The Hiker statue honors those local soldiers who served in the Spanish-American War (1898–1902). Depicting a foot soldier dressed in military fatigues, with a rifle slung over his shoulder, the image (and nickname) is derived from the long marches that the infantry endured in the tropical Cuban climate and terrain. Fought primarily in Cuba and the Philippines, the conflict pitted Cuban patriots, whom the United States supported in its efforts to establish itself as a dominant power in the Western hemisphere, against Spanish colonial power. The United States defeated Spain, and after seizing the territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, emerged as a true world power.

Several versions of Hiker monuments exist across the country. This one, by Allen G. Newman (1875–1940), was copyrighted by the sculptor in 1904 and for a time served as the official monument of the United Spanish War Veterans (USWV), one of the organizations that that sponsored the Tompkinsville Park monument.