06/02/2026
In The Glow: The Lost Temple of Upper Broadway
At the corner of 7th & Broadway once stood one of Paducah’s most unique and beautiful landmarks: Temple Israel. Completed in 1893, the grand synagogue featured ornate Moorish Revival architecture with towers, arches, and onion domes that made it unlike anything else on Upper Broadway.
Temple Israel itself dates back even further, founded in 1864, making it one of the oldest congregations in the region. The Broadway synagogue served Paducah for 70 years before the congregation moved to a new home in 1963. The move was not due to decline, but changing needs. The historic building had become costly to maintain and no longer fit the congregation’s educational and community spaces. Later that same year, the building was demolished.
The temple also carried a story of community. After Broadway Methodist Church lost its building to fire, services were reportedly held inside Temple Israel, a reminder of how connected Paducah was even then.
Today, it’s hard to imagine this landmark once standing on Upper Broadway, just a few doors down from our newest project, The Lenox. Our city has lost some incredible architecture over the years, but the stories remain.
Do you remember this building or have family stories about it? We’d love to hear them.
Plan your stay with us and experience the stories still woven throughout downtown Paducah. Visit us at www.thedimlight.com and use code INTHEGLOW for 15% off any future stay of 3 nights or more.
