Downtown and Lower Town

 

Floodwall Murals

Visit Paducah's thriving riverfront and take a self-guided tour of the Paducah Wall to Wall Murals along the concrete floodwall in downtown. These works of art depict Paducah's rich history in more than 60 life-sized panoramic murals by renowned artist Robert Dafford and the Dafford Murals Team. Informational plaques are associated with each mural providing additional details about Paducah's history. 


Historic Downtown

Paducah’s downtown is a key part of the allure for visitors and for local residents. Not only will you find distinctive buildings, lively streets, and architecture of historical significance, but also memorable shopping and dining experiences from locally-owned retail businesses to fine dining restaurants serving fresh, local food and wines. Overlooking the banks of the Ohio River, Paducah is a town proud of its river heritage and cultural diversity that fully embraces the arts.  Visit Paducah Main Street to learn more about the historic downtown area.


Downtown Parking

Are you planning a trip to historic downtown Paducah?  More than 500 parking spaces are available in the heart of downtown along the streets. However, if you are looking for off-street parking, visit Downtown Parking to view the list of FREE public parking lots with more than 1000 total spaces.  


Entertainment Destination CenterBroadway at Sunset

A section of Paducah’s historic downtown is an Entertainment Destination Center.  The Center boosts restaurant and hospitality industries by allowing customers to take to-go alcoholic drinks in designated cups from participating businesses to stroll our historic streets, browse the windows of our local boutiques, watch the towboats on the river, and partake in outdoor events.  


Visit Lower Town Arts District and Galleries

Lower Town is one of Paducah’s oldest and historic residential neighborhoods. In 1836, the Kentucky State Legislature passed an amendatory act which annexed to Paducah an area from Jefferson Street to Clay Street from the Ohio River to 9th Street. This addition was called “LowerTown” because it was downstream from Paducah’s commercial area.  The prevalent architectural styles of the neighborhood are Victorian-era designs, with a great variety that includes Queen Anne, Romanesque, Italianate, Gothic and some excellent examples of folk Victorian.  In 1982, the neighborhood was recognized by the federal government for its historical and architectural significance and listed in the National Register for Historic Places and concerned citizens and the City of Paducah took action for its preservation and restoration.  The LowerTown Arts District began with the thought to bring artists to the nearly forgotten neighborhood. The artists came in numbers beyond anyone’s expectations; old homes were restored and new ones were built.  Soon what had been an undesirable place to live became desirable with beautiful homes and busy galleries. 

 Paducah Main Street  

 Lower Town Artist Program History