historic homes to tour in kentucky

Everyone In Kentucky Should Visit These 12 Homes For Their Incredible Pasts

Kelly Berger

Kelly is the Kentucky state writer for OIYS, a freelance writer & PR mastermind. Obsessed with concerts and music, you can always catch her at the latest gig supporting the scene getting excited about the next big thing.

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Kentucky harnesses a lot of history and it’s exciting to sneak a peak into some of the places that embody those historical stories to give us a sense of value in today’s world. Here’s a list of some of Kentucky’s most historical houses that are worth checking out.

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Brush up on your history and dive into these stunning places that truly helped shape the state into what it is today. Where are you planning to visit next?

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11 Incredible Historical Homes You Should Visit in Kentucky

We're celebrating the Bluegrass State by taking a tour of its most fascinating and beautiful historical architecture.

From the home that inspired one of the most popular songs in American history to the home that helped put the Bourbon Trail on the map, Kentucky's fascinating historical architecture doesn't disappoint. Here are 11 homes you should definitely see while visiting the Bluegrass State.

My Old Kentucky Home

John Rowan, the original owner of this Federal-style mansion in Bardstown, served many important roles over the course of his lifetime: as Kentucky's Secretary of State, as a member of the state's House of Representatives, and as a U.S. Senator, to name just a few. He also happened to be related to renowned composer Stephen Collins Foster, who wrote an anti-slavery ballad entitled "Poor Uncle Tom, Goodnight," based in part on his memories visiting Federal Hill (the home's official name). The title of the song was later changed to "My Old Kentucky Home."

Foster's ballad is widely considered to be one of the most influential songs in American culture. Today, it is estimated that there are over 2,500 published versions of the song.

One of the nation's finest examples of Greek Revival architecture can be found situated on 40 picturesque acres in the town of Georgetown. Completed in 1857, Ward Hall has garnered attention from architecture buffs for its exceptional level of intactness (even the basement retains its original servants working and sleeping rooms). Measuring more than 12,000 square feet, the home boasts 27-foot high Corinthian columns and majestic 20-foot wide front steps. It was built as a summer home for Junius and Matilda Ward, whose families held great political and economic influence in the area.

Ward Hall is operated by The Ward Hall Preservation Foundation , which raised over $1,000,000 to purchase the home in 2004 and continues its fundraising efforts to restore and maintain this remarkable piece of history. The home is open to the public on select weekends, and other times by appointment.

Jesse R. Zeigler House

When one thinks of Kentucky, Frank Lloyd Wright rarely comes to mind. But the acclaimed architect did design one home here during his lifetime, and it's worth a look-see if driving through Frankfort, even if only from the street (No peeking inside; this one's privately owned). Reverend Zeigler met Wright by chance during a trip to Europe, and commissioned the architect to design the home for him and his family. Constructed in 1910, the Zeigler home displays classic elements of the Wright style, including bold horizontal lines and striking leaded art glass windows.

Loretta Lynn's Birthplace

In the song "Coal Miner's Daughter," country music legend Loretta Lynn croons, "Well, I was born a coal miner's daughter in a cabin on a hill in Butcher Holler..." Loretta's modest childhood home still exists today in Butcher Holler (part of the mining community of Van Lear) and it's a far cry from the opulent Tennessee mansion she purchased after rising to stardom. To get there, you'll have to drive 2 miles past Webb's Grocery; proprietor Herman Webb, who conducts tours of the home, is Loretta's brother.

Loudoun House

If castellated Gothic Revival villas are your Achilles heel, make your way to the Lexington Art League , housed in the circa 1850 Loudoun House. The speculator mansion was built by one of American history's most prominent architects, Andrew Jackson Davis, for the cousin of Francis Scott Key, who wrote the lyrics to the national anthem. The Loudoun House Gallery is open for tours at select times during the week.

All of Old Louisville

If you're a fan of towers, turrets and pink palaces , you'll feel like a kid in a candy store while meandering through Old Louisville, which contains the third largest national historic district in the United States and the largest one comprised primarily of Victorian architecture. It's not technically the oldest part of Louisville (it was actually an early suburb) but it's arguably the city's most colorful district—featuring an array of whimsical mansions and townhouses comprising over 45 blocks, including the spectacular Richardsonian Romanesque-style Conrad-Caldwell House.

Bill Monroe's Boyhood Home

Prior to 2001, the childhood home of the so-called "Father of Bluegrass Music" was in a state of terrible disrepair. Following Monroe's death, the home was purchased by the group now known as The Bill Monroe Bluegrass Music Foundation, who restored it to its original 1917 appearance and outfitted the interior with period furnishings and Monroe family heirlooms. It operates today as the Bill Monroe Museum , offering regular guided tours and musical events. Stop by on select dates for some old-fashioned "Pickin on the Porch."

