About
Elizabethtown, founded in 1779, is full of history from the Native Americans and pioneer settlers, to the Civil War and beyond. If you enjoy history you will enjoy a trip to Elizabethtown.
E-town, as we call it, features many wonderful museums like the Schmitt Coca Cola Memorabilia museum, The Swope Cars of Yesteryear, and the Emma Reno Connor Black History Gallery. The community also has strong ties to Abraham Lincoln. His father assisted in building a log cabin that sits beside Freeman Lake Park in the heart of E’town. The newest edition to the downtown area is the Hardin County History Museum. Exhibits regard minerals, early settlers, medicine, civil war, local schools, local military personnel, etc. The building in which the museum is housed is on the national historic register.
The Elizabethtown Downtown Heritage Council sponsors events year round such as the October Ghost Walk, Breakfast with Santa, Christmas Parade, and Light Up Downtown in November, Christmas Tea in December, and Christmas In The Park from late November through the end of December. One of our newest events is the Dinner with the Dearly Departed, the Saturday before Memorial Day weekend. This event hosts a catered meal in our 200-year-old City Cemetery. Several re-enactors portray prominent citizens who are buried in the cemetery.
The story of the cannon ball is one of Elizabethtown’s most interesting. Be sure to check it out while you are in town. A Historic Downtown Costumed Walking Tour takes place each summer from June through September, every Thursday night at 7:00 p.m.on the downtown Square. Local community members dress up and portray different characters such as Philip Arnold, Ginny Lynn, General Custer, etc.
Come and see what Elizabethtown has in store for you! For more information on the community and its history, contact the Elizabethtown Tourism and Convention Bureau at 1-800-437-0092.