Crittenden County Fair:

Contact the Tourism Office
by phone at 270-965-5015.

Make Your First Stop in Marion the Welcome Center located at 213 South Main St., Marion KY 42064

The Marion Cafe:

Thom Hawthorne painstakingly restored the interior of the former Hunt's Department Store to create an oasis of gentility and gastronomy. Country cooking meets French country decor, with a dash of fun and Cajun spice! You'll have to return to see all the art, antiques and collectibles for sale. Don't forget dessert!
Open Sunday - Monday 6AM - 2 PM, Tuesday - Saturday 6AM - 8PM

~ Menu ~

Enjoy the great home country cooking
of the Marion Cafe!

Appetizers

• Potato Skins Fried Potatoes with Homemade Chili, Cheddar Cheese and Sour Cream.
  
  
• Mozzarella Sticks Five Breaded Mozzarella Sticks served with a small bowl of Hot Marinara for dipping.
  
  
• Nachos Supreme Tortilla Chips topped with Chili, Cheddar Cheese, Shredded Lettuce and Diced Tomatoes. Served with a side of sour cream and salsa.
  
  
• Loaded Potato Chips Homemade Potato Chips covered with Chili, Cheddar Cheese and Diced Tomatoes. Served with Salsa and Sour Cream.
  
  
• Garlic Bread Five slices of our Homemade Garlic Bread served with a side of Hot Marinara for dipping. 3.99 Add Mozzarella Cheese to your Garlic Bread
  
  
• Fried Pickles Hand Breaded Dill Pickle Chips deep fried and served with Ranch dipping sauce.

Salads

• Chef Salad We put Ham and Turkey on a bed of Iceberg Lettuce and top it with Cheddar Cheese, Carrots and pieces of Bacon.
  
  
• Tex Mex Salad A Tortilla Bowl filled with Shredded Lettuce, your choice of Spicy Chicken, or Seasoned Ground Beef, Cheddar Cheese and Diced Tomatoes. Served with a side of Sour Cream and Salsa.
  
  
• Chicken Salad Choose between Grilled Chicken Breast or Seasoned Chicken Strips sliced then placed atop a bed of Iceberg Lettuce with Carrots, Diced Tomatoes and Cheddar Cheese.
  
  
• Pear Chicken Salad Spicy Chicken on a bed of Iceberg Lettuce with Carrots, Pecans, Pear Halves and sprinkled with Parmesan Cheese.

Dressings: Ranch, French, Honey Mustard, Poppy Seed, Italian,
Bleu Cheese, Thousand Island or Raspberry Vinegarette

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Entrees

• Plate Dinners
  One Meat of your choice and a roll or cornbread muffin. See "Daily Specials" for meat choices. Add as many Side Dishes as you want!
  
  
• Open Face Roast Beef
  A slice of our Fresh Baked Homemade Bread topped with Slow Roasted Beef smothered in our rich Brown Gravy served with Mashed Potatoes.
  
  
• Kentucky Hot Brown
  A Southern Tradition, we take Grilled Turkey and Ham and lay it on a piece of bread, pile on Homemade Potato Chips then smother it with Cheddar Cheese Sauce and finally sprinkle Diced Tomatoes and Bacon Crumbles on top.

Chicken Favorites

• Thom's Cajun Chicken Pasta Spaghetti, sauteed Onions, Green Peppers and Tomatoes, tossed in Cajun Spices and Olive Oil. Also available with Shrimp
  
  
• Atkins Chicken
  Grilled Chicken Breast topped with sauteed Green Peppers, Onions and Melted Swiss Cheese. Served with a healthy Side Salad.
  
  
• Chicken Strip Dinner
  Breaded all White Chicken Strips with our fresh cut Fries. Served with a side of Coleslaw.
  
  
• Chicken Fajita
  Chicken Breast served with grilled Green Peppers, Onions, Tomatoes all served on a sizzling skillet with Lettuce, Tomato, Tortilla Chips, Salsa, Sour Cream and Flour Tortillas on the side.

