Since cities along the river are at risk when the river floods, some take precautions to try to prevent flooding, Paducah has a concrete wall. The historic district is about 40 feet above the river and the wall is about 15 feet high along the top of the riverbank. The wall has large murals painted on it depicting life on the river and life in Paducah, past and present. They have doorways and vehicle driveways periodically so that folks can go beyond the wall to picnic, walk and enjoy the river view. If flooding is anticipated, they have panels that bolt into the doorways and large 'gates' that come up from below the roadway to fill the openings for the driveways.
This picture shows a portion of the wall with murals on it.
This picture depicts a tugboat pushing barges on the river.
This picture depicts a workman working on a ships propeller.
This picture shows the driveway passing through the wall and the notches in the wall where the flood gate fits.
This picture depicts the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, the only facility in the U.S. which produces enriched uranium which is used in nuclear power plants.
This old steam locomotive along with a coal tender, box car and caboose were donated to the city of Paducah in 1963 by the Illinois Central Railroad Company. They sit next to the flood wall on the south end of the historic riverfront area.
