515 South Main St
Russellville, KY 42276
National Registry site: Home of the first American to plant our flag on foreign soil. In 1805 Lieutenant Presley N. O’Bannon USMC was sent by President Thomas Jefferson to take down the Barbary pirates in Tripoli who were holding hostage 180 Americans. The first verse of the US Marine Corps Hymn “to the shores of Tripoli” refers to this victory that propelled America to becoming a world power. The home is built on land granted to Maj Gen Daniel Morgan for his historic service in the Revolution. Morgan’s granddaughter, Abigail, was given this land when she married O’Bannon and they built their home here in 1812. O’Bannon later served in both houses of Kentucky Congress for 12 years. His grave is in the Frankfort Cemetery overlooking the state Capitol.