Strawberry Capital of the World
In the early 1940's, Paducah-McCracken County was known as the strawberry capital of the world. Schools excused students to pick berries. Entire families were involved in this agricultural event. Freight cars carried thousands of crates of berries were shipped from this region across the country. The climax of the season was the election of a Strawberry Queen and her royal court. They were featured in a grand parade on Broadway. Because of World War II, the final festival was celebrated in June 1941. (From 1939-1941 photographs)
Marker is at the intersection of North Water Street and Jefferson Street, on the right when traveling north on North Water Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
