This book is also known as Doctor Thomas Walker,
first white man of any distinction to explore Kentucky,
1749 - 1750, and probably other names.
Annie
Walker Burns was never able to prove a connection
of Edward B. Walker's family to Dr. Thomas Walker, the
first European to document his trip through Cumberland
Gap, but in the course of her research, she produced
a book on him. The book contains no information relevant
to Edward B.
Convinced that Walker's achievement had mostly been
forgotten, she appealed to the then-governor of Kentucky,
Flem Sampson (for whom she was also working) to establish
an event of some type to honor him. Through her efforts,
the Kentucky Mountain
Laurel Festival
began in 1931 and is still held annually. Annie herself
attended for many years.
