Frankfort - Kentucky - Culture

ATTRACTIONS

Leestown Company Inc., Home of Ancient Age Distillery
Since 1800's distilling fine bourbon whiskey has been a Kentucky tradition. A tradition that continues at the Leestown Company. Come tour our historic aging warehouses, our log clubhouse and scenic courtyard. You'll come to understand why we take such pride in the unique character and high quality of Ancient Age, while watching a tradition in the making.

Liberty Hall Historic Site
Liberty Hall (1796) is the Federalist style Mansion of Kentucky's first Senator John Brown. This architectural masterpiece from Kentucky's first decade is lavishly decorated with local antiques owned by the four generations of Browns that lived in the house. The grounds contain the largest formal boxwood garden in Kentucky-nearly 3 acres, and beautiful perennial and annual borders.

The Orlando Brown House
The Greek-Revival Orlando Brown House (1835) is the residence designed by Kentucky's most famous architect Gideon Schryock. It is splendidly furnished with antiques owned by the three generations of the Brown family that lived there until 1954. Family portraits, famous Paul Sawyier watercolors, and Duncan Phyfe furniture abound!

Old State Capitol
Operated by the Kentucky Historical Society, this national landmark was Kentucky's seat of government from 1831-1910. Greek Revival structure includes a unique, self-supporting staircase held together by precision and pressure.

Lt. Governor's Mansion
The oldest official executive residence in the U.S. still in use. The federal mansion was home to 33 Kentucky governors from 1798-1914. Seven U.S. presidents visited. Now official residence of the Lieutenant Governor.

Vest-Lindsey House
Early 19th century Federal house was the boyhood home of U.S. Senator George Graham Vest. A noted trial lawyer, Vest is best remembered for his famous "Tribute to the Dog" speech, from which is coined the immortal line, "dog is man's best friend."

Rebecca-Ruth Candy Inc.
Rebecca-Ruth Candy is world famous as the "Originators of Bourbon Candy". This business began in 1919 by two women, Rebecca and Ruth. Today Ruth Booe's family is involved in every aspect of making candy using time proven methods. A tour highlight is "Edna's Table," an 11 foot marble slab. Edna is now retired after over 66 years of candy making. Come see candy made the old fashioned way and ask for your free sample! Rebecca-Ruth Candy, "Now That's Taste!"

Kentucky Military History Museum
Located in the Old State Arsenal (1850) and operated by the Kentucky Historical Society, and the Kentucky National Guard, the museum emphasizes the service of the Kentucky Militia, State Guard, and other volunteer military organizations from the Revolution through Operation Desert Storm. Displays include an impressive collection of firearms, edged weapons, artillery, uniforms, flags and personal equipment that illustrates the Commonwealth's military heritage.

Daniel Boone's Grave at Frankfort Cemetery
Gravesite of Daniel and Rebecca Boone in a setting overlooking the city of Frankfort. Other notables buried in the cemetery are artist Paul Sawyier, Joel T. Hart, Theodore O'Hara and Vice President Richard M. Johnson and seventeen Kentucky Governors. (Buses must park at office. Please no tracings or rubbings)

Kentucky State Capitol
Tour one of the most beautiful capitols in the country. Completed in 1910, the Beaux Arts design features 70 ionic columns, decorative murals and sculptures of Kentucky dignitaries. Also, the First Lady Doll Collection and changing history and culture exhibits are featured on the first floor.

Floral Clock
Planted with thousands of colorful flowering plants, the face of this clock is 34ft. in diameter. Throw a coin into the fountain of the clock for good luck!

Executive Mansion
Located next to the Capitol and overlooking the Kentucky River is the official Governor's residence. The Beaux Arts mansion, constructed of native limestone, was modeled after the Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinette's summer villa. Tour includes the state dining room, ballroom, reception room, and formal salon.

Kentucky State University
Kentucky's only small, liberal studies-oriented public university, founded in 1886. Hume and Jackson Halls, latter with public art gallery, are on the National Register. Carver Hall has King Farouk's Old World Butterfly/ Moth collection. Blazer Library with 340,000 volumes, has special African-American collection and is open to the public. Athletic events, concerts, art exhibits, theater, public lectures in season. Facilities available for meetings and conferences.

Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Overlooking the city, the names of the Kentuckians killed in Vietnam are etched in granite beneath the memorial sundial, with the point of the gnomon's shadow actually touching the veteran's name on the anniversary of his death. Recognized as one of the most original and unusual memorials in the nation.

Scenic Overlook
Scenic overlook allows visitors a panoramic view of the quaint city of Frankfort and the State Capitol which sits nestled in the Kentucky River valley.

Salato Wildlife Education Center & Game Farm
Two public fishing lakes, picnic areas, shelters and official watchable wildlife site. Salato Wildlife Education Center offers interpretive and interactive displays and exhibits on native fish, wildlife and plants. Live wildlife exhibits in native habitat with scheduled educational programs for children and adults year-round. Special weekend events. Kentucky Afield Gift Shop open during Center hours. Hunting and fishing licenses available. Hours: Tue.-Sat. 9:00a.m.-4:00p.m., Sun. 1:00p.m.-5:00p.m. Game Farm Grounds open sunrise to sunset daily.

Buckley Wildlife Sanctuary
Fill your senses with Kentucky's natural splendor. Observe wildlife from our biodiverse bird blind, 3 hiking trails, and numerous events. Operated by the National Audubon Society, our fields, forests, and wet areas are a haven for over 100 birds, 24 mammals, and 190 wildflowers. 275 acres including hiking trails, nature center and bird blind.

Kentucky Outdoor Center
Kentucky Outdoor Center offers the largest retailing selection of paddlesports equipment (canoes, rafts and kayaks). They outfit caving, climbling, camping, bicycling and fishing trips. The Kentucky Outdoor Center provides "human-powered adventures" throughout their state-wide network.

Starway Family Fun Park
Open April - October. 18 Hole Minature Golf Course featuring waterfalls, winding streams and bridges. Go-cart track offers winding road course with single and double seat go carts. Half-scale model NASCAR's on tri-oval course. Child's Playland with picnic areas, concession stand and arcade room. Petting zoo on selected weekends.

Kentucky History Center - It's Phenomenal!
The Kentucky History Center is a 167,000 square foot facility that showcases all that's best about Kentucky's past, present and future. Permanent and temporary exhibits, a museum store and the genealogical research library of the Kentucky Historical Society make this truly Kentucky's new "home for history"!

Berry Hill Mansion
Built in 1900, by George Franklin Berry, a prominent distiller, this Georgian Revival mansion is situated on a bluff overlooking the State Capital. The most outstanding feature is an elaborate music room built in Gothic Revival style, with pipes rising behind an intricately carved oak grill, with a massive cathedral organ. Wood carvers spent two years carving ornamentation for this one room; includes bay windows, stained glass, and a library balcony.

Farnham Dudgeon Civic Center
This beautiful facility is centrally located and easily accessible from I-64. It has 10,000 square feet of exhibit space, seating capacity of 5,365 for sporting events, 5,047 for concerts/assemblies, 800 for banquets and three meeting rooms. Off site facilities include a hotel within walking distance and major airport 24 miles east of Frankfort.

Leslie Morris Park on Fort Hill
The Leslie Morris Park on Fort Hill is Frankfort's newest historical attraction. The park is a large tract of forest in the center of Kentucky's capital city. It is the site of two Civil War earthwork forts-Fort Boone and the New Redoubt. A detachment of Confederate General John Hunt Morgan's raiders attacked Fort Boone in 1864. Local citizens successfully defended the fort. Among the defenders was the pro-Union governor of Kentucky. The park offers a self-guided walking tour through the earthworks and spectacular views of downtown Frankfort. Visitors can see an exhibit about the forts and obtain tour brochures at the Fort Hill Visitor Center in the Old Capitol Annex, 300 Broadway.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Zeigler-Brockman House
Frank Lloyd Wright, recognized as the greatest American architect, designed his only house built in Kentucky for the Rev. Jesse R. Zeigler. The 1910 "prairie style" house, now completely restored by Jim & Jane Brockman, has a lighted, stained glass case surrounding the fireplace at the ceiling, the only one designed by Wright during his prairie period. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Visitor's Center/Gooch House
This restored Queen Anne styled house is headquarters for the Frankfort/Franklin County Tourist & Convention Commission and Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Frankfort, Inc. A hostess will provide maps, brochures, and information on dining, lodging, and attractions. Come see us!

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