Born in Haiti of French background, naturalist John James Audubon came to Kentucky with his new wife, Lucy Bakewell, in 1807-1808. Living temporarily at the Gwathmey’s Indiana Queen Hotel, Audubon attempted to earn a living making portraits, teaching drawing, and running a store in Louisville.
Audubon’s father had served with Croghan under Washington in the Revolution. The Audubons were frequent guests at Locust Grove, with Audubon staying here while studying and drawing local birds.
He became world famous for his engravings and paintings of American wildlife, published in large-format portfolios such as Birds of America, to which John Croghan subscribed.