The McAfee Memorial Stile

The McAfee Memorial Stile at Old Fort Harrod State Park honors the McAfee Pioneers, one of Kentucky’s earliest and most influential frontier families. The memorial recognizes brothers such as James McAfee Jr. (1736–1811) and his siblings, whose family emigrated from Ireland in 1739 and later helped establish some of the first permanent settlements in Mercer County. Their early explorations, land surveys, and homestead building played a foundational role in the development of central Kentucky’s pioneer communities.

As documented through historical and genealogical records, the McAfees were instrumental in shaping the region’s frontier history. Members of the family—including James McAfee Jr., who later built McAfee Station near present‑day Harrodsburg—left lasting marks on the cultural and geographic landscape. Today, the Memorial Stile stands as a tribute to their resilience, leadership, and contributions to Kentucky’s earliest colonial era.