Hite-Bowman Gate

The gate stands at the entrance of Old Fort Harrod State Park along West Lexington Street. The Bowman Memorial Gate is one of several historic markers clustered within walking distance of the reconstructed fort and Pioneer Cemetery

This gate honors the Bowman family, one of the most important pioneer families connected to early Kentucky settlement and the Revolutionary War. The bronze plaques attached to the stone pillars commemorate four Bowman brothers—Abraham, John, Joseph, and Isaac—who played major military and settlement roles during the frontier era.

The memorial was erected in 1928 by descendants of Abraham Bowman

Close-up of plaque

A transcription of the plaque:

     BOWMAN MEMORIAL GATE 

     COLONEL ABRAHAM BOWMAN 1749 – 1837 

     EIGHTH VIRGINIA REGIMENT (REVOLUTIONARY WAR) SETTLED BOWMAN STATION, KENTUCKY (1779) NOW BELLEVUE 

     COLONEL JOHN BOWMAN 1733 – 1784 

     FIRST COUNTY LIEUTENANT OF KENTUCKY, 1778

     MAJOR JOSEPH BOWMAN 1752 – 1779

     SECOND IN COMMAND TO GEORGE ROGERS CLARK VINCENNES EXPEDITION; CAPTURED CAHOKIA 

     CAPTAIN ISAAC BOWMAN 1757 – 1824 

     VINCENNES EXPEDITION 

     ERECTED BY THE DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM BOWMAN, IN MEMORY OF FOUR PIONEER BROTHERS, 1928.

Why “Hite–Bowman”?

The Bowmans were descended from Jost Hite, an early Shenandoah Valley pioneer.

  • Mary Hite, daughter of Jost Hite, married George Bowman, making the Bowman brothers members of both pioneer families.
    Thus, the memorial is often connected to or labeled “Hite‑Bowman” because of this shared family heritage.

Who the Plaque Honors

The larger plaque lists the four famous Bowman brothers, who were among the earliest settlers in the Kentucky territory.  They were influential figures in early military defense, county leadership, and Revolutionary War campaigns.  They were also instrumental in establishing settlements and defensive stations near Harrodsburg, including Bowman's Station.

Colonel Abraham Bowman (1749–1837)

  • Officer in the 8th Virginia Regiment (Revolutionary War)
  • Settled Bowman Station, Kentucky, in 1779 (now the Bellevue area)

Colonel John Bowman (1733–1784)

  • First County Lieutenant of Kentucky, appointed 1778
  • Built Bowman’s Fort two miles east of Harrodsburg
  • Led early defensive and offensive frontier campaigns

Major Joseph Bowman (1752–1779)

  • Second in command to George Rogers Clark during the Vincennes Expedition
  • Helped capture Cahokia, a major Revolutionary War objective

Captain Isaac Bowman (1757–1824)

  • Also part of the Vincennes Expedition with George Rogers Clark