Henry Clay may have adored his Lexington estate even more than he coveted a good mint julep (the former senator is often credited with the drink's rise to fame). Three years prior to his death, he famously wrote, "I am in one respect better off than Moses. He died in sight of, without reaching, the Promised Land. I occupy as good a farm as any that he would have found, if he had reached it; and it has been acquired not by hereditary descent, but by my own labor." Named for the abundance of ash trees on the property, the home in which Clay lived for most of his adult life is today one of Kentucky's most beloved landmarks. Guided tours of the home are offered on a regular basis; the grounds are open to the public year-round.

Mary Todd Lincoln House

Mary Todd Lincoln's large childhood home in Lexington wasn't built as a house; it served as an inn and tavern before the Todd family moved there in 1832. Though Lexington housed only seven thousand residents in the 1830s, it was known for its sophistication, and the Todds floated in the upper crust of Lexington society. Mary lived in the home for seven years, and is said to have brought her new husband to visit her family there after her marriage in 1842. Tours of the home are offered throughout most of the year. Abraham Lincoln came from more humble roots; stop by the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace in Hodgenville to see a reconstructed version of the log cabin in which the 16th President was born.

T. Jeremiah Beam House

No visit to Kentucky would be complete without a stop or two along the Bourbon Trail. If you prefer to stare at a beautiful old home while downing a glass of America's Native Spirit, head to the Jim Beam American Stillhouse in Clermont for a distillery tour and a photo op in front of the T. Jeremiah Beam house. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been home to generations of Beam distillers. Built in 1911 as a boarding house for distillery workers, it was renovated after Prohibition by T. Jeremiah Beam (Jim's son), who moved into the house to keep an eye on neighboring operations.

Locust Grove

Quite a few American luminaries wined and dined at Locust Grove , the circa 1792 Louisville estate of William & Lucy Croghan. Presidents James Monroe and Andrew Jackson, artist John James Audubon, Cassius Marcellus Clay, and Lewis and Clark are just a few of the prominent figures to have passed through the gates. It also served as the home of Louisville founder and Revolutionary War hero George Rogers Clark (Lucy's) brother, who lived here for the last several years of his life. Today, 55 acres remain with the house, which is open daily for tours.

While you're in Louisville, head over to nearby Farmington , a stunning circa 1816 plantation set on 18 acres offering such festivities as a Derby breakfast and summer jazz festival.

Writer Elizabeth Finkelstein is a self-proclaimed old house addict on a lifelong hunt for her perfect historic home. From big Victorian fixer-uppers to tiny colonials to mid-century modern masterpieces, Elizabeth believes that the best homes show the charm of having been loved over time. She chronicles it all on her website CIRCA Old Houses, which showcases beautiful old houses for sale across the country. See more at CircaOldHouses.com.

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The Most Beautiful Historic Homes & Estates in Kentucky

Nicknamed the ‘Bluegrass State’ due to its verdant pastures, Kentucky is a beautiful state steeped in history. Visitors can get a glimpse into the past thanks to the fact that the state is peppered with incredible historic homes and estates representing different periods and architectural styles. Here are our top ten places in Kentucky. Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips , compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips .

Abraham lincoln birthplace national historic park.

Abraham Lincoln was born in a one-room log cabin in 1809 at Sinking Springs Farm . While the original cabin no longer stands, a symbolic one stands in its place inside a Neoclassical memorial building in the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park, created to honor the 16th American President’s early life. Visitors can enter the memorial by climbing 56 steps, which represent each year of Lincoln’s life, and then stroll the grounds and trails. After exploring the grounds, guests can take a short drive to Knob Creek, where Lincoln lived as a little boy. Both sites are free to enter.

Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate

Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate is a beautiful 17-acre historic estate located in Lexington. Built for Henry Clay, an esteemed statesman known as ‘The Great Compromiser’ due to his many achievements, including negotiating the Treaty of Ghent and the postponement of the Civil War for a decade, this estate features an 18-room mansion plus several outbuildings. Originally constructed in 1811 in the Federal-style manor, Clay’s son, James, inherited the property in 1852, razed it in 1854 due to structural issues, and had it rebuilt, on the original foundation, in 1857. The result is a mix of Federal, Italianate, Greek revival, and Victorian styles. Today, visitors can take guided tours of the mansion or roam the lush grounds.

