Elisha Green Memorial Site Joins Kentucky’s African American Heritage Trail: A Proud Milestone for Mason County
MAYSVILLE, Ky. (Mason County Post) — Mason County residents and visitors now have one more compelling reason to explore our local history. The Elisha Green Memorial in Maysville has officially been added to Kentucky’s African American Heritage Trail, a statewide initiative launched by Governor Andy Beshear in 2025 to highlight the contributions, resilience, and stories of African Americans across the Commonwealth.
With this addition, Mason County is now home to seven sites on the trail — more than any other community outside of Lexington and Louisville. This distinction underscores the rich layer of African American history preserved right here in our river town and surrounding areas.
Honoring a Remarkable Life
The memorial honors Reverend Elisha W. Green (c. 1810s–1889), a man whose journey from enslavement to spiritual and community leadership left a lasting mark on Kentucky. Born into slavery in Bourbon County, Green grew up on the “Glen Alice” farm outside Maysville in Mason County. He later purchased his own freedom and that of part of his family, became a licensed Baptist preacher in 1845, and helped establish African American Baptist congregations in both Maysville and Paris.
Green believed strongly that freedmen needed to own land for true independence. He partnered with a white landowner to help found an African American community near Paris. He also stayed politically engaged, Until his death in 1889, he remained a dynamic force in the churches he helped build.
The memorial stands at the intersection of Maddox Alley and West Fourth Street in Maysville — the site of the original Bethel Baptist Church, which Green helped found and where he served as pastor for more than 30 years. The church burned in the 1970s, but the location now features a Kentucky Historical Marker (#1962) dedicated to Green as a religious leader. Plans for the full memorial include a life-sized statue of Green holding a Bible in one hand while reaching toward the Ohio River — a powerful symbol of freedom just across the water.
A True Grassroots Effort
This achievement is the result of dedicated local work spanning years. Credit goes especially to Norbert Gallenstein and Buddy Gallenstein, who helped revive and advance the project after noticing the memorial’s base was designed to support a statue. The late Jerry Gore first championed marking the historic church site. Bethel Baptist Church, the Mason County Fiscal Court, and many other community members and organizations rallied behind the effort, making it a genuine grassroots initiative.
In 2024, fundraising efforts advanced with sculptor Sam McKinney (known locally for the buffalo statues at Limestone Park and work on the Market Street Fountain) providing a bid for the statue. The project has now culminated in the site’s recognition on the statewide trail.
Mason County’s Prominent Place on the Trail
Mason County’s seven trail sites include the Elisha Green Memorial alongside other significant locations such as:
• The Harriet Beecher Stowe Museum / Marshall Key House
• The National Underground Railroad Museum
• The Maysville Underground Railroad Tour
• Sites in Mays Lick, including the Brigadier General Charles Young Birthplace Cabin and Rosenwald School
This concentration makes Mason County a standout destination for those following the trail, which now features more than 50 sites across Kentucky. Visitors can learn about everything from Underground Railroad routes and Civil War-era stories to churches, schools, and community leaders who shaped our shared history.
Governor Beshear’s office has highlighted the trail as a way to celebrate voices too often overlooked while boosting local tourism and education. The Elisha Green Memorial perfectly embodies that mission — turning a local story of perseverance into part of Kentucky’s broader narrative.
Visit and Reflect
The Elisha Green Memorial site is open to the public and offers a quiet, meaningful place to pause and reflect on Reverend Green’s legacy and the larger history of freedom, faith, and community in Mason County. Whether you’re a longtime resident or just passing through, it’s a powerful reminder of the remarkable individuals who called this area home.
As one local leader put it during the planning stages, “He deserves it and the community deserves it.”
Mason County can take pride in this grassroots success and in the way our small community continues to preserve and share authentic history. Stop by the memorial, explore the other trail sites, and discover why there’s so much to celebrate right here at home.
For more information on Kentucky’s African American Heritage Trail, visit kentuckytourism.com/aaht. Details about Reverend Elisha Green and the memorial can be found through local historical resources and the Kentucky Historical Society marker page.