This Kentucky Main Street Feels Like A Movie Set

Take a stroll along Bardstown’s main drag, and it’s not difficult imagining you’ve walked onto the set of a period drama. This is especially true of a section of Stephen Foster Avenue, its Main Street, that runs from My Old Kentucky Home State Park to the east, past its historic courthouse, to the town’s impressive cathedral. This slice of authentic old Americana features the kind of elegant old federal-style mansions and red-brick commercial buildings with their 19th-century facades that Hollywood producers pay big bucks to recreate in studios. Yet here, they’re all real

Bardstown’s Film-like Historic District

Settled in 1780 and formally established just eight years later, downtown Bardstown originally consisted of a cluster of simple log homes. Growing rapidly as a cultural and commercial center for central Kentucky, by the early 19th century, Catholic settlers were also flocking to the town, fleeing religious persecution and seeking land to farm.

The result of this early prosperity and the freedoms that came with it are still very evident throughout the Bardstown Historic District. Covering an impressive 26 blocks of the downtown area, most streets follow the original grid pattern laid out when the town's lots were first surveyed in 1797. And with close to 300 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Bardstown boasts one of Kentucky’s highest concentrations of Federal and Georgian architecture dating from the 1780s to 1850.

In addition to regularly being labelled as America’s prettiest small town, Bardstown also holds the unofficial title of "Bourbon Capital of the World." With 11 distilleries operating in and around the community, it’s a well-deserved designation.

The Town That Time Forgot

With the historic Nelson County Courthouse at your back and facing west down Stephen Foster Avenue, you’ll notice a sand-colored building on the south side of the street that seems untouched by time. Known as The Old Talbott Tavern, it was built in 1779 and is famous as the oldest western stagecoach stop in America. It’s also one of the oldest buildings in Kentucky.

Step inside and you’ll be even more convinced of the tavern’s movie potential. Deep window casings reveal its two-foot-thick, Flemish bond stone walls, while heavy ceiling timbers recall the classic old inns of England that once served that country’s stagecoaches. Pull up a chair and order a drink at the world’s oldest bourbon bar and sit beside the original fireplace that warmed pioneers over 250 years ago.

An essential crossroads stop for stagecoaches passing through this part of the country, it was used during the Revolutionary War to store provisions and munitions. Its list of notable guests reads like a who’s who of US history: Daniel Boone visited in 1792 before the courthouse was completed; a five year old Abraham Lincoln stayed with his parents during a land dispute; exiled French King Louis Philippe and his two brothers stayed in1797; and several bullet holes are visible in the plaster, left there by the outlaw Jesse James.

The First Cathedral West Of The Alleghenies

A short walk from Court Square and The Talbot Tavern, and Stephen Foster Avenue leads to the Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral. Considered one of the most significant religious structures in American Catholic history, this film-worthy-looking structure was built in 1819 as the first Catholic cathedral west of the Allegheny Mountains.

Second only to the United States Capitol in terms of size when completed, it was considered an extraordinary achievement as Bardstown was still considered part of the American frontier. Local materials were used throughout, including limestone foundation blocks and bricks that were made on-site, while Kentucky forests supplied the timber for the interior columns and intricate woodwork.

Interior highlights include paintings donated by Louis Philippe, who later became King of France, and gifts from Pope Leo XII. You’ll also want to see the Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew, painted by Mattia Preti in Naples around 1650. Look for the Ten Commandments inscribed above each of the lovely stained-glass windows along the nave.

Courthouse Square

As you’ll find out for yourself, Bardstown’s beautiful Courthouse Square is something of a misnomer as the Old Courthouse is actually set on a large circle bang-smack in the middle of town. It’s certainly elegant. Standing three stories tall, this attractive red-brick and stone structure features elements of late Victorian design, including its central square tower and elegant curved stone arches framing the entrance. It’s now home to the Bardstown Welcome Center and makes for great photos from all angles.

The buildings of Court Square also add to this picture-perfect, camera-ready setting. In addition to accommodations available at the iconic Talbott Tavern, the Jailer's Inn Bed & Breakfast is another historic place to stay in Bardstown. Named after the Old Nelson County Jail, which was in use between 1707 and 1987, the building’s façade dates from 1819.

Though not as old or as big as some area distilleries, Circa 1856 Bardstown is definitely worth a visit if you’re into bourbon. This cool micro-distillery’s brand of choice is the wonderfully named Chicken Cock Whiskey, around since the mid-1850s and making a name for itself for its collectible bottles and tasty bourbons.

Other Movie-worthy Attractions In Bardstown

A block north of Court Square, Spalding Hall is a must-visit. This substantial brick structure is the largest historic building in Bardstown and was completed in 1826 as a college and seminary. During the Civil War, it was used as a hospital treating both Union and Confederate troops. It’s now home to the Oscar Getz Museum of Bourbon History and the Bardstown Historical Museum.

Also, an easy walk from Courthouse Square, the Civil War Museum and the Women’s Museum of the Civil War provide a fascinating look at the conflict’s Western Theater. One of the largest collections of Civil War artifacts in the South, the displays include Union and Confederate uniforms, artillery pieces, flags, and personal effects, as well as exhibits about the roles women played as nurses, spies, administrators, and even soldiers disguised as men.

Last but not least, Old Bardstown Village is a collection of log structures dating from 1776 to 1820. In addition to original settler cabins, there’s a forge, a wheelwright's shop, and a stillhouse to explore. Living history demonstrations and reenactments are held on weekends in spring and summer.

A Town Where History Lives On

Its movie-ready persona is evident everywhere you look in Bardstown. Now paved streets that were originally built for horse and wagon, 18th-century stagecoach stops, and traditional bourbon makers are just a part of what makes this lovely old Kentucky town so much fun to visit. So, if you’re seeking an authentic American experience, Bardstown looks the way it does because it has always looked this way: camera-ready and movie set perfect.