These 7 Towns in Kentucky Have Beautiful Architecture

Kentucky is a notable state with many attractions to offer tourists and locals. You may already know of the beautiful edifices in the big cities. However, these seven towns in Kentucky have beautiful architecture and a vibrant history. If you love majestic and glamorous buildings, this article will take you back to the early times of Gothic, Federal, and Queen Anne-styled Victorian homes and museums.

Elizabethtown

Elizabethtown has a Historic Downtown lined with notable theaters and museums. When visiting, see the Brown-Pusey House, a Georgian architectural-styled erection built by American Architect John Hill for his family. It was later operated as a guest house that served influential visitors like Swedish Nightingale, General Armstrong Custer, and his wife in its prime.

Ninety-eight years later, in 1923, it was given to the community by family members of the couple. The site is now a museum and garden open to the public.

Get some BBQ at Mark's Feed Store while you prepare to see the next places. Visit the Hardin County Playhouse, a gorgeous brown edifice where you can watch plays and art performances. The Hardin County History Museum showcases America’s history from the 1700s. Learn about Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, the John Morgan Raid, and more.

At Elizabethtown, every property is a site to behold. Take a walk downtown to see galleries and eateries with charming designs.

Morehead

In Morehead, visit the mortar and fieldstone-built small voting quarters around town. More than 15 voting houses and about 10 of them are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They were built in the 1900s to ensure voters’ residences were closer to the voting polls so there would be no disorder or excuse not to vote. While voting quarters are now obsolete, the cute properties still exist in towns like Morehead.

One is Haldeman Voting House No. 8, built in 1935 with flush mortar. Others like it are Hayes Voting House No. 16, Morehead Voting House No. 7, and Morehead Voting House No. 10, listed on NRHP in 1998. Check out the 30.37-acre Downtown Morehead Historic District, where everything in Morehead happens, from art galleries, cafes, and boutiques to the Morehead Police Department, Morehead Railroad & Historical Museum, formerly a depot, and First Christian Church of Morehead. Don’t miss out on the elegant Morehead State University on University Blvd.

Grand Rivers

In Grand Rivers, Wabash Ave. is the Queen Anne-styled Thomas Lawson House. It was finished in 1876 and was listed as a landmark in 1978. Most Queen Anne Victorian Houses were popular from 1880 to 1910. Thomas Lawson House is one of them and is considered a reminder of that century and Thomas’ failed attempt to establish an iron industry in the town. It is a two-and-a-half-story building notable for being the town's first accommodation to have light and water.

Another scenic structure in Grand Rivers is the Lighthouse Landing Lighthouse, a picturesque lighthouse, cabin, and resort with breathtaking views that will leave you yearning for more. You can stay the night at the resort or enjoy seafood while enjoying the view. Cool down with ice cream at Craig's Dairy Dream, a pretty shop by the roadside that opens March through October. The 6000-square-foot Badgett Playhouse is a great place to watch singers and dancers entertain the audience Branson-style.

Burkesville

Burkesville is home to old and renowned properties like The Sewell House, now known as The Concetta De Bed & Breakfast. It is a charming white Victorian residence hidden away in Waterview, Burkesville. It was built with Yellow Poplar and took about three years to be completed. It has been over 100 years yet Sewell remains standing in all its majesty.

James Baker House was a source of architectural inspiration during the 1800s. When you visit this classic federal-styled place, you will see what an 18th-century spatial design looks like. Coe House, now a Bed & Breakfast inn, is another elegant Princess Anne construction in the town. The Old Courthouse on Main Street is another place to visit. Each part of the building showcases the beauty of time. Lodge at Alpine Resort when you visit to get a feel of the magnificent hotel.

Midway

Midway is a vibrant agricultural community. However, its history has not always been a joyous one. In 1915, a fire erupted on Railroad Street and gutted a great part. This affected the thriving railroad business in the town. The town was revived in the 1970s, and in 1978, 176 buildings were listed as Historical landmarks.

One of them is the Alexander Plantation House, which used to be a tobacco plantation. It was recognized for being significant in architecture and engineering. Near Midway is the one-and-a-half Edward M. Blackburn House with a Palladian-styled door. John Graham House is an 8-acre Greek Revival Residence in Midway known for its stone foundation, delicate porch, and the Lacy bargeboards on its gables. The renovated Midway Historic District has churches and museums on its trail. You will find different architectural styles like the Greek Revival, Gothic, and Italianate there.

Augusta

Augusta was named the most beautiful city in Kentucky. It has many popular attractions and landmarks. One of these monuments is the James Weldon House, a Gothic vernacular-style property made of a metal roof and rubble limestone foundation. There are other notable places like The Rosemary Clooney House, a popular museum dedicated to Rosemary’s life, movies, and Christmas collections. This home, alongside The Wells-Keith House, has been closed. However, you could walk around the area to see the pristine surroundings and still-standing construction.

Walk along Frankfort Street, where The Augusta College Historic Buildings built for Augusta College used to be from 1822 to 1849. It was later changed to Echo Hall, which is now temporarily closed. Other striking architectures in Augusta are the Baker-Bird Winery, Judge JR Minor Home, and the dry Stone House on Bracken Creek.

Winchester

The town of Winchester is lined with properties full of stories from the past. They were built with the best architectural style of the early centuries and still stand today. Holly Rood is a two-story red house constructed in 1814 for the Clark family. It is a federal architecture accommodation with Palladian designs. It is expansive with a wide yard. Tourists and locals can visit and see the inside of the property. It is also used for events. Another is the Gen. Thomas Hart House, listed on the NRHP and known to stand out for its unrivaled brickwork in Clark County. Visit the Greek Revival-style courthouse on Main Street to see the glorious work of art in its structure. Also, see Bybee House on Winchester South and bring your adventure to a close at William Hickman House, a federal classic house with flemish-bonded brick walls.

There are more beautiful sites in Kentucky than can be numbered. This article aims to narrow down the list to seven towns with famed structures that tell stories of a time long gone. Be a part of history by visiting these towns and learning about the history behind every building that has been constructed while enjoying some famous Southern hospitality to boot!