10 History Museums in Kentucky That You Shouldn't Miss

Liberty Hall Historic Site was the home of one of Kentucky's most important families. The site contains two houses: Liberty Hall (1796) built by John Brown, one of Kentucky's first United States Senator and the Orlando Brown House (1835), designed by Gideon Shryock, and owned by Senator Brown's second son. The site also includes more than 4 acres of manicured grounds and flower gardens. Guided tours Mon-Sun at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. mid-Mar to mid-Nov. Tours start at steps to Liberty Hall, 218 Wilkinson Street. In 1971 the federal government designated Liberty Hall as a National Historic Landmark. The site is a non-profit educational organization owned by The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The Filson was founded on May 15, 1884, by ten Louisvillians with a common love of history. The primary founder and first president was Reuben T. Durrett. The Filson’s mission is to collect, preserve, and tell the significant stories of Kentucky and Ohio Valley history and culture.

Hopemont, is a house museum that will be of interest to history, architecture, Civil War, and decorative arts enthusiasts. John Wesley Hunt, the first millionaire west of the Allegheny Mountains, constructed the Federal-style dwelling in 1814 for his urban residence. Henrietta Morgan, Hunt's daughter and mother of renowned Confederate general John Hunt Morgan, inherited the property in 1849. Hopemont features a collection of early Kentucky furniture, antique porcelain, and 19th-century paintings, which convey the status and tastes of the Hunt and Morgan families, who lived there from 1814 until 1891. Also on display are installations about hemp and the Civil War relative to Kentucky, Lexington, the Hunt and Morgan families, and the property itself. Hopemont also boasts a beautiful garden and a 19th-century carriage house.

The Old Capitol is privvy to some of Kentucky's speckled history. Free guided and self-guided tours are available.

Built in 1792, Locust Grove, a three story brick Georgian home, is the final home of General George Rogers Clark, the founder of Louisville, and conqueror of the Old Northwest Territory. The house was built by his sister Lucy Croghan and her husband William Croghan who raised 8 children here and hosted their brother William Clark, of Lewis and Clark fame, as well as Presidents Monroe, Jackson and Taylor, Vice President Arron Burr, statesmen such as Cassius Clay, and several artists including John James Audubon. This National Historic Landmark has been restored to reflect the elegance of General Clark's time at Locust Grove. The 55 acres of gardens, fields and woodlands are open for exploration daily.

This wonderful Museum, Paducah's oldest and ONLY general history Museum, is housed in the block long 1905 Market House in the center of Paducah's historic downtown area. The Museum houses some of the finest and most unusual artifacts in the area, which illustrate Paducah's rich cultural and historic heritage. Explore a time line beginning with Native American residents, through Paducah's founding by famous explorer William Clark in 1827, and view the original hand drawn town maps and land grants signed by Clark. A superb, colorful Old Paris wedding vase, given as a wedding present to Clark by the Marquis deLafayette, is also on display. Also experience the magnificence of the complete DuBois Robertson Drug Store golden oak woodwork interior... a hand carved masterpiece from 1877...and gaze through the colorful panes of the original stained glass windows. On permanent display is the town's first motorized fire truck (a 1913 LaFrance!) Experience an extensive Civil War display including furniture used by the Lincoln's, as well as Generals US Grant and Lew Wallace while they were in Paducah (Wallace was of Ben Hur fame.) A very special quilt made by Mrs Robert E Lee is also on display. A Kentucky Orphan's reunion ribbon insignia display is always a favorite, as well as elaborate hoop skirt dresses, beautiful rosewood furniture and a stately antique lamp with pigeon's blood shade, once owned by Paducahan John T Scopes' grandmother (of the Scopes Monkey Trial fame.) A 'Kentucky Headline' exhibit depicts the sad plight of Floyd Collins, who was tragically trapped and died in a cave. The story caught the breathless attention of the nation in 1925. Our 'Hall of Heroes', designed in 2013, honors Paducah firefighters, law enforcement and military personnel. Newly opened in 2014 is the Alben W. Barkley Memorial Room, honoring the Paducah area native who was 35th Vice President under Harry S. Truman. The exhibit is in a separate room, and devoted entirely to personal artifacts and belongings of Barkley, including his 1898 'surrey with the fringe on top', his inaugural tophat, as well as lovely, century old furniture from the home in Paducah, called 'ANGLES'. The first ever Vice Presidential flag and items from his Paducah law office and Washington political career are also on display. The Museum prides itself on now being Paducah's Barkley destination! A small but tastefully stocked gift shop is on premises and carries items of educational content, books, puzzles, etc., as well as ephemera and souvenirs. PLEASE NOTE: The Museum is sometimes closed on major holiday Saturdays, so please call ahead for verification. The facility closes for the winter season Dec 15th and reopens the first Saturday in March. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10-4, CST.

Open seasonally March 15th - November 30th. Discover one of America's most fascinating first ladies during a visit to her girlhood home. The wife of President Abraham Lincoln grew up in this house. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln visited her family here. Today the fourteen room house contains period furniture, portraits, and furnishings. The property is located in downtown Lexington. Convenient walking distance to local hotels and restaurants. The museum is open for self-guided tours, limited capacity, and timed entry to promote distance between guests. Closed Thanksgiving Day. Free parking is located directly behind the house. Guests may park in the museum’s designated parking or in the neighboring lot behind Main Street Baptist Church. Metered parking also available on Main Street.