Bill Davis, Bill Farmer and Phil Gray with the canoe

Davis had contacted fort manager Bill Farmer earlier in the week about the canoe. Davis and Farmer have participated together in exploring the Rockcastle River country where groups of 18th century hunters are recorded to have traveled and hunted during the last half of the 18th century. Davis has now completed two such canoes by himself, spending 165 hours to create the canoe he brought to the fort.

 In an act that can only be described as "extreme generosity", Davis has donated the canoe to the Fort Boonesborough Foundation, to be viewed, interpreted, and used at Fort Boonesborough State Park. He stated that he did not want the canoe to become simply a static museum display piece, but rather that it be used fully to expand the knowledge and experience of those interested in the lives of the early hunters of Kentucky. Accessories include four hand crafted paddles and ropes made from natural cordage materials, specifically Basswood bark fibers. We certainly appreciate his gift, which just may be a unique reproduction artifact in the Kentucky State Parks System.

Visitors to the fort had a chance to “feel and touch” the poplar dugout canoe donated to the Foundation by Bill Davis.

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