9 Towns In Kentucky That Transport You To The Past
Kentucky's numerous historic sites, which showcase its varied legacy, will transport visitors back in time and deepen their understanding of its rich past. Explore the sacred grounds of the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park in Hodgenville. See Harrodsburg's history come to life as interpreters in costume depict life on the untamed frontier in forts from before the Revolutionary War. Experience Kentucky's intricate Civil War narratives at locations ranging from house museums to battlefields in Bardstown and Danville. A journey to Ohio River communities like Paducah and Maysville will provide an insight into how the river infused life into the fledgling state of Kentucky, which was molded by its numerous waterways. These are just a handful of Kentucky's fascinating historic towns that provide tourists with a look into the state's past and offer an authentic taste of America.
Hodgenville
Hodgenville's most famous attraction that transports visitors back in the past is the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, which honors the humble beginnings of the 16th president of the United States. His early life on Kentucky's frontier shaped his character and prepared him to lead the nation through the Civil War. Across the 116-acre property, visitors can see everything from the Lincoln family's farm to a visitor's center with audiovisual programs and exhibits. Adjacent to the park is the historic Nancy Lincoln Inn, built in 1928. Learn more about the famous family by visiting Abraham Lincoln's Boyhood Home and the Lincoln Museum. The town also hosts walking tours and historic scavenger hunts for those looking to explore more of its history.
Harrodsburg
Harrodsburg, the oldest town in Kentucky, is a treasure trove of history. Established in 1774 as the first permanent community west of the Allegheny Mountains, it holds a unique place in American history. The Old Fort Harrod State Park, where craftspeople showcase the art of weaving and tinsmithing, offers a glimpse into the tasks that Kentucky's early pioneers once performed. The Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill, a historic site with rebuilt structures, is another part of Harrodsburg's past. Harrodsburg's historic downtown district is lined with the oldest row of buildings in the state, including a building that houses the Harrodsburg Historical Society, which has exhibits and a research library.
Bardstown
The most well-known historical landmark in Bardstown, first populated in the late 1700s as Americans started moving west, is the Federal Hill home, situated inside My Old Kentucky Home State Park. Another historic area of Bardstown that transports tourists back in time is the Civil War Museum, housed in the restored former town waterworks and ice house. Seasonal activities at the museum include Living History days, where those in period attire portray camp life at Old Bardstown Village. Adjacent to the museum is the historic Wright Talbott House, home to the Women's Civil War Museum. Additionally, Bardstown is renowned as the Bourbon Capital of the World due to its central location inside Kentucky's whiskey-producing region and its high concentration of bourbon distilleries. The Oscar Getz Museum of Bourbon History honors the history of American whiskey from colonial times until the 1960s.
Danville
Danville, on the southern edge of Kentucky's renowned Bluegrass Region, is a town steeped in history and considered the birthplace of Kentucky. It boasts the first courtroom in Kentucky and the first U.S. Post Office west of the Alleghenies. Visitors can explore all those 'firsts' and other significant sites there. Constitution Square Park, where the state's founding fathers wrote the constitution, is another historic landmark for tourists. Other sites include the Perryville Battlefield, where a pivotal Civil War battle occurred. Danville's Penn's Store, which sells country-style merchandise, has operated since 1845. Another part of Danville's history is the McDowell House Museum, the former residence of Dr. Ephraim McDowell, who carried out the first successful surgery to remove an ovarian tumor. Discover how medicine was practiced more than 200 years ago by visiting the museum.
Cadiz
Cadiz, the county seat of Trigg County, is the eastern gateway to the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, situated between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. After being founded in 1822, the town became a center for commerce, retail, agriculture, and the maritime industry. In recognition of Cadiz's importance as a center for ham production and shipping by the 1930s, the Trigg County Country Ham Festival is an annual event. Before touring restored buildings like Fairholme, a Queen Anne Victorian-style residence constructed in 1885, visitors can explore the Janice Mason Art Museum and shop in Cadiz's historic downtown district on Main Street.
Maysville
Maysville, a charming town on the south bank of the Ohio River, is full of historical and architectural treasures. The Lee House, which consists of three adjacent buildings built in various eras, is a famous landmark in Maysville. The first building was constructed in 1798, followed by the Front Street building in the 1840s, and the last building, which included the addition of the west wing, was built in the 1850s. Early settlers were accommodated in the Lee House, regarded as one of the best inns of the day. For an inside peek at this one-of-a-kind piece of history, visitors to Maysville can book a room there today. Explore Maysville's historic downtown district before heading to Old Washington, a quaint frontier settlement just south of Maysville that takes visitors into the past with 1700s-era log homes and other structures. The Harriet Beecher Stowe Slavery To Freedom Museum and the National Underground Railroad Museum are also worth visiting.
Newport
James Taylor established Newport in 1795 and named it after Admiral Christopher Newport. Admiral Newport led the first English settlement in Jamestown, Virginia, Taylor's home state. The army's agreement to establish a military base in Newport in 1803, which served as the hub of activity during the Civil War, significantly accelerated the city's growth. It served as a recruiting ground for both the Union and Confederate Armies. The Newport Street Railway, which eventually became the Green Line bus system and the current Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky, is another aspect of Newport's past. Newport's East Row Historic District, Kentucky's second-oldest historic district, features stunning homes restored to their original historical condition, making it a popular tourist destination.
Paducah
Paducah was founded in 1827 by William Clark of Lewis & Clark fame. Its American heritage stems from its advantageous location at the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers' junction. The carefully chosen museums in Paducah offer engaging exhibits and artifacts that entice visitors to make connections between the past and present. Visit the Paducah Railroad Museum, the Inland Waterways Museum, the Tilghman Civil War Museum, and the William Clark Market House Museum, established in 1968, to learn about the city's history and culture. On the floodwall of the river city, visitors may also view life-sized paintings that tell the tale of Paducah's rich past.
Covington
After being founded in 1815, Covington saw significant growth, opening a rolling mill three years later and a cotton factory in 1828. Numerous German and Irish immigrants settled in the region and built prosperous settlements. By 1854, one-third of Covington's population was foreign-born. When it comes to Covington's German past, visitors can see that it is deeply ingrained in its architecture, cultural heritage, and development, evident in the city's parks, restaurants, and yearly Oktoberfest and Maifest festivities. Many neighborhoods, such as the Mainstrasse Village and the Mutter Gottes Historic District, centered around a famous Catholic church from 1871, are also heavily influenced by German culture. The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge is another historic landmark whose history spans more than 150 years over the Ohio River. Today, many people use it to go back and forth between Covington and Cincinnati.
Explore These Historic Towns In Kentucky
From Hodgenville to Danville, the historic towns in Kentucky will have visitors discovering America's First Frontier, exploring Civil War battlegrounds and forts from the Revolutionary Era, strolling along historic districts on Main Street, visiting museums and notable sights that detail the state's past, and learning about Kentucky's famous figures, including Abraham Lincoln's early years and the little-known tales of the state's African American pioneers.
