kentucky Lake Restaurants
    • Off the Beaten Path
    • Owensboro, Gluten Free
    • Owensboro Restaurants
    • Where to Eat Lunch in Owensboro
  • KY State Parks
    • Carter Caves State Resort Park
    • Cumberland Falls State Resort Park
    • Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park
    • Kenlake State Resort Park
    • Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park
    • Lake Barkley State Resort Park
    • Rough River Dam State Resort Park
    • Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park
    • Pine Mountain State Resort Park
    • John James Audubon State Park
    • Lake Cumberland State Resort Park
    • More Kentucky State Parks
  • Things to Do
    • Grand Rivers Variety
    • Kentucky State Parks
    • Kentucky Lake
      • Kentucky Lake Pictures
    • Land Between the Lakes
      • Elk & Bison Prairie
      • Golden Pond Planetarium
      • The Homeplace
      • The Nature Station
      • LBL Pictures
        • Elk and Bison Prairie Pictures
    • Windy Hollow Campground and Speedway
    • Western Kentucky Botanical Garden
    • Smothers Park and Owensboro’s Riverfront
    • The Hitching Post
  • Events
You are here: Home / Archives for Pike County

The Real Hatfield & McCoy Feud: Walk the Grounds they Walked!

June 3, 2012 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Hatfields & McCoysOne of my favorite television destinations, The History Channel, recently aired an outstanding and wildly successful miniseries, Hatfields & McCoys. Apparently viewers tuned in to this miniseries as though they were being paid to do so.  I’m really not surprised, though. For one thing, it was a History Channel production – everything they touch is pure gold.  For another thing, the Hatfields and McCoys are a fascinating part of our country’s history – especially in this neck of the woods.

In Kentucky, we grew up hearing about the Hatfields & McCoys so much that, for the better part of my childhood, I thought they were family.

If you’re a history buff like I am or simply interested in this very colorful part of history, a trip to beautiful Pike County, Kentucky might be right up your alley.  Visiting the place where it all played out can help you visualize this 19th century conflict between the rival Kentucky and West Virginia families. Each historical site features a marker telling tragic stories from the infamous feud, serving as a reminder of how dangerous sheer unadulterated hatred can be!

Many tourists each year travel to eastern Kentucky to see the areas and historic relics that remain from the days of the feud. Improvements to various feud sites have been completed, and historical markers commemorate many key locales. Research by local historians has been compiled in an audio compact disc called the “Hatfield & McCoy Feud Driving Tour.” The CD provides a self-guided driving tour of the restored feud sites. It includes maps and pictures as well as the audio CD.

You can order the CD by visiting www.tourpikecounty.com or by calling 800-844-7453.

Hillbilly Days Festival

You might also wish to attend the annual Hillbilly Days festival in Pikeville, Ky., which each April draws thousands of visitors to the area of the feud for a weekend of regional entertainment, food, contests and celebrations. You can get more information on the festival at www.hillbillydays.com.

Dils Cemetery

The Dils Cemetery is located at the mouth of Chloe Creek and the By-Pass Road in Pikeville, Kentucky. Historians are always fascinated by cemeteries – and Dils Cemetery is an especially interesting one. This Cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud Historic District. Buried in the cemetery are: Randolph McCoy, the head of the McCoy clan, his wife, Sarah, their daughter, Roseanna (who ran away with Johnse Hatfield), their son, Sam and his wife, Martha.

But there’s even more historical significance: The cemetery is the first known cemetery in Eastern Kentucky to be integrated. Col. Dils let his freed slaves and their descendants be buried in the cemetery.

About the Hatfield & McCoys

The feud involved two families of the Kentucky and West Virginia mountains along the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River. The bitter conflict stemmed from many causes, but the origins have been traced to divided loyalties during the Civil War and even a Romeo-Juliet romance between members of the rival clans.

The McCoys, who lived in Pike County, Ky., mostly sided with the Union during the Civil War, while the Hatfields, from neighboring Mingo County, W.Va., were aligned with the Confederates. The first real violence in the feud was the 1865 slaying of returning Union soldier Asa Harmon McCoy, generally believed to have been committed by members of the Hatfield family.

Between 1880 and 1891, the feud claimed a dozen members of the two families, becoming headline news around the country and compelling the governors of both Kentucky and West Virginia to call up their state militias to restore order. The governor of West Virginia once even threatened to have his militia invade Kentucky. Kentucky�s governor responded by sending his chief military aide to Pike County to investigate the situation. Besides a dozen who died, at least 10 persons were wounded in that decade.

The feud has entered the American vocabulary as a metaphor for any parties to a bitter rivalry. More than a century later, the story of the feud has become a modern symbol for the perils of family honor, justice and vengeance. Over the years, the feud has been the subject of several film portrayals, and this week separate feature-film and miniseries productions are debuting on U.S. movie and TV screens.

 

Pike County’s history is very intriguing and the Hatfields and McCoys have a lot to do with it. Click the link to learn more.

 

Books About the Hatfields & McCoys:

For more information about travel in Kentucky, visit www.kentuckytourism.com.

Filed Under: Famous Kentuckians, Kentucky History Tagged With: Hatfields & McCoys, Hillbilly Festival, Kentucky tourism, Pike County

Welcome to Genuine Kentucky!

