8 Prettiest Downtown Strips In Kentucky
Kentucky's landscape is full of rivers, forests, and its famous bluegrass. These landscapes have become the backdrop for small towns holding centuries of history. Courthouse squares and old taverns sit alongside historic distilleries and eclectic museums. The architecture throughout these towns is what makes their downtown areas worth visiting. Whether it is the creativity in the air in Paducah or the smell of chicken in Corbin, each of these eight Kentucky towns is remarkable for its preserved history and welcoming attitude.
Paris
This town is in the Bluegrass Region of north-central Kentucky. Settlements began here in 1776, when the town was named Hopewell. It was later renamed Paris to honor the French who aided the American Revolution. Downtown Paris features several historic buildings, including Duncan Tavern, the elegant Georgian-style stone tavern built by Revolutionary War officer Major Joseph Duncan around 1792. Nearby is the Bourbon County Courthouse. Completed in 1905, the courthouse features neoclassical architecture with massive columns, marble, and a large dome.
About six miles off the downtown strip is the Cane Ridge Meetinghouse, a church constructed in 1791 by settlers. This house still has original blue ash logs from the surrounding forest. Colville Covered Bridge is just nine miles away from historic downtown. This bridge was erected in 1877 and is worth the view, one of only a handful of original covered bridges still standing in Kentucky, since many were destroyed during the Civil War.
Frankfort
The Kentucky River winds through this capital city, which is also in the Bluegrass Region. Main Street goes through the historic downtown to the north and east of the flowing river. The Old State Capitol, a Greek Revival building that served as the capitol from 1830 to 1910, is in a downtown square overlooking the area. Across the river, less than two miles away, is the newer Capitol building, completed in 1910. Considered one of the finest capitols in the US, this grand structure features classical columns, a pediment, limestone and granite, and an interior in the classical French style with tapestries, murals, and local and Italian marble.
Near the War Mothers Memorial Bridge over the Kentucky River is the Kentucky Military History Museum, which houses many artifacts, highlights the arsenal, and emphasizes the state's role in the American Civil War. Frankfort's location on the Bourbon Trail means that in and around the town, there are several historic whiskey and bourbon distilleries that could easily be around 200 years old. Take in their beautiful architecture during tours and tastings, and learn about their history before and after Prohibition.
Bardstown
Near the center of Kentucky is its second-oldest city. Bardstown's downtown holds Museum Row, an area dedicated to the Civil War, the Revolutionary War, and military history. There is also the Old Bardstown Village, where preserved 18th- and 19th-century cabins offer a glimpse of Kentucky life during those eras. On the western side of downtown, you can appreciate the area's favorite spirit at the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History, which features rare bottles, antique advertising, and an exhibit on Prohibition-era moonshine stills.
A walk through Bardstown's historic streets ties it all together, with brick storefronts, unique shops, and old inns making the downtown feel lively yet still rooted in the past. For a weekend away, opt to dine and stay at the Talbott Tavern Restaurant & Inn, one of the oldest western stagecoach stops in the US. Open since 1779, the tavern has some original foundations, an original fireplace, and old-fashioned décor.
Paducah
In western Kentucky, on the Ohio River, is this UNESCO Creative City. The creativity is apparent just by looking at the colorful buildings in the historic downtown. The Paducah "Wall to Wall" Floodwall Murals along the river depict much of the town's history, dating back to the Native Americans.
Next to the murals is the National Quilt Museum, which houses around 700 quilts from both the US and other countries. In addition to this eclectic museum, Paducah is also home to several old churches, many of which feature beautiful Gothic and Classical architecture. The best way to see the historic churches is on the self-guided Historical Churches of Paducah Tour, where you can learn about the church congregations, architecture, and the history of the neighborhoods surrounding these places of worship.
Danville
It was here, in central Kentucky, that the Commonwealth of Kentucky was founded in 1792 and where its first constitution was signed, making it the fifteenth US state. Downtown Danville's Constitution Square Historic Site holds the location where the state's constitution was signed, along with the old jailhouse and Grayson's Tavern, a center known for early political discussions.
Those interested in science would appreciate a tour of the McDowell House Museum and Apothecary. This building, dating back to 1795, is the site of the world's first successful ovariotomy, performed by Dr. Ephraim McDowell on Christmas Day 1809. You can learn about the history of the surgery and see where it took place with a personal tour of the doctor's workspace. A few blocks away, the Great American Dollhouse Museum is a unique stop where you can see big American moments played out in miniature.
Corbin
This small town in southern Kentucky became official starting in 1895. At the end of the main downtown street is the Engineer Street Bridge, which was donated to the town in 1902 by the L&N Railroad. The bridge features unique wrought-iron configurations that are no longer commonly seen.
Lovers of fried chicken may like to visit Harland Sanders Café and Museum, where Colonel Sanders operated his original restaurant and developed the top-secret recipe for Kentucky Fried Chicken. Next to Corbin is the Daniel Boone National Forest, with numerous hiking trails and access to Laurel Lake. It offers fishing, boating, swimming, and a beach with water so clear that it draws scuba divers.
La Grange
In northern Kentucky, not far from the Ohio River, sits this town, established in 1827 for its proximity to the railroad. What makes La Grange's historic downtown so special is that more than twenty freight trains commute through it every day. It is a special opportunity to see them passing right in front of the old brick buildings and colorful facades.
Quite fitting for the town is the La Grange Railroad Museum & Learning Center, which has many model train displays and a dining car from 1929. For more local history, the Oldham County History Center shares the stories of local men and women who served in World War II. In and around La Grange and Oldham County, farm tours offer hands-on ways to see animals up close. La Grange is a town dedicated to trains, but also one that offers close interaction with the horse country the state is known for.
Maysville
Maysville is on the Ohio River on Kentucky's northern border. A trolley tour is a distinctive way to view downtown, where riders will observe architecture, murals, and the historic Old Washington District, a few miles outside of town. Further investigate Old Washington on foot to see one of Maysville's first neighborhoods, settled in the 1780s.
The Russell Theatre in downtown is worth a closer look. It opened in 1930 and still features exterior architecture that blends Spanish Colonial Revival and Moorish styles. The theatre's interior features ornate chandeliers and arched, terraced balconies. No small town in Kentucky appears to be complete without a historic distillery, and Maysville's most popular might be the Old Pogue Distillery. It opened in 1876, and today the original founders' descendants manage it and use some of the original bourbon recipes.
Downtown Sights with History
Kentucky has its own distinctive history, including major US wars, railroads, and bourbon production. With a backdrop of bluegrass plains and major rivers, the downtown strips in these small towns showcase everything the state has to offer. The impressive architecture, preserved structures, museums, and outdoor activities are ways Kentucky shares its beauty and history.
