10 Kentucky Towns That Echo The Past
As the 15th state to enter the union in 1792, Kentucky has one of the most extensive histories of any state outside of the original 13 colonies. This is evident throughout its many historic towns, which echo the past with tales of innovative whisky distilling, Civil War battles, and presidential homes. Visitors can experience this history firsthand at places like the first racially integrated college in Kentucky, the many sites of an infamous family blood feud, and the many trails blazed by Daniel Boone. Read on to learn more about these 10 Kentucky towns that echo the past.
Bardstown
Bardstown echoes the past in many different ways, from its rich American Civil War historical sites to its gorgeous mansion and its tradition of bourbon whiskey distilling. It's called the Bourbon Capital of the World due to its numerous local distilleries, including Maker's Mark, one of the oldest of its kind, founded in 1953. Bardstown is also home to the majestic Federal Hill mansion, which was built in 1818 on a 1,300-acre plantation and is now known as the My Old Kentucky Home State Park, after Stephen Foster's famous song.
Bardstown is home to one of the finest collections of artifacts from the Western Theater of the American Civil War, housed in two museums: the Civil War Museum and the Women's Museum of the Civil War, which celebrates the scientific, medical, literary, and other achievements of women during this conflict.
Harrodsburg
Few towns in Kentucky give off as much of a historical echo as Harrodsburg. That's to be expected from the oldest founded town in Kentucky. Settled in 1774 as a fort, it has many stories to tell. One of the best places to hear those stories is at the Old Fort Harrod State Park, which includes several replica buildings like blockhouses and cabins, the largest Osage Orange tree in the U.S., an 1813 Mansion Museum with one of the biggest collections of early American firearms, and the Lincoln Marriage Temple, where Abraham Lincoln's parents were wed.
For a different kind of story, you'll want to visit the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill. This was the home to a large Shaker community from 1805 to 1910, a group known for their celibacy, charismatic religious experiences, and prophecies. Here, you can see Shaker buildings, try out farm-to-table cuisine, or go hiking at a nearby nature preserve.
Versailles
Versailles derives its French name from the town of Versailles, France, which was founded by the Marquis de Versailles in 1662 to honor the Marquis de Lafayette, a notable figure of the American Revolutionary War. As it turns out, another American Revolutionary War hero came to live here after the war: Jack Jouett. In 1781, he went on a wild 40-mile ride to warn Thomas Jefferson of a group of British cavalry on their way to capture him. Visitors can learn about his life at the Jack Jouett House Historic Site.
Much like Bardstown, Versailles was also a major bourbon center. In fact, you can visit one of the oldest distilleries in Kentucky at the Woodford Reserve Distillery, which was founded in 1812 by Elijah Pepper. Lastly, Versailles has a rich tradition of horse breeding, and you can see these majestic creatures in action at Blackwood Stables or Lane's End Farm.
Elizabethtown
More commonly known as Etown, the city of Elizabethtown is filled with all manner of interesting and quirky historic sites that echo the past. For example, while walking the streets, you might notice a cannonball stuck in a building. This Cannonball dates back to the Civil War when Confederate General John Hunt Morgan attacked and took the town. The building it was previously located at has since been demolished, but the cannonball was later placed back in a new building at the exact spot it was before.
Elizabethtown also boasts a rich assortment of museums and historic houses. One of them is the Brown Pusey House, a 1825 Georgian-style mansion that also features a genealogical library, and the Summit One-Room Schoolhouse, one of the finest of its kind in the U.S. For museums, visitors can learn about the wider area's history at the Hardin County History Museum or see cars from the early 1900s at the Swope's Cars of Yesteryear Museum.
Pikeville
Pikeville is historic for a different reason than many other towns on this list. While others are known for Presidents or rich communities, Pikeville was the home base for the most infamous feud in American history: the Hatfield-McCoy feud. Starting over personal grievances and battles over land and property, you can see the sites of this blood-stained conflict at spots like the Hog Trial Cabin, Randolph McCoy Homeplace & Well, the Historic Pike County Courthouse, and other places.
You can gain additional information about the area's history at the Big Sandy Heritage Center Museum, a treasure trove of Eastern Kentucky artifacts. You can also view Appalachian-inspired art at the Appalachian Center for the Arts, which hosts music, visual arts, and theatrical performances.