Burgers

The BEST Burgers in Town!
All of our Burgers are 1/3 pound of beef, hand-pattied right here
at The Marion Cafe, and we dress 'em the way you like 'em!

dressed with Iceberg Lettuce, Tomato, Onion and Dill Pickles
then served on one of our Handmade Buns with Crispy Potato Chips.
Cheese Choices: American, Swiss and Cheddar

• Burger
  
• Cheeseburger
  
• Bacon Cheeseburger
  
• Double Burger
  
• Double Cheeseburger
• Patty Melt A Hand-Pattied Burger topped with sauteed Onions and two pieces of Swiss Cheese on the top and bottom then placed between two pieces of Grilled Homemade Bread.

"Would you like Fries with that?"
Never frozen! Handcut Fries, fresh to order!
Bagged? No, only Fresh Home-Made Potato Chips!

Have something else in mind?
Then add your own toppings to suit your taste!

Crispy Bacon	Grilled Mushrooms
Extra Cheese	Jalapenos
Grilled Onions	Homemade Chili
Grilled Green Peppers

Sandwiches

All sandwiches are served with our Homemade Chips or get a side of Fries instead!

• Marion Club Homemade Bread loaded with Cheese, Ham, Turkey, Bacon, fresh Lettuce and Tomatoes.
  
  
• B.L.T. Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato on Grilled Homemade Bread.
  
  
• Turkey and Swiss Deli Sliced Turkey and Swiss Cheese with Lettuce and Tomato on Homemade Bread.
  
  
• Grilled Chicken Sandwich Seasoned Grilled Chicken topped with your choice of American, Swiss or Cheddar Cheese with Iceberg Lettuce and sliced Tomato on one of our Homemade Buns.

Toasted Subs

All subs come on our Homemade Hoagie Rolls and are served with a side of Fries.

• Italian Beef Spicy Roast Beef topped with Marinara and Mozzarella.
  
  
• Pizza Sub A layer of Dei Fratelli Pizza Sauce and up to three Pizza toppings of your choice covered with Mozzarella and Provolone Cheese.
  
  
• Meatball Sub Four Meatballs covered in Marinara and Mozzarella Cheese.
  
  
• French Dip Roast Beef topped with Swiss Cheese and sauteed Onions served with a creamy Onion Sauce and a cup of Au Jus for dipping.

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Enjoy the Great Flavor of the Italian Kitchen!

Pizza Made from Scratch!

Hand Tossed Pizzas covered in Dei Fratelli pizza sauce
with Mozzarella and Provolone cheeses

Up to two toppings of your choice

Pepperoni ~ Italian Sausage ~ Beef Topping ~ Pork Topping ~ Smoked Ham ~ Mushrooms
Red Onions ~ Green Peppers ~ Black Olives ~ Pepperoncinis ~ Jalapenos ~ Bacon Pieces ~ Extra Cheese

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Specialty Pizzas

• Pizza Suprema: Pepperoni, Italian Sausage, Mushrooms, Red Onions, Green Peppers and Black Olives.
  
  
• Pizza Di Carne: (Pizza with Meat) Pepperoni, Smoked Ham, Italian Sausage, Beef Topping and Bacon Bits.
  
  
• Pizza Vegetale: (Vegetable Pizza) Mushrooms, Red Onions, Green Peppers and Black Olives.
  
  
• Pizza Di Pepperoni: Pepperoni, Pepperoni and more Pepperoni!
  
  
• Pizza Di Pollo Alfredo: (Chicken Alfredo Pizza) Marion Cafe's one of a kind Alfredo Sauce, Mozzarella and Provolone Cheese, Fire Roasted Red Peppers and Strips of Seasoned Grilled Chicken.
  
  
• Pizza Caprese: Mozzarella Cheese, topped with a mixture of diced Tomatoes, Onions, Basil and minced Garlic, sprinkled with Parmesan Cheese while still piping hot.
  