Federal Hill

The house behind the song ‘My Old Kentucky Home’ is widely speculated to be Federal Hill , a mansion located in the My Old Kentucky Home State Park near Bardstown . Stephen Collins Foster, a relative of the Rowans who owned the property, supposedly visited Federal Hill, became inspired, and eventually penned the treasured song, which became the state song in 1928. Built between 1795 and 1818, this brick Georgian-style house originally featured 13 rooms, 13 windows on the façade, and 13 steps on each staircase, which may have been an homage to the original 13 colonies. Sold to the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1922 by a descendant of the family, Federal Hill is now a historic house museum restored to look as it did in the 19th century.

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Hunt-Morgan House

Set to be demolished in the mid-1900s, the Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation saved the Hunt-Morgan House in 1955. Originally constructed in 1814 for a prominent businessman named John Wesley Hunt, this Federal-style home housed many prominent members of the Hunt-Morgan family over the years, including Confederate General John Hunt Morgan and Dr. Thomas Hunt Morgan, the first person from Kentucky to win a Nobel Prize. Today, the house has been fully restored and offers visitors a glimpse into the lives of early-19th-century people with its rooms filled with period furniture and paintings. The second floor houses the Alexander T. Hunt Civil War Museum, which features a host of wartime memorabilia.

Jesse R. Zeigler House

Located in Kentucky’s state capitol, Frankfort, the Jesse R. Zeigler House is the only house in the state designed by the legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright . Built in 1910, this beautiful home is a great example of Wright’s Prairie Style architecture, which is often noted by the use of horizontal lines, overhanging eaves, and beautiful leaded art glass windows. One of the unique features in this home is the stained-glass case that surrounds the fireplace at the ceiling. Originally the family home of Reverend Jesse R. Zeigler, it remains a private residence today.

Locust Grove

Located in Louisville, Locust Grove is a lovely 55-acre estate featuring a 1790 Georgian mansion, various outbuildings, plus beautiful grounds. As with all the estates and homes mentioned above, this place is steeped in history. Built for William and Lucy (née Clark) Croghan, this property hosted many prominent people during its day, including American presidents, artist John James Audubon, William Clark (Lucy’s brother) of Lewis and Clark fame, and General George Rogers Clark. General Clark, also one of Lucy’s brothers was a war hero and founder of Louisville who spent his later years at Locust Grove. Many embellishments were added to this historic property over the years; however, it has been completely restored to its original glory, and visitors can now take guided tours.

Loudoun House

There are only five castellated Gothic Revival structures by Alexander Jackson Davis remaining in the United States, and one of them is located in Castlewood Park in Lexington. Commissioned by Francis Key Hunt (cousin of Francis Scott Key who wrote the United States national anthem), this unique structure, known as Loudoun House, was built in 1850 and is considered to be one of the best examples of this particular style. The house now belongs to the city and houses the Lexington Art League, a contemporary visual arts organization founded in 1957. Within this magnificent 19th century villa, guests can explore artworks by contemporary artists.

Mary Todd Lincoln House

Originally built as an inn between 1803 and 1806, the Mary Todd Lincoln House was purchased by Robert S. Todd in 1832 for his family, including daughter Mary who would go on to marry Abraham Lincoln. A two-story brick late-Georgian house located in downtown Lexington, it is the first historic house museum within the United States to honor the First Lady. A 14-room property, the public can now visit the rooms full of period furniture, personal items, and portraits of both the Todd and Lincoln families. While none of the original outbuildings stand today, there is a lovely garden that guests can enjoy while visiting this historic treasure.

Originally built for General Green Clay who served in the Revolutionary War and War of 1812, the original house here, called Clermont, was a two-story Georgian home. When the general’s son, Cassius Marcellus Clay — an abolitionist, newspaper publisher, and politician — inherited the property, he transformed it into an opulent 44-room Italianate mansion complete with indoor plumbing and central heating both of which were very modern for the times. He also renamed it White Hall. The estate was donated to Kentucky in 1968, and thanks to First Lady Beulah Nunn, the mansion was restored and opened to visitors in 1971 who will see rooms beautifully decorated with period furnishings, several of which belonged to the Clay family.

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Edison, Lewis & Clark and more: 9 historic homes to explore around the Louisville area

Louisville is full of history, and there's no shortage of places to explore it around the city. From a 25,000-square-foot Richardsonian Romanesque mansion to the home of George Rogers Clark, who founded Louisville in 1778, to the largest residential library in Kentucky, containing more than 10,000 books, there's something for everyone to explore.

Here's a list of nine noteworthy historic homes that are located around the Louisville area.

