History & Heritage

Museums

Breckinridge County Historical Museum

Artifacts gathered from the entire county are on display in the historic Taylor Home. Hardinsburg / 270-756-2867

Bullitt County History Museum

Located in the front portion of the century old courthouse, 300 S. Buckman Street in Shepherdsville. The museum has two full display rooms an historical research material. Shepherdsville / 502-921-0161 / www.bullittcountyhistory.org

Cloverport Community Museum

Photos & artifacts from the riverboat days are on display in this one of 3 interesting museums in the county.
Hardinsburg / 270-314-3630

Emma Reno Connor Black History Gallery

Emma was tirelessly dedicated to preserving the history of Black Americans. The gallery is a testament to her perseverance and hard work. Elizabethtown / www.TourEtown.com

Frazier International History Museum

1,000 years of weaponry & arms, remarkable world-class collection. Louisville / 502-753-5663 /www.fraziermuseum.org

Hardin County History Museum

This museum is a part of the official Lincoln Trail through Kentucky. View the Lincoln room and learn about Hardin County's history beginning with Native Americans. Elizabethtown / www.hardinkyhistory.com

Henry County History Center and Museum

Genealogical information and ever-changing displays of Henry County’s history. New Castle / 502-845-0999

Kentucky Derby Museum

Hands-on computerized exhibits, 360-degree multi media show, tours of Churchill Downs and real thoroughbred encounters. Louisville / 502-637-1137 / www.derbymuseum.org

Kentucky Railway Museum

Home of L&N 152, Kentucky’s Official Steam Engine; museum and train rides. New Haven / 800-272-0152 / www.kyrail.org

Louisville Slugger museum and factory

See the bats swung by the legends of the game, plus factory tours, gift shop. Louisville / 877-775-8443
www.sluggermuseum.org

The Lincoln Museum

On the National Register of Historic Places, art, artifacts, exhibits. Hodgenville / 270-358-3163
www.lincolnmuseum-ky.org

Muhammad Ali Center

Focuses on Ali’s message of peace and inspiration in the star's hometown: Louisville. / 502-584-9254 / www.alicenter.org

Museum Row at Old Bardstown Village

Travel back in time by touring Bardstown Village's 4 museums and the 1790’s frontier village with 150-200-year-old cabins. Bardstown / 502-349-0291

Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History

Whisky lovers everywhere can come to see a real moonshine still, old advertising memorabilia, and Abraham Lincoln’s liqour license. Bardstown / 502-348-2999 / www.whiskeymuseum.com

Swope's Cars of Yesteryear Museum

Explore how transportation was transformed from horseless carriages to sporty automobiles. Elizabethtown / 270-763-6175 / www.swopemusuem.com

Historical Sites & Tours

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site and Boyhood Home

Abraham Lincoln’s log cabin birthplace, visitor’s center, exhibits; travel a few miles on Hwy 31 Scenic Byway to Lincoln’s boyhood home. Hodgenville / 270-358-3137 / www.nps.gov/abli/index.htm

Antique Clock Display

Hall of Henry County’s Courthouse – working 1877 E. Howard Tower Clock displayed. New Castle / 502-845-0806

Ashes Creek Schoolhouse and Yates Log Cabin

Historic buildings, trails, breathtaking views of the lake. Taylorsville Lake

Baslica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral

First Catholic Cathedral West of the Allegheny Mountains. Bardstown / 502-348-3126
www.bardstown.com/~stjoe/

Brown Pusey House

This gorgeous 1825 mansion is home to a genealogical library and Sally Cunningham Pusey's garden. www.TourEtown.com

Charles W. Logsdon Historic Costumed Downtown Walking Tour

Hear recollections and witness reenactments from Elizabethtown's most notorious characters. www.TourEtown.com

Clothesline of Quilts

Bright, colorful and decorative quilt blocks can be seen all over this area. Quilt Trail brochures are available at the Extension Office and Visitor Center. Elizabethtown / www.TourEtown.com

Gen. John Hunt Morgan Tour

See where Morgan’s Raiders delivered a heavy blow to a small town because of its railroad. Includes Myrtledene mansion, Lebanon Civil War Park, Battle of Lebanon site and Sunnyside, where Morgan’s brother was killed. Lebanon / 270-692-0021
http://trailsrus.com/morgan/

Historic Old Louisville

Take a tour of the neighborhood with the largest collection of Victorian mansions in the United States and experience the community called Old Louisville. 502-637-2922 / www.oldlouisville.com

Lebanon National Cemetery

National Register of Historic Places, the final resting place for many of the Union soldiers who were in the Battle of Perryville. Lebanon / 270-692-0021 / http://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/lebanon.asp

My Old Kentucky Home

Beautifully preserved antebellum mansion is the inspiration for Stephen Foster’s famous composition (which is also the Kentucky state song). Bardstown / 800-323-7803 or 502-348-3502 / www.myoldkentuckyhome.com

Oldham County History Center

Local history and genealogy in a restored Victorian home. LaGrange / 800-813-9953
www.oldhamcountyhistoricalsociety.org

Self-Guided Historic Driving Tour of Elizabethtown

Download a mapped guide or pick one up at the tourism office to learn about interesting histories and architectural styles of old downtown buildings and homes. www.TourEtown.com

Self-Guided Historic Downtown Walking Tour

See Elizabethtown's most historic downtown sites. www.TourEtown.com

Summit One-Room Schoolhouse    

Once described as the "finest school in the county", this 1892 one-room school was later used to store hay. Recently restored by the local Retired Teachers Association. Elizabethtown / www.TourEtown.com

Civil War & Military Attractions

Civil War Museum

Photos, maps, uniforms, rare flags, a treat for Civil War aficionados. Bardstown / 502-349-0291

www.civil-war-museum.org

Civil War Reenactment

Old Glory and the Stars and bars, gunfire and battle cries, soldiers in Blue and Gray. Reenactment enthusiasts and spectators gather the first weekend in June every year. Wise’s Landing / 502-268-5858

Confederate Soldiers Buried on Cemetery Hill

Locate soldiers' graves with the new kiosk available at the cemetery entrance www.TourEtown.com

Lincoln Heritage House

Although this beloved historic double cabin was gutted by fire early in 2009, the community rebuilt the house using historic building materials including salvaged timbers in 2011. www.TourEtown.com

Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor

General George S. Patton personal items, armor and cavalry exhibits. Fort Knox / 502-624-6350 /www.generalpatton.org

Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln Memorial Cabin

Lincoln's stepmother's early 1800's cabin, recreated down to the brightly colored flowers and nearby butterfly garden. Period items are similar to those used during this era. www.TourEtown.com

The Cannonball

Fired by General John Hunt Morgan's forces during the 1862 Christmas Raid, this Civil War artifact is still embedded in the wall of the Depp building. www.TourEtown.com