  
• Cheeseburger Pizza: No fancy names, just an American classic in the form of a pizza with Mustard, Cheddar Cheese, Beef Topping and Red Onion; topped with Dill Pickles after baking

Calzone / Stromboli

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Pasta!
All pastas are served with a slice of oven toasted Garlic Bread

• Pasta Bowl Choose between Spaghetti or Ziti with your choice of Meat Sauce, Marinara or Alfredo Sauce poured over top. ~ w/Meatballs
  
  
• Alfredo Pasta Tomatoes, sauteed Onions and Green Peppers, with our creamy Alfredo Sauce. With your choice of Chicken ~ Shrimp ~ Spinach
  
  
• Thom's Cajun Chicken Pasta Spaghetti, sauteed Onions, Green Peppers and Tomatoes, tossed in Cajun Spices and Olive Oil. Also available with Shrimp
  
  
• Chicken Carbonara Seasoned Grilled Chicken, diced Bacon, Fire Roasted Red Peppers and Spaghetti tossed in a Creamy Carbonara Sauce.
  
  
• Chicken Broccoli Seasoned Grilled Chicken and steamed Broccoli tossed in a Garlic Cream Sauce and served atop Penne Rigate.
  
  
• Pasta Caprese Your choice of pasta tossed in Marinara Sauce and mixture of diced Tomatoes, Onions, Basil and minced Garlic.
  
  
• Baked Ziti coated with Meat Sauce or Three Cheese Marinara and covered with Mozarella Cheese then baked in a personal size pan.
  
  
• Chicken Parmesan Breaded Chicken Breast fried up and topped with Marinara and Mozzarella Cheese. Served with Spaghetti and Marinara on the side.
  

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Kids Menu

Spaghetti w/ Garlic Bread
Chicken Tenders
Grilled Cheese
French Fries
Potato Chips

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Breakfast Menu
Served between 5:30 and 11:00am

Omelettes
Choose between American, Swiss or Cheddar Cheese

• Cheese Omelette
  
• Your choice of Ham, Bacon or Sausage
• Veggie Omelette: Onions, Mushrooms, diced Tomatoes and Green Peppers
• Farmers Omelette: Sausage with sauteed Onions and Green Peppers
• Marion Omelette: Your choice of Bacon, Sausage or Ham with sauteed Mushrooms, Onions and Green Peppers
• Tex Mex Omelette: Slices of Spicy Chicken and Jalapeno Peppers
• Western Omelette: Ham, Bacon, Onions, Mushrooms, Green Peppers and Tomatoes

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• Hunter's Platter (think you can eat it all?) Two strips of Bacon Two Sausage Patties Three eggs and a Hotcake and your choice of Toast or Biscuits and Gravy.
  

Hot Off The Griddle
Hotcakes
Single Stack, Double Stack, Triple Stack

• French Toast: Three slices of Homemade Bread dipped in a mix of eggs, cream and cinnamon, cooked golden brown then sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Add Pecans to any of the above
Add Fruit (Cherry or Blueberry) and Whipped Cream

A La Carte

One Egg	Toast & Jelly
Bacon	Hashbrowns
Sausage	Biscuits (2) & Gravy
Baked Ham	Biscuits (2) & Jelly
Country Ham	Home Fries
Chopped Steak	Oatmeal

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Desserts
Tired of frozen "open the box and serve" desserts?
All of our pies and cakes are handmade right here at The Marion Cafe.
See the "Daily Specials" at your table for available flavors.

Pies: per Slice or Whole
Cakes: per Slice or Whole
Cheesecake w/Fruit Topping
*For whole pies or cakes please order one day in advance*

Drinks
Bottomless Cup of Coffee | Hot Tea | Iced Tea
Sodas Coke, Diet Coke, Mello Yello, Mr. Pibb, Sprite, Lemonade
(Add a shot of Vanilla, Chocolate or Strawberry flavor to your soda)
Milk | Chocolate Milk | Orange Juice

Fohs Hall:

Kim Hunt Vince, President Kathleen Guess, Past-President Susan Alexander, Secretary Fred Stubblefield, Treasurer Board of Directors Susan Alexander, Resident Director Linda Brown James Robert Dorroh E.J. DeWitt Teresa Foster Kathleen Guess Jeretta Haire Ronnie Heady Elizabeth Kirby Fred Stubblefield Frances Teer B.J. Tinsley Ethel Tucker Kim Hunt Vince Judy Winn Bob Yehling	History of Fohs Hall
	Fohs Hall was built by Julius Fohs and given as a gift of love to Marion and the Board of Education during formal dedication ceremonies Oct. 23, 1926.    The structure was built on the lot where the Fohs family once lived in a white frame house. After Fohs had achieved success as an internationally known geologist, he paid for the entire construction of the building, which amounted to $73,081.00. The building was to be used as a community center and in conjunction with Marion High School, which was located just across the street on North Walker.    Fohs Hall is a two-story building with four columns of Ionic design flanking the main entrance. On the first floor, the building has a large central hail with large rooms on each side and the auditorium gymnasium at the halls end. The second floor contains two additional rooms, the balcony, and a projection room for the auditorium. The basement contains two large rooms which were once used as laboratories for science, agriculture and home economics, along with restrooms and dressing room facilities.    The buildings foundation is rubble masonry made from Crittenden County limestone. Workers from Tennessee prepared the foundation for the J.N. Boston and Son company, which constructed the building.    The building was selected as a Kentucky Landmark in June of 1981, and it was accepted on the National Register of Historic Places in May of 1982. Source:  http://www.artsatfohshall.org/index.htm

Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum

Visitor Information

The Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum is located at 205 North Walker Street in Marion, KY. 

Parking is available off the College Street entrance.



Hours of Operation

The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00AM to 3:00PM or by appointment.  If you would like to make an appointment call 270-965-4263 during regular hours.  Group tours are available anytime with an appointment.

The museum is closed July 4th, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Eve through New Year's Day.

Admission Fee
$5.00 for ages 12 and older   
$4.50 Senior Citizen (60 & Over)
$3.00 Children ages 6-11
Free Children 5 & under with paid adult admission      
    
Group rates and educational programs  are available with reservations for groups of 10 or more. 


Picnic Tables
There are picnic tables on the grounds which can be used by groups or families visiting the museum.
Gift Shop "Unique gifts can be found for unique people." 




The gift shop, located just inside the museum, is open to everyone during regular museum hours.  It features semi-precious gemstone jewelry, mineral specimens, educational items, books, sculptures, household décor items, and much more.

Source:   Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum

Crittenden County Historical Museum:

 

Crittenden County Historical Museum 124 East Bellville Street, Marion, Kentucky 270 965-9257

The Crittenden County Historical Museum is housed in the oldest church in Marion, built in 1881.
The interior of the Church includes the original wood floors, pulpit, balcony and stain glass windows.
Among the hundreds of local items on display is

• a large collection of military uniforms and service-related articles, dating back to the Civil War;
  
• a 200 year old loom;
  
• spinning wheels;
  
• a large collection of farm related items;
• the bell from the county's first court house;
• church bells with funeral toller;
• old telephone switchboard;
• a large collection of old Marion photos;
• vintage clothing and accessories dating back to the early 1900's;
• papers and memorabilia from Marion's two United Sates senators;
• memorabilia, pictures and histories of many of the one room school houses.
  
  
  Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM.
  (April 1st through October 31st) Free admission.
  
  Special tours in the off-season can be arranged. email us!

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A few of Kentucky's Hidden Treassures...

Civil War artifacts

Communion sets from Marion's oldest churches

Military items from the Civil War to Desert Storm.

Spinning wheels, looms, household items

...and some old friends!

Source:   http://www.crittendenhistorymuseum.org/

Amish..... Hard Work, Plain Living:

AMISH

Hard Work, Plain Living      Visiting the Amish in Crittenden County is like taking a step back in time. They have no telephones or electricity and use horses and buggies for transportation

 When you visit, you will see their meticulous care of the land, their craftsmanship in cabinet and furniture making, along with their artistry in handmade quilts and other crafts.