Conrad Caldwell House

1402 St. James Court, Louisville;  conrad-caldwell.org ; 502-636-5023

Tours: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Wednesday tours are self-guided. Friday, Saturday & Sunday tours are led by museum docents. Cost: Adults, $10, Seniors, $8, Students, $6; self-guided tour on Wednesday, $5.

This seven-bedroom mansion in Louisville's historic St. James Court has been converted into a museum. The Richardsonian Romanesque mansion has also been used as headquarters for the famed annual St. James Court Art Show.

“It was originally (constructed) on the site of the Southern Exposition, which encompassed (the) whole block,” Conrad-Caldwell House Museum executive director Kate Meador previously told The Courier Journal. When the Southern Exposition came to an end, pieces of the land were sold off.

“Theophile Conrad bought four lots right here at the corner of Magnolia and St. James, which was the ‘crème-de-la-crème’ place to live,” Meador said.

A French immigrant, Conrad built his 10,000-square-foot Richardsonian Romanesque castle-like mansion as a sort of homage to his homeland, Meador said.

Home of the Week: See inside this massive 25,000-square-foot Richardsonian Romanesque Old Louisville mansion

“He spared no expense,” she added. “He had seven different types of wood that he featured throughout the house; each room has a predominant type of wood. All the parquet floors are original, (and) he had two forms of heat — both gas and electricity. He had a boiler system and fireplaces, which was not typical (at that time).

"He wanted to leave this as an ornament to the city. So, this really was his sort of tribute to the city of Louisville.”

Farmington Plantation

3033 Bardstown Road,  farmingtonhistoricplantation.org ; 502-452-9920

Tours: Farmington is open daily for self-guided tours of the historic property from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Guided tours of the house museum are available: Tuesday-Friday at 10 and 11 a.m., 12 1, 2, and 3 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m. and 12 and 1 p.m. Cost: Adults, $10, Seniors, $9, Children and students, $5.

This Federal-style brick home was once a lucrative hemp plantation after being built in 1816 and was restored to its original condition in the early 2000s. A bronze monument was added to the property during its renovations to honor the enslaved African Americans who built the home and once worked on the property.

“John Speed and his business partners bought several thousand acres here,” Farmington Historic Plantation executive director Kathy Nichols previously told the Courier Journal. “In the early 19th century, (he) took 554 acres and created Farmington.”

The land became a hemp plantation, as the plant was Kentucky’s number one cash crop at the time. “It’s what gave the commonwealth economic clout in the 19th century,” Nichols said. “It’s what ensured slavery would be secure in the commonwealth.”

The house on the plantation, she added, was most likely built by the enslaved.

“They did all the manual labor,” she said. “Enslaved men likely dug the clay for the bricks of that house. We can’t prove that yet, but on most Kentucky plantations, bricks were dug from the clay by enslaved men, put in the brick molds and then laid in the house by enslaved men. You can’t get more important to a place than that.”

Nichols estimates that as many as 70 people lived on Farmington at any given time, but it’s impossible to know the total number who came and went over the years.

“We can document them here in 1809,” she said. “(John Speed) writes a letter to David Ward that says, ‘We’re in the property, we’re in our cabins, we have only enough bacon to last until Ned returns.’”

Home of the Week: Farmington Plantation is an integral part of Louisville's biracial history

Ned, she said, was an enslaved man that had been sent to take the letter to town and bring back provisions for the people at Farmington.

“They lived here as early as then. [The enslaved] started construction of this house in 1815 and completed in 1816," she added.

Nichols also noted that in today’s climate, Farmington has much to offer.

“If you would like to know about the history of Kentucky,” she said, “it’s a biracial history. Come to plantations like Farmington, who are telling the story, who are saying the names. Let us tell you about … Diana and Dinnie, and all the people who lived here. Their stories deserve to be told — they built the commonwealth.”

Howard Steamboat Museum

1101 E Market St., Jeffersonville, Indiana;  howardsteamboatmuseum.org ;  812-283-3728

Tours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday 1-3 p.m. Closed Mondays. Last self-guided tour at 3 p.m., last guided tour at 2:30 p.m. Cost: Adults: $10, Seniors (65+): $8, Students age 6 through college: $6, Children under 6 with an adult: Free

This Jeffersonville gem sits along the Ohio River and offers an interesting look for visitors at the history of steamboats, which were critical to development in Louisville's early days. 

Long before bridges connected Jeffersonville and Louisville, steamboats played a key role in the local economy, and Howard Steamboat Museum education assistant Kadie Engstrom is determined to preserve its history and teach people — both locals and visitors alike — about the Howard family.