Berea
Berea was founded in the 1850s by Reverend John G. Fee, a forward-thinking individual. He was an abolitionist and a strong advocate for interracial harmony, to the extent that he founded the first integrated college in Kentucky: Berea College. Many of its original buildings remain standing today, including Lincoln Hall, a 1887 Romanesque-style structure named after Abraham Lincoln himself. Prior to the town's settlement, Daniel Boone explored the area at the confluence of Silver Creek and the Brushy Fork Branch.
You can hike this trail via the John B. Stephenson Walking Trail, or you can see picturesque Appalachian Mountain views by hiking the Pinnacles Trail, one of the most highly ranked trails in Kentucky. Lastly, Berea boasts a rich folk art scene, which is showcased at the KY Artisan Center, featuring the work of over 800 artisans.
London
London echoes the past of classic American explorers and the scars of the American Civil War. The American trailblazer Daniel Boone arrived in this region in 1775, a location that was used by pioneers for decades afterward. Boone's Trace Trail within the Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park is still available today for hikers who want to walk in Boone's footsteps.
London was also the site of an early Civil War battle on October 21, 1861: the Battle of Camp Wildcat. The town hosts reenactments of the battle at the Camp Wildcat Battlefield. For other historic places, one can learn about pioneer mountain living at the Mountain Life Museum or see a 19th-century watermill at McHargue's Mill. London isn't just about historical attractions; it also boasts thrilling modern ones, such as the London Dragway, a car racing track.
Winchester
Named after the city of Winchester in Virginia, it is one of the older towns in Kentucky, with its founding in 1792, the same year Kentucky became a state. Later on, Winchester became a contested ground during the American Civil War, and African American soldiers proved crucial in securing the town for the Union. Visitors can learn about the many ways African Americans have contributed to the community, from pre-war days to modern times, by taking the African American Heritage Tour.
They can also explore a Daniel Boone outpost turned Union Civil War fort at Fort Boonesborough State Park, which is situated along the shores of the Kentucky River. Winchester also has a deep culinary history as it was the birthplace of beer cheese in the 1940s and the Ale-8 drink in 1926. You can visit the original Ale-8-One Bottling Co. in town or try out locally made beer cheeses at the Beer Cheese Trail or during the Beer Cheese Festival held the second weekend in June.
Corbin
Much like Winchester, Corbin's history is also based in culinary pursuits. It was the birthplace of the famous chicken recipe that would spawn KFC. Here, Colonel Sanders established his first restaurant before creating his fast-food chicken empire. You can see this café, which operated from 1940 to 1956, at the Harland Sanders Café and Museum. You can also explore a bit of the recent past at the Pinball Museum of Corbin, which has many machines set up from the decades to try out.
Corbin is a wonderful place for a day outside, as it's right next to Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, home to a massive 60-foot-tall waterfall that, at times, reflects the light of the moon into a stunning moonbow. If fishing or boating is your passion, Laurel Lake is conveniently located in the Daniel Boone National Forest.
Hodgenville
All of these towns echo the past, but perhaps none do so as loudly as Hodgenville. It was here that America's Great Emancipator, Abraham Lincoln, was born, before his family crossed the Ohio River to move to Indiana. Hodgenville has three distinctive Lincoln experiences for those with an interest in his life and accomplishments. The first is the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace Historical Park, which features the Birthplace Unit and a Symbolic Cabin that showcases his humble roots.
The other is the Boyhood Home Unit, which features a log cabin and several natural landmarks along the Boundary Oak Trail, including Sinking Spring, where his family drew water. Lastly, there's the Lincoln Museum, which houses wax figures, dioramas, and artifacts throughout his life. After a day of learning about Lincoln, tourists and locals alike can go camping at the McDougal and Salem Lake Campgrounds or enjoy a show from The Lincoln Jamboree.
The past is never gone, as it leaves echoes that can be felt throughout our lives, cities, and towns. For example, these Kentucky towns bear the scars of the past, whether in the form of Civil War relics within museums or a cannonball lodged in a building in Etown.
However, there are also inspiring stories left behind in these towns, such as the adventurous spirit of Daniel Boone or the moral courage of John Fee and Abraham Lincoln. By listening to these echoes of the past, you will learn a great deal not just about Kentucky but about the United States as a whole.