Origins
The Amish and Mennonites were part of the early Anabaptist movement in Europe, which took place at the time of the Reformation. The Anabaptists (late baptizers) believed that only adults who had confessed their faith should be baptized, and that they should remain separate from the larger society. Both Catholics and Protestants put many early Anabaptists to death as heretics, and many others fled to the mountains of Switzerland and southern Germany. Here began the Amish tradition of self-sufficient farming and home-based worship services.

In 1536, a young Catholic priest from Holland named Menno Simons joined the Anabaptist movement. His writings and leadership united many of the Anabaptist groups, who were nicknamed "Mennonites."

In 1693, a Swiss bishop named Jacob Amman broke from the Mennonite church. His followers were called the "Amish." Although the two groups have split several times, the Amish and Mennonite churches still share the same beliefs concerning baptism, non-resistance, and basic Bible doctrines. They differ in matters of dress, technology, language, form of worship, and interpretation of the Bible.

The Amish and Mennonites both settled in Pennsylvania as part of William Penn's "holy experiment" of religious tolerance. The first sizable group of Amish arrived in Lancaster County in the 1720s. In 1824, they declared themselves separate from the home church in Europe.

The first Amish settlement in Crittenden County was established in 1977. At present the Amish population has grown to almost 400 residents.

click HERE for a map of the local Amish area. [ requires Adobe Acrobat or Reader.]

Click here for a recent article in Kentucky Living magazine!

The Amish people in Crittenden County have four local church districts. A church district is a group of about 30 families usually living close together. Church services are usually held every second Sunday in members' homes. They take turns hosting the services. The host family prepares lunch and supper for the entire group on Saturday, since sabbath rules forbid cooking on Sunday.

Services are in German, and may last three hours. No musical instruments are used. The first floor rooms are usually separated by a divider that can be opened when the family is hosting church for their district, or is having a family wedding or funeral.

The local community has four bishops and several ministers. Church members select candidates to be ministers, deacons, and bishops. These candidates select a book from a pile. If the book has a sheet of paper in it, that person is "chosen" and then ordained.

 The Amish follow the Ordnung, or "order" of discipline based on the Bible. Violation of the Ordnung can lead to meidung, shunning or excommunication, and introduced in 1897.(This is based on Matthew 18:15-17; Romans 16:17; and 1 Corinthians 5:11.) Other Amish, including spouse, children, or parents, will no longer speak to an excommunicated member. As extreme as this sounds, the shun is lifted as soon as the member makes a confession of their wrongdoing.


The community has six schools and uses Amish teachers. Presently, they have five female and one male teacher. Students attend school through the 8th grade. German is spoken in their homes. Most children do not begin to learn English until they start to school. People who speak English at home are called "the English," but the term is also applied to any non-Amish or non-Mennonite

Amish men and boys wear dark suits, coats without lapels, suspenders, black pants, white or plain colored pastel shirts, black shoes, and black or straw-brimmed hats. Their hair is worn full and cut at the collar line. Amish men shave until baptism, then let their beards grow (marriage usually follows shortly after baptism). Mustaches are forbidden because of their historical association with the military. As pacifists, the Amish do not believe in taking part in war.

Amish women and girls do not cut their hair, but wear it parted in the middle and rolled severely back from the face. It is then twisted into a bun at the nape of the neck. A white organdy prayer veil called a "kapp" covers the back and top of the head. When going out the women put on a large black bonnet and shawl. No one wears jewelry.

An Amish woman is a worker, a child bearer, and a companion to her husband, family, and neighbors. She and her husband eat three meals a day together. She has a family to tend, but they share her responsibilities. Most farms are co-owned by both husband and wife. The woman may make household purchases, bid at auctions, and write checks to pay bills. In church, although not given any leadership responsibilities, she may vote and make nominations.

The Amish don't use middle names, but with the increase in government paperwork, they now use middle initials. Usually the the first initial of the father's name is given as a middle initial for their children's names. This is done out of respect for the father. The Mennonites, on the other hand, use the first letter of the mother's maiden name.

 "Rumspringen" a time of "running around," encourages Amish youth to see a little of the 'English' world before making an informed decision to join the church. During this time, a young man may decorate his carriage and harness with chrome or white ornaments, drawing attention from the young ladies.

