Kentucky Museums and Memorials

Preserving Kentucky's Past

From Muhammad Ali to "Father of Bluegrass" Bill Monroe, Kentucky’s multifaceted heritage is kept alive at dozens of world-class museums around the state. Hear the strains of Kentucky’s musical history at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Owensboro, and learn about the artists who changed music forever at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Renfro Valley. Celebrate the champions of horse racing at the Kentucky Derby Museum, and experience a different kind of horsepower at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, the only place in the world where "America's sports car" is manufactured.

 

Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky, as was his future wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. You can visit many historic sites and house museums related to both families along the Kentucky Lincoln Heritage Trail. Louisville is home to several state-of-the-art museums; explore the life of “The Greatest” at the Muhammad Ali Center, or delve into Kentucky’s bourbon history (and many more topics) at the Frazier History Museum.

 

And if that weren’t enough, the commonwealth's repository, the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in Frankfort and smaller museums around the state offer glimpses into Kentucky people, places and stories. From the American Cave Museum to the Historic RailPark & Train Museum, there is no shortage of fascinating experiences in the Bluegrass State.

Trip Inspiration

Historic Sites in Kentucky

The many historical places in Kentucky reflect the diverse heritage of our state. Visit Hodgenville and walk the hallowed grounds of the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. At Harrodsburg and Boonesborough, watch history come alive as costumed interpreters portray life on the rugged frontier in pre-Revolutionary War forts. And immerse yourself in Kentucky’s complex Civil War stories at sites ranging from battlefields to cemeteries to house museums. 

 

Kentucky was shaped by its many waterways, and visiting Ohio River towns like Paducah, Maysville and Ashland will offer a glimpse into how the river brought life to the young state. Learn about Kentucky coal mining history and the important role coal has played in Kentucky’s industrial and cultural heritage by visiting Appalachian Mountain mining towns like Benham and Lynch. And explore fascinating Kentucky Main Streets to find unique artwork, antiques and other relics of Kentucky’s past.

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