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      You'll be swept away by warmth and beauty when you visit historic Bardstown, Kentucky. Home to more than 7,000 people, our community welcomes you to a city filled with visions of the past that echo into the future.
      William Bard arrived in the area known as Salem in 1780 as agent for his brother David and John C. Owings. Based on a land grant of 1,000 acres from the Virginia General Assembly, Bard sectioned off the town. The first courthouse, made of hewn logs, was built in 1785 in this city named Baird's Town ( a derivative of the family name). It was designated Bardstown in 1788 when the city was incorporated.
        Today, Bardstown is especially noted for its many old homes steeped in tradition. More than 300 of its buildings are listed on the National Historic Register. It is the site of the original Kentucky Court of Appeals and center of the distilling industry in Kentucky because of an abundance of lime in its water supply. Bardstown was recently listed in Norman Crampton's book as one of the 100 Best Small Towns in America.
       Historic Bardstown is found in Nelson County, which was formed in 1784 by the General Assembly of Virginia. It was the fourth county erected in the district of Kentucky and named in honor of ex-governor Thomas Nelson of Virginia.
Stephen Foster, The Musical
P.O. Box 546, Hwy. 150, Drama Drive, Bardstown, KY 40004, J. Dan Talbott Amphitheatre, My Old Kentucky Home State Park. 502-348-5971 or 1-800-626-1563. Open Jun 13 - Sep 6, 1998, nightly at 8:00 except Mondays, Sat matinee, indoor theatre at 2:00 p.m. Adults $15.00, children 7 - 12 $7.00, children 6 and under free. Group rates available. A spectacular musical based on the life of America's first great composer, with a professional cast of nearly 50. Features many of Foster's most popular songs including "Oh! Susanna," and "My Old Kentucky Home."

My Old Kentucky Home State Park
     Open daily Sept - May, 9 - 4:45; June - Aug, 8:30 - 6:15; Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas week and New Year's Eve & Day. Federal Hill was the inspiration for Stephen Foster's ballad "My Old Kentucky Home." Today this Bardstown mansion is as endearing to visitors as it was in 1852 when Foster was inspired to write the song. Step into the days of the antebellum South as costumed guides escort you through the stately Mansion.


St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral
310 W. Stephen Foster Ave., Constructed 1816-1819, this is the first Catholic cathedral west of the Allegheny Mountains. A National landmark listed by the U.S. Library of Congress. This historic edifice contains fine paintings, gifts of Francis I, King of the Two Sicilies, and Pope Leo XII.
Wickland, Home of Three Governors
Hwy. 62 E., 1/2 mile from Court Square, 502-348-5428 Contact: Sara Trigg Open Mon - Sat, 9 - 6, Sun 12:30 - 6. Closed on major holidays. Adults $3.50, group rates $2.50. Superb architecture - stairs to third floor are exceptional,unusual antique furniture, double parlors with matching mirrors. Built in 1817. *Not accessible
Old Bardstown Village Civil War Museum
310 E. Broadway, Bardstown, KY 40004 502-349-0291 or 502-348-5204 Contact: Rita Herrmann Open Mar 1 - Dec 14, Tue - Sat, 10 - 5, Sun, 12 - 5. Adults $5.00, Children (7-12) $2.50, group rates and seniors $4.00. Civil War Museum accurately depicting this time in history are authentic uniforms, weapons, battle flags, maps, documents etc. Tours available.