Youth enter adulthood when they make a formal confession of their faith, receive baptism, and make a lifetime vow of obedience to the Ordnung. At this time, young men stop shaving their beards to show they have accepted baptism  Baptism is often postponed until just before marriage, since it's required for marriage. An Amish wedding service lasts approximately 3 1/2 hours. After the ceremony, a huge feast is served for as many as 400 people.

Many Amish believe that, if the church is faithful to its calling, government programs and commercial insurance are not needed. That conviction forced them to testify before Congress because they did not want to receive Social Security benefits. They wanted the right to look after their own elderly. They were given approval, if self-employed, to be exempt from paying the tax. They do not object to paying income tax, real estate, county, and sales tax.

The Amish grow most of their food. The women can vegetables, meat, and relishes. Most make their own bread and noodles. Staples are purchased from local grocery stores.

• Though known today for buggies, the Amish originally didn't even use these. The first documented use of wheeled vehicles among the plain people was in the Lancaster, PA area when Mr. Christian Zimmerman was allowed the privilege of wheeled travel around 1800 because he could not ride horseback with his excessive weight. It was considered too cruel to the horse!
  
• Their vehicles at first did not have tops. The first buggies were documented as having white tops. They changed to black tops in the 1840's. One group in Pennsylvania still using the white tops, others use gray, brown, or yellow. In Kentucky, however, all districts use black tops.
  
• Some districts did not allow "storm fronts" (windshields) until the 1900s.
  
  Good Manners:

• Please do not take pictures of Amish people's faces. Please respect this request from the Amish people. They consider it an invasion of privacy.
• Do not visit the Amish on Sunday, as it is their day of worship.
• Items made by the Amish are sold in home shops. They do not participate in shows or fairs. 

Source:   http://www.marionkentucky.org/amish.shtml

Discover The Amish Country: Marion, KY

The rolling hills of Crittenden County are home to Kentucky's largest Amish Community with a population of over five hundred. Cabinetry, furniture, baked goods and bulk foods as well as seasonal items such as plants, vegetables, pumpkins and gourds can be purchased from individual Amish families.

While visiting the Amish Community take your car on a boat ride across the Ohio River on the Cave in Rock Ferry. A free ferry runs continuous from the Kentucky side of the Ohio River to the southern Illinois town of Cave in Rock. Hours of operation are from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.

Marion is a bustling town with quaint shops that sell many beautiful handmade items, antique malls, delightful restaurants and coffee shops. The friendly people are always willing to visit and extend the Southern hospitality for which they are famous.

Marion is home to the Clement Mineral Collection (check out the Mineral Show here), a "World Class" Collection of Kentucky and Illinois Flourite. The crystal specimens range in weight from a fraction of an ounce to hundreds of pounds. Each was a rare accidental find among regular ore bodies, and was brought from deep underground and preserved. The museum host several mineral digs through out the year and the Annual Gem & Mineral Show the first weekend of June each year.

A variety of  lodging is offered through out the area, you may chose from a delightful Bed & Breakfast, a quaint cottage, campground or a lodge big enough to accommodate large groups. Be assured you will find an accommodation to fit your needs.

The area is home to the second largest whitetail deer population in Kentucky. Hunters enjoy the safety of   hunting on private lands leased for hunting opportunities. Wild Turkeys are also in abundance, but challenge even the best hunter during the spring hunting season.

The community is host to several events through out the year which attract world wide visitors. The most notable is the Backroads Tour and Festival held each April in conjunction with the American Quilters Society National Quilt Show held in Paducah the third week of April each year. Visitors take the self guided tour of the Amish Community, visit craft vendors at Marion Commons and view quilts display by local quilters and collectors. The Highway 60 Yard sale brings yard sellers to hunt for bargains along the 200 mile yard sale held the first weekend of October each year. Christmas in Marion is a pre season craft show held annually at Historic Fohs Hall the third Saturday in October. Early Christmas shoppers find hand craft ranging from baskets, jewelry, decorating items and candles at Christmas in Marion.


Source:  http://www.marionkentucky.org/