There were two plaques affixed to the base of the statue, which read:
JEFFERSON DAVIS
BORN: FAIRVIEW KENTUCKY JUNE 3, 1808
DIED: DECEMBER 6, 1889
ONLY PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEDERACY
PATRIOT – HERO – STATESMAN
JUNE 3, 1808 – DECEMBER 6, 1889
TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY, 1821–1824
WEST POINT, 1824–1826
BLACK HAWK WAR, 1833
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 1845–1846
MEXICAN WAR, 1847
U.S. SENATE, 1847–1853
SECRETARY OF WAR, 1853–1857
U.S. SENATE, 1857–1861
PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, 1861–1865