Posts

Pianist, Ida Mae Maples was one of Chicago's premier female band leaders during the 1920s.

Paducah native Boyd Atkins was a musician, composer, and band leader, whose career began playing violin in the original riverboat jazz band of Fate Marable.

At the beginning of October 1903, the Paducah Daily News-Democrat announced a unique contest: BRING US THE BIGGEST TURKEY AND WIN a $10 GOLD PIECE.

During the first week of October 1906, Paducahans saw something they probably hadn’t seen before. Pumpkins, scores of them, floating down the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers!

Paducahan Matty Matlock was a jazz musician and arranger who performed with Bob Crosby and his Bob Cats, Louis Armstrong, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby and more.

This weekend marks the start of the

The historical marker honoring Anna I. Baker holds a prominent place on Kentucky Avenue, right across the street from the Carson Center. Even still, a lot of Paducahans may not recognize the name.

So, who was Anna I. Baker?

July 2025 marks the 100^th anniversary of the Scopes Monkey Trial at which Paducah-born John Scopes was tried in Tennessee courts for the crime of teaching evolution in his classroom.

Rube Elrod was a multi-instrumentalist, remembered as Ballard County’s best known old-time fiddler. He developed his unique style of playing from Blind Joe Mangrum and Ed Ewing.

Until 1910, the citizens of Paducah were free to shoot off fireworks at will, essentially wherever and whenever they pleased.

It’s still there.

Likely you pass by it all the time and hardly notice.

You may have even seen a rendering of it on Paducah’s flood wall.

What are we talking about?

A drinking fountain…for a horse.

Quilt Week is coming! and we are ready to celebrate everything quilting here at the Library. 

Joe Mangrum was an early star of the Grand Ole Opry and one of the most notable old time fiddlers to come out of West Kentucky.

In recognition of Women's History Month, we are celebrating Paducah’s Harriett “Hattie” Boswell who served as head librarian from 1919 - 1923 and 1927 - 1959 at the Paducah Carnegie Library, and rightfully so.

Nathan Bennett is a forefather in Paducah music history. Behind many artists, there is often an educator who helped shape their education and development.