Hidden History at the Louisville Zoo: The Phillips-Durrett-Clark Cemetery

Nestled quietly beneath the shady canopy of trees in a corner of the Louisville Zoo lies a piece of Kentucky’s early frontier history: the Phillips-Durrett-Clark Cemetery. Tucked behind a low rock wall and marked by a wrought iron arbor, this serene burial site is part of the tranquil Etscorn Garden area, offering a peaceful contrast to the buzz of zoo activity just beyond.

This modest cemetery holds the remains of members of the Phillips, Durrett, and Clark families, who were early pioneers of Jefferson County. The most notable among them is Jenkin Phillips (1744–1822), a Revolutionary War soldier who fought alongside General George Washington and helped survey and settle Kentucky under the direction of Patrick Henry and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

When the City of Louisville acquired the land to build a new zoo in the late 1960s, workers accidentally uncovered this long-forgotten family cemetery. Instead of relocating the graves, the city decided to preserve the site in honor of its historical value. A living descendant of Jenkin Phillips still lived in the area at the time and may have planned to be buried beside her ancestors. Out of respect, the city incorporated the cemetery into the landscape of the new zoo, which officially opened in 1969.

Although only one grave marker, belonging to Jenkin Phillips, remains fully legible, it is believed that up to 14 individuals were originally buried here. Some remains may have been moved to Cave Hill Cemetery, another historic site in Louisville that we will highlight in an upcoming post.

Today, the Phillips-Durrett-Clark Cemetery remains a quiet sanctuary that blends local heritage with the natural beauty of the Etscorn Garden. It serves as a reminder that history surrounds us, often in the most unexpected places.

Stay tuned for the story of Cave Hill Cemetery, final resting place of many of Louisville’s notable residents.

-Aimee Rose-Haynes