Genuine Kentucky is a Kentucky Blog and online magazine celebrating the beautiful Bluegrass State. We shine the spotlight on Kentucky with pictures, restaurant reviews, news, tourism, Things to Do in Kentucky, and more.

We’re proud Kentuckians and the non-profit effort you see before you is a labor of love.

E-mail me anytime!

Kentucky Blog Updates

Rough River Dam State Resort Park Campground

Playground at the Rough River Dam State Resort Park Campground I recently told one of my daughters, "I have never been THIS … [Read More...] about Kentucky State Park Campgrounds Preparing to Open March 13

Christmas at the Homeplace (Land Between the Lakes)

As we often say on this Kentucky blog, the end of summer in NO WAY means the end of things to do and see in Kentucky. So grab … [Read More...] about 1850 Christmas at the Homeplace: Are You Ready to Meet Santa?!

Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park

Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park's Lodge (Facing Kentucky Lake) From the Kentucky State Parks: Current and former … [Read More...] about Kentucky State Parks Offering Discounts to Current Military, Retirees, Veterans

Big Bone Lick State Historic Site Salt Festival.

Big Bone Lick State Historic Site wants to take you back in time during the 37th annual Salt Festival next weekend (Oct. … [Read More...] about Salt Festival at Big Bone Lick State Historic Site October 18-20, 2019

Red Wolf at Woodlands Nature Station Woodlands Nature Station, in the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, will … [Read More...] about Wolf Week at Woodlands Nature Station October 5 -11!

Civil War Days

If you're a Civil War buff, you'll want to be at Columbus-Belmont State Park during the weekend of October 11-13! The … [Read More...] about Civil War Days Weekend at Columbus-Belmont State Park (Oct. 11-13)

There's going to be a Pickin' Party at the Homeplace and you're invited! Philip Steinmetz, great nephew of Grandpa Jones, … [Read More...] about Homeplace Pickin’ Party at Land Between the Lakes 2019

Pulled BBQ Pork takeout from Moonlite

The Kentucky 100 (a new, twice-monthly publication that delivers 100-word stories and short videos to subscribers) asked … [Read More...] about Top 10 BBQ Restaurants in Kentucky (Picked by Kentucky 100)

Follow Genuine Kentucky on Twitter!

Tweets by @GenuineKentucky


"When reading about a Kentucky event, please be sure you check the date. Old events are not always deleted from the website. If you have an event you'd like to see on Genuine Kentucky or a 'Made in Kentucky' food or product you'd like reviewed, please contact us! " ~ Joi ("Joy")

Fraley Music Festival
Maddox
Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park Trail Through the Forest

Kentucky News and Events

  • Kentucky State Park Campgrounds Preparing to Open March 13
  • 1850 Christmas at the Homeplace: Are You Ready to Meet Santa?!
  • Kentucky State Parks Offering Discounts to Current Military, Retirees, Veterans
  • Salt Festival at Big Bone Lick State Historic Site October 18-20, 2019
  • Wolf Week at Woodlands Nature Station October 5 -11!
  • Civil War Days Weekend at Columbus-Belmont State Park (Oct. 11-13)
  • Homeplace Pickin’ Party at Land Between the Lakes 2019
  • Top 10 BBQ Restaurants in Kentucky (Picked by Kentucky 100)

Kentucky State Parks

We have a special passion for Kentucky State Parks, so you'll find many articles and reviews centered around the beautiful state parks in Kentucky.

A personal goal is to visit, photograph, and enjoy each and every one of our state parks and eat at each of the state resort parks. Make no mistake about it, we're well on our way!

Bird Watching in Kentucky!

One of our greatest passions is birds and bird watching is an absolute favorite pastime. If you love our feathered friends and want to learn more about bird watching and attracting birds to your own backyard, be sure to check out our section dedicated entirely to Kentucky birds.

Kentucky Restaurants and Reviews

Kentucky Restaurant Reviews

Where are the best Kentucky restaurants?! Find out in our Kentucky Restaurant Reviews.

Also See: Best Fried Catfish in Kentucky
  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Kentucky Blogs Database

If you have a Kentucky Blog - or you're simply a Kentuckian who blogs! - you might want to consider adding your blog to a new KY Blogs Database. It's run by "one of us," as in a fellow Kentuckian! Click the link to check it out. I've added Genuine Kentucky and will be adding my other blogs as well.

Kentucky Pictures

Kentucky Pictures
Check out the beautiful Pictures of Kentucky in our photo albums!

Advertising & Reviews

If you are interested in advertising on Genuine Kentucky, please contact us: e-mail Joi Sigers.

Also, if you have a resort, condo, golf course, restaurant, or even a cup of coffee (LOVE coffee!) you'd like for us to review, please contact us at joi@genuinekentucky.com.

Genuine Kentucky Disclaimer

We do not work for any Kentucky service or organization. We are simply proud to have been born and raised in the greatest state in the country and are thrilled to call it home. This site serves as our tribute to Kentucky and its warm and wonderful people. Our mission is to bring more travelers to Kentucky and keep more Kentuckians home! See our Privacy Policy.
Copyright Genuine Kentucky 2017