James Howard founded the family shipyard in 1834, Engstrom said. When he passed away, his son Edmonds took over, and it was Edmonds and his wife, Laura, who built the gargantuan Richardsonian Romanesque Victorian mansion in Jeffersonville right on the Ohio River.

In addition to intricate woodwork and a one-of-a-kind staircase, Edmond and Laura’s house also had something that no other Jeffersonville home did at the time: electricity.

“They built a generator on the shipyard property,” Engstrom said. “They simply ran a wire across the street and electrified their own house. This house was the very first lighted house in Jeffersonville, and … the only lighted house in [the city] for some time.”

The Howards hired someone to shovel coal into a boiler steam system — under pressure, the steam created energy, and they were then able to illuminate several lights in the house. Engstrom said Laura planned for the house to be electrified, and she had purchased several appropriate lighting fixtures.

Home of the Week: Massive Victorian mansion built in the late 1800s on the Ohio River is a design phenomenon

“This is a great example,” she said, referring to the chandelier in front of the staircase. “[Laura] bought this chandelier out of a catalog. … The round balls, little and big, were all electric light in 1893, just like you see them today. The white things that look like bowls that are pointing upward are illuminating gas jets — today, we'd call that natural gas.

"[Using the gas cock], you can turn on one light at a time and have artificial light by gas; or you can turn out all the lights at one time and literally have as little or as much light as you want to," she said. "[It’s] a very efficient system.”

Locust Grove

561 Blankenbaker Lane, Louisville,  locustgrove.org , 502-897-9845

Tours: The Locust Grove Museum Store and Gallery is open Tuesday–Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Docent-Led House Tours are Thursday-Saturday at 11 a.m., 12:30 and 2 p.m. Self-Guided House Tours are Thursday-Saturday between 10 and 11 a.m., and 3-4 p.m. Cost: Adults, $12, Seniors $10, Children 6-18 years, $6. Gallery only for adults, $6, Children, $3

It doesn't get much more historic than Locust Grove. This brick mansion on Blankenbaker Lane near the Ohio River now showcases life in the 1700s and 1800s and once served as the final home of George Rogers Clark, who founded Louisville in 1778.

Locust Grove was built in 1792 and owned by William Croghan, a surveyor who conducted his business from the home. Croghan’s wife, Lucy Clark Croghan, was the sister of Lieutenant William Clark — one half of the Lewis and Clark Expedition — as well as George Rogers Clark, who founded Louisville in 1778.

“A lot of different (pieces) of American history come together in this space,” said marketing and communications director Hannah Zimmerman said, adding that in addition to being a surveyor, William Croghan was a landowner and enslaver. Over the course of his time at the property, about 70 enslaved workers were at Locust Grove.

“William Croghan’s livelihood was made possible through enslaved labor,” Zimmerman said, pointing out the verdigris — a bright, bluish-green paint color used throughout the home, one of the most expensive paints of the period. “He may have bought the verdigris paint, but it was possible for him to do so because of enslaved labor.”

And Locust Grove is committed to telling the stories and interpreting the lives of the enslaved men, women, and children who lived and worked at the expansive estate.

Home of the Week: Step inside the expansive, historic Locust Grove, the final home of Louisville's founder

"Locust Grove was the home and workplace of dozens of enslaved African Americans during the Croghans’ residency from 1790 to 1849," according to its website. "At the peak of the farm’s operations in 1820, more than 40 enslaved people labored here. ... In 1849, the 22 enslaved individuals remaining at Locust Grove were emancipated by the will of Dr. John Croghan."

Though historians don't know what happened to many people after they left the property, the museum is "committed" to researching and sharing the stories of those enslaved at Locust Grove.

Oxmoor Farm

720 Oxmoor Ave.,  oxmoorfarm.org , 502-426-2126

Tours: By reservation only. Tours are offered on the first Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. and select Saturdays. Cost: Adults, $8, Seniors, $6, Children (ages 6-14), $5 and Children (ages 5 and under), Free.

Originally built by Alexander Scott and Priscilla Christian Bullitt, the home at Oxmoor Farm looks nothing like it did back when it was constructed in 1791. Since then, the massive nine-bedroom structure has housed five generations of Bullitts and been expanded upon to include a Federal-style central brick section, a kitchen wing, a breakfast room, and a second-floor addition, as well as a grand library wing.

Even the second generation of Bullitts wouldn’t recognize the house as it is today, says Oxmoor Farm Curator Shirley Harmon.

“(William and Mildred Bullitt) would recognize all the outbuildings, because they built those,” she said. “We have 13 outbuildings that predate the Civil War; all of those were built in their tenure. … But they would not recognize the sprawling estate that (exists) now.”

As Harmon explains, the original, 1700s part of the house is Virginia colonial architecture.

