Historic House Museums in Kentucky

We try to keep this list of historic house museums for Kentucky current, but it is best to check directly with the museums for their hours and other information. If you know of a historic house museum in Kentucky that should be listed here, please use our submission form to let us know about it.

Bardstown

Bardstown Historical Museum

Displays include gifts from kings Louis Philippe and Charles X of France, Indian relics and other early memorabilia.

Open Mon-Sat 9-5, Sun 1-5, May-Oct; Tue-Sat 10-4, Sun 1-4 rest of the year • 114 N. 5th St. • (502) 348-2999

My Old Kentucky Home State Park

The mansion is furnished with many heirlooms and old portraits. The rear wing was built in 1795 by Judge John Rowan.

Open daily 8-7:30 Jun 1 - Labor Day; 8-5 May & Sep-Oct; 9-5 Mar-Apr & Nov-Dec; Tue-Sun 9-5 Jan-Feb • .75 miles S.E. on US150 • (502) 348-3502

Bowling Green

Riverview at Hobson Grove

Restored Italianate includes Paladian windows, frescoed ceilings, and late 19th century furnishings and interiors.

Open Tue-Sat 10-4, Sun 1-4, Closed in Jan • W. end of Main St. in Hobson Grove Park • (270) 843-5565

Danville

McDowell House, Apothecay and Gardens

The late 18th century home, shop and garden of Dr. McDowell have been restored. The house was built in three stages, from 1792 to 1820.

Open Mon-Sat 10-4, Sun 2-4 Mar-Oct; Tue-Sat 10-4, Sun 2-4 rest of the year • 125 S. 2nd St. • (859) 236-2804

Elizabethtown

Brown-Pusey Community House

The 1825 two story brick building has been restored and houses a historical library.

Open Mon-Sat 10-4 • N. Main & Poplar St. • (270) 765-2515

Lincoln Heritage House

One of the two log buildings of this home was built in 1805 by owner Hardin Thomas and his friend Thomas Lincoln, father of Abraham Lincoln. The home is furnished in period.

OpenTue-Sun 10-5 Jun - Sep • at Freeman Lake Park • (800) 437-0092

Frankfort

Vest-Lindsey House

Built between 1821 and 1839, this house is open for tours when not in use as the official state meetinghouse. The Federal style house is furnished in period.

Call for appt. • 401 Wapping Street • (502) 564-6980

Liberty Hall Historic Site

Liberty Hall was begun in 1796 by John Brown. Orlando Brown House was built by one of his sons. Both houses are furnished in period and feature some original furnishings.

See web site for hours • 202 & 218 Wilkinson St. • (888) 516-5101 or (502) 227-2560

Old Governor's Mansion

The 1798 Georgian mansion now serves as the residence of the state's lieutenant governor. Furnished in period, with some original items.

Open Mon, Tue & Thu 1:30-3:30; other times by appt. • 420 High St. • (502) 564-3449

Georgetown

Ward Hall

This 1853 Greek Revival mansion features marble mantles, Corinthian columns and frescoed ceilings.

Call for hours • 1 mile W. on US 460 • (859) 396-4257

Harrodsburg

1807 Morgan Row

This row of houses now serves as the area's visitor information center.

Call for hours • 220 S. Chiles St. • (859) 734-5985

Old Fort Harrod State Park

The Mansion Museum depicts the country's early development.

Open daily 9-5:30 Mar 16-Nov 30 • downtown • (606) 734-3314

Hodgenville

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site

The log cabin believed to be the one that President Lincoln was born in is preserved on the grounds of the 110 acre Thomas Lincoln farm.

Open daily 8-6:45, Memorial Day to Labor Day; 8-4:45 rest of the year • 3 miles south of Hodgenville on US31E and SR61 • (270) 358-3137

Lexington

Ashland

The home of Henry Clay from 1811 until his death in 1852. The house is surrounded by gardens and woodlands, and is furnished with family possessions.

Open Mon-Sat 10-4, Sun 1-4; Close in Jan, and on Mon Nov-Mar • 120 Sycamore Road • (859) 266-8581

Hunt-Morgan House

The 1814 Federal style house was built by John W. Hunt, Kentucky's first millionaire. The house's early 19th century paintings and furniture are notable.

Open Wed-Fri 1-5, Sat 10-4, Sun 1-5 mid-March through mid-December • 201 N. Mill St. • (859) 233-3290

Mary Todd Lincoln House

The girlhood home of Abraham Lincoln's wife was built in 1803. The restored Georgian style home is furnished in period.

Open Mon-Sat 10-4, Mar 15 - Nov 30 • 578 W. Main St. • (859) 233-9999

Waveland State Historic Site

The Greek Revival mansion is furnished with antiques, and the displays of Civil War memorabilia.

See their web site for hours • 5 miles south off US 27 on Higbee Mill Pike • (859) 272-3611

Louisville

Conrad-Caldwell House

A magnificent Richardsonian Mansion on St. James Court. The finest in the city. Also known as "Conrad's Castle," this is one of the most stunning of Old Louisville's houses and defines Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. The house was built for Theophilus Conrad, a Frenchman (Alsace) who made his fortune in the tanning business.

Sun, Wed-Fri 12-4; Sat 10-4 • 1402 St. James Court • (502) 636-5023

Farmington

Built in 1810 by John Speed from a Thomas Jefferson design, this Federal style house has 14 rooms, and twin octagon rooms. The house is furnished in period.

Open Tue-Sat 10-4:30, Sun 1:30-4:30 • 3033 Bardstown Road • (502) 452-9920

Locust Grove

The restored 1790 Georgian mansion is furnished in period and the plantation includes eight outbuildings and an 18th century garden.

Open Mon-Sat 10-4:30, Sun 1:00-4:30 • 561 Blankenbaker Lane • (502) 897-9845

Paducah

Whitehaven

This 1860s mansion was remodelled in 1903 in the Classical Revival style. Restored to its late 19th century grandeur, it is used as a state welcome center.

Open daily 24 hours, tours daily 1-4 • at I 24 & US 45 • (502) 554-2077

Paris

Duncan Tavern & Anne Duncan House

The tavern was used by Daniel Boone, Simon Kenton and other pioneers. The house next door has been restored.

Open Tue-Sat 10-4 • 323 High Street • (606) 987-1788

Pleasant Hill

Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill

The village preserves 30 original buildings on 2,700 acres.

Open daily 10-5, Apr-Oct • 7 miles n.e. of Harrodsburg off US 68 • (800) 734-5611

Princeton

Adsmore House Museum

The former residence of the Smith-Garret families, the 1850s mansion is decorated with various furnishings through the year.

Open Tue-Sat 11-4, Sun 1:30-4 • 304 N. Jefferson St. • (270) 365-3114

Richmond

White Hall State Historic Site

The imposing estate house was the home of emancipationist Cassius Marcellus Clay. The first section was built by Clay's father in 1798 and Clay added the Italianate front section.

See their web site for hours • Follow signs from White Hall State Shrine Road • (859) 623-9178