“(It’s) much like if you've ever been to Colonial Williamsburg,” she said. “A lot of those houses in the core of Mount Vernon are built in this architectural style, with the fireplaces in the corners. They did that for practical reasons; you only had to build one chimney for two fireplaces because they share the same flue. It also gives you more (space) in the room itself because you're not taking up a whole wall with fireplaces.”

The federal-style addition in 1829 featured an entrance that was influenced by the doorway at Farmington Historic Plantation six miles away.

Home of the Week: The historic Oxmoor Farm features massive gardens, largest residential library in Kentucky

“You had about a four-foot protection from the elements,” Harmon said. “If you came up to the front door — and if you’ve been to Farmington, that’s how theirs is, too — with … the steps up, and then (there’s) a nice-sized porch with a little protection from the wind.”

The most stunning addition is also the newest: the library wing, which was built in 1928, is the largest residential library in the Bluegrass State, housing 10,000 volumes.

“The chandeliers are made out of Sicilian oxcart wheels that were electrified,” Harmon added, “(and) the plaster carving on the ceiling was done in Italy and brought over in sections.”

Riverside, Farnsley-Moremen Landing

7410 Moorman Road, Louisville,  riverside-landing.org , 502-935-6809

Tours: Riverside is open for tours Tuesday through Sunday. Al regular tours should be booked in advance. Masks are required inside all buildings to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Vist the website for specific tour details. Cost: Adults, $6, Seniors, $5, Children (ages 6-12), $3, Children under 5, free.   Family Rate is $15 and covers two adults with up to three children under age 18.

In southwest Louisville, Farnsley-Moremen is a popular wedding site these days after the historic 1800s home was purchased by the city and opened to the public in 1993. It's now a park and history museum on a serene 30-acre plot.

On the grounds of Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing, Louisvillians can be seen jogging, walking their dogs, or simply strolling around the area, enjoying the warm weather on a recent spring day. That typical scene is nothing like it was more than a century ago, said Riverside executive director Patti Linn.

“Throughout most of the 19th century,” she said, “there was a riverboat landing here.”

Located 13 miles southwest down the Ohio River from downtown Louisville, the owners of Riverside, which was built in 1837, would trade goods with the people on passing boats, Linn said.

Home of the Week: This historic 1800s Federal-style home sits on picturesque 300-acre park on the Ohio River

“That’s a big part of how that made a successful living. With the advent of the steamboat in about 1811, there was a lot of traffic along the river, and this really was a highway to the world," she added.

Though the land today seems like a rather remote location, in its heyday, Riverside saw a lot of traffic.

“Occasionally,” Linn said, “a boat might stop to take on wood for their boilers ... so, this was kind of a pitstop ... where you could take on supplies and provisions.”

Samuel's House

The Samuels House, 160 South Saint Gregory Church Road, Cox's Creek, Kentucky,  thesamuelshouse.com

Tours: For details, visit  thesamuelshouse.com

What do you do if you grow up in a family legendary for its hospitality, where stories of family ties to the Jesse James gang flow like bourbon? If you’re eighth-generation whiskey maker Rob Samuels of Maker’s Mark Distillery, well, you buy the 200-year-old family home and fling open the doors to bourbon tourists.

The Courier Journal had the chance to step inside the 1820s manor near Bardstown for a sneak preview of The Samuels House, and it was a step into Kentucky's illustrious bourbon history — which is exactly what Rob Samuels and his father, Bill Samuels, Jr., want.

This is "Night at the Museum," bourbon edition, with the home as steeped in the Samuels Maker's Mark legacy as a barrel stave is in whiskey. The Samuels House is a showcase of the family’s whiskey-making roots. And those roots run as deep as the majestic mature trees out front. 

“My namesake Robert Samuels had first made whiskey for George Washington's army,” Rob said during a sneak peek tour. “He brought a 60 gallon still as he moved south and settled in what would eventually become Kentucky on the land grant, so he settled in that area where the house was eventually built in 1784. His grandson John Samuels built the house in 1820.”

You may like: Gangsters & booze: How a bourbon dynasty turned its family home into a tourist destination

Now The Samuels House, located in Cox's Creek, just 40 minutes away from the Maker's Mark Distillery in Loretto, is offering an immersive, only-in-Kentucky experience with overnight lodging at the Federal-style manor home. Presiding over two acres of bluegrass perfection, complete with mature oak trees and horse pastures, the home melds its two-century history with luxury and 21st-century essentials in all the right places. 

Thomas Edison home

729 E. Washington St.,  historiclouisville.com/thomas-edison-house   502-585-5247

Every elementary school student in the U.S. learns about Thomas Edison — but few know about his connection to Louisville, Kentucky.

“We believe that Thomas Edison lived here just from the simple fact that (he mentioned it in) all his super-detailed journals,” explained Vicki Kothrade, executive director of the historic Thomas Edison House in Butchertown. “It was originally built in about 1850; it was a duplex, so the owner rented out the two rooms.”

Edison is thought to have lived at the brick shotgun duplex at 729 E. Washington St. when he was 18 or 19 years old and working as a Western Union telegraph operator at 58 W. Main St. “He was able to walk from here straight on down to there,” Kothrade said. “He worked nights and would stay here during the day.”

The Thomas Edison House was a rental property for many years before the Historic Homes Foundation purchased the shotgun and opened it to the public as a museum in the '90s.

“When HHF purchased the home, they bought it and wanted to reproduce what it looked like, so there are no overhead lights whatsoever in this room,” Kothrade explained, referring to the bedroom that has been set up to look as close as possible to how it did when Edison lived there. “(It) has been recreated to what it looked like during the 1860s.”

Home of the Week: Thomas Edison once called this brick shotgun duplex in Butchertown home

One of the most striking elements in the space is the gold and magenta wallpaper, which is a recreation of the actual wallpaper that was once in the room. When everything in the house was taken down to the studs, a piece of the original wallpaper was discovered and determined to have been there since the 1860s.

“As a historian,” Kothrade said, “I love that we were able to find that little piece, like somebody had the foresight to save a small piece of it for later on.”

In addition to keeping the space period-accurate, there are certain elements that were added specifically as an ode to Edison: his favorite books, including “Les Misérables,” as well as a bin of apples. “We kind of have an homage,” Kothrade said, “because he always talked about his love for apples.”

3110 Lexington Road,  historicwhitehall.org , 502-897-2944

Tours: Whitehall offers guided tours of the mansion Monday through Friday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.You may make advance reservations by calling 502-897-2944. Cost: $5, Children Ages 5 and under are free.

This white brick mansion by Cherokee Gardens is tough to miss. It's believed to have been built in the mid-1800s, though its signature columns inviting guests to the front door were built later. The home has changed hands many times over the years and offers the public a unique look at a slice of Louisville history.

It's known for its two-story portico with columns — but those features were additions to the original structure.

When it was first built more than 160 years ago, "it was just a red-brick farmhouse,” said Whitehall House & Gardens executive director Kristen Lutes. “It was a lot more modest than what you see today.”

According to Lutes, the main part of the mansion now known as Whitehall is thought to have been built around 1855 by John Marshall; over the years, it changed ownership several times and underwent a handful of major renovations.

“It went through several owners until 1909 when John and Betty Middleton bought it,” she said. “They transformed it. … They added the façade, which is probably our signature — the front porch and the columns.”

The Middletons, who wanted a Greek-revival-style mansion, also added a wing on each side of the home as well as one on the back and raised the first-floor ceilings to 14 feet — which lowered the second-floor ceilings to 10 feet. The house also lost its red-brick exterior, which is presumably how it got its name.

Home of the Week: From red-brick farmhouse to iconic Louisville mansion, step inside the historic Whitehall

“We don’t really know for sure,” Lutes explained. “We assume that it was just for the fact that they painted it white. There’s no other real known connection.”

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Anywhere you walk in Lexington, you’re bound to stumble on something historical! Founded in 1775, Lexington is one of the earliest regions in Kentucky and was known as the Athens of the West for its big city artistic charm in the expanding west.

Whether you are searching for relics of past eras and interesting people, examples of architectural worth, or scenes of noteworthy events, you will find plenty of fascinating history here.

Historic Homes of Lexington

Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate

The home of the Great Compromiser, statesman Henry Clay, Ashland sits on acres of beautiful parkland in the Chevy Chase neighborhood. The house is available to tour with preserved architecture from the rebuild in 1857 and family memorabilia and furniture. The grounds at Ashland are as much of an attraction as the house. A certified arboretum and English parterre-style garden, walk around the trails, view the statues, perfectly rowed flowers, and the centuries-old trees. Outdoor exhibits on slaves and women at Ashland are free to view. 

120 Sycamore Road | (859) 266-8581

* Visiting in the fall? Cross the street from Ashland and stroll down Catalpa Road to see the famous gingko trees! *

Mary Todd Lincoln House

Mary Todd, who would become Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, lived in this house until she was 21. On trips home to Lexington to visit her family, Mary Todd and Abe would stay at the house. Family pieces and period antiques as well as personal possessions of Mary Todd are on display. The brick house was built in 1803 and includes a period herb and perennial garden in the backyard. Tours available. 

578 W Main St | (859) 233-9999

Waveland was built in 1847 for Joseph Boone, great-nephew of Daniel Boone. An excellent example of Greek revival architecture in Kentucky, Waveland was an antebellum hemp farm. Along with visiting the house, there are vast gardens, slave quarters, picnic areas and a playground. Waveland is famous for its Christmas activities and its Tuesday Teas. 

225 Waveland Museum Lane | (859) 272-3611

Other Notable Historic Places

McConnell Springs

A city park, McConnell Springs was the site of Lexington’s founding. In 1775, after hearing of the Revolutionary War battle of Lexington and Concord, William McConnell and other surveyors named their campsite Lexington in honor of the battle. Lexington’s birthplace is a 21.5 acre park with walking trails, a spring, and a nature center. 

416 Rebmann Lane | (859) 225-4073 

Courthouse Square

This impressive Richardsonian Romanesque courthouse was built at the turn of the 20 th century, the fifth Fayette County courthouse on this location. Venture inside to view the restored dome ceiling through glass floors, and enjoy the mix-use space, including the Lexington Visitors Center. The park abutting the courthouse is Henry Tandy Centennial Park, named after the African American mason and businessman who did the brickwork for the building. Across from the Visitors Center, you can read more about Henry Tandy and explore a timeline of the history of Lexington.

215 W Main Street | (859) 233-7928

First National Building

Across Upper Street from Courthouse Square stands Lexington’s first skyscraper, the First National Building. When it was built, it was the tallest building between Cincinnati and Atlanta. Today it houses 21c Hotel and Museum. Explore the free art museum or eat at the Lockbox, located in the old safe of the bank. 

167 W Main Street | (859) 899-6800

Lexington Opera House

Officially opened in 1877, the Lexington Opera House was the height of fashion. With seats upholstered in Turkish velvet and over 250 gaslights, the opera house was one of the top regional attraction. With its nineteenth century architectural features beautifully restored, seeing a Broadway show or ballet at the opera house is a unique experience in the city.

401 W Short Street | (850) 233-4567

Loudoun House

Considered one of the finest Gothic Revival houses in the South, the Loudoun House was built in 1849 for Francis Key Hunt. The house is located in the middle of Castlewood Park and is now home to the Lexington Art League, a public art gallery that hosts many events. 

209 Castlewood Drive | (859) 254-7024

The Lexington Cemetery

A great place to walk and get lost in nature and nineteenth century monuments, the Lexington Cemetery is park-like location near downtown. An arboretum and garden, the cemetery contains many monuments to well-known Kentuckians, including Henry Clay’s tomb and monument. The 130-ft structure includes a statue of Clay at the top, facing towards his beloved Ashland Estate. 

* In the spring, you’ll find many locals strolling and taking photos of the cherry blossoms that turn the cemetery pink. *

One of the oldest residential neighborhoods in Lexington, Gratz Park connects downtown to Transylvania University. With homes from the early 1800 to late 1800s lining a green space, Gratz Park is the perfect place to enjoy a stroll in the shade while admiring some of Lexington’s oldest homes.

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Lexington Visitors Center 215 W Main St, Suite 75 Lexington, KY 40507 (800) 845-3959  | (859) 233-7299

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Plan your perfect visit to historic Ashland.  Take a tour, bring a group, explore the grounds, shop, dine at our seasonal café, take in some history, and enjoy year-round natural beauty.

Ashland was Henry Clay’s cherished home for nearly half a century.  His historic estate has been preserved for your discovery today. 

Ashland features a wide variety of year-round programming, exhibits, and events. 

Discover Henry Clay.  He enjoyed a distinguished political career and is still celebrated as an American statesman and the Great Compromiser, known for his impact on the country, Abraham Lincoln, law, and so much more. 

Ashland offers rich resources for educators, researchers, and students.

Support Ashland’s mission by giving, volunteering, and getting involved.  

Learn about the Foundation that owns and operates Ashland.

Hours Year-round

January – closed, april–november tuesday–saturday 10:00 am–3:45 pm sunday 1:00 pm–3:45 pm, march & december tuesday–saturday 10:00 am–3:45 pm, closings: mondays, easter, 4th of july, thanksgiving day, christmas eve & christmas , thank you, friends and donors., with your support the henry clay memorial foundation has for nearly a century continued the work of preserving henry clay's legacy, maintaining a national historic landmark, and educating generations. we appreciate you., become a friend of ashland here, sign up for our e-newsletter.

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In observance of easter, the museum is closed on sunday, march 31..