Open Travel Guide
History of Kentucky

Kentucky History & Heritage Guide 2026

The history of Kentucky told through its places: sites worth the detour and the context they need.

Kentucky has 7+ historical sites covered in this guide, led by Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill and Fort Boonesborough State Park. Each entry below includes the practical details — what it costs, when to go, and how to plan around it.

Kentucky is a landlocked state of the American South and Midwest, celebrated worldwide for bourbon whiskey, thoroughbred horse racing, and a remarkable cave system beneath its rolling bluegrass hills. From Louisville's vibrant restaurant scene to the Daniel Boone National Forest's sandstone arches, and from the bourbon distilleries of the Bluegrass Region to the cultural traditions of Appalachian Eastern Kentucky, the Bluegrass State offers a deeply American journey through heritage, nature, and culinary culture.

Historical sites

Places where Kentucky's past comes alive.

Historic

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park

Where: Hodgenville

Admission: Adult: Free (≈$0 USD) | Child: Free

Historic

Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill

Where: Harrodsburg

Admission: Adult: $25 (≈$25 USD) | Child: $10 (≈$10 USD)

Historic

Fort Boonesborough State Park

Where: Richmond

Admission: Adult: $10 (≈$10 USD) | Child: $6 (≈$6 USD, ages 6-12)

Historic

Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site

Where: Perryville

Admission: Adult: $5 (≈$5 USD) | Child: Free under 6

Historic

My Old Kentucky Home State Park (Federal Hill)

Where: Bardstown

Admission: Adult: $8 (≈$8 USD) | Child: $4 (≈$4 USD, ages 6-12)

Historic

Waveland State Historic Site

Where: Lexington

Admission: Adult: $8 (≈$8 USD) | Child: $4 (≈$4 USD, ages 6-12)

Historic

Kentucky History Center (Frankfort)

Where: Frankfort

Admission: Adult: $10 (≈$10 USD) | Child: Free under 6

Museums

Curated collections that tell Kentucky's story.

Museum

Muhammad Ali Center

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM, Sunday noon - 5:00 PM

Admission: Adult: $16 (≈$16 USD) | Child: $8 (≈$8 USD)

Museum

The Filson Historical Society

Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM - noon

Admission: Adult: Free (≈$0 USD) | Child: Free

Museum

Headley-Whitney Museum

Hours: Wednesday-Friday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Saturday-Sunday noon - 5:00 PM

Admission: Adult: $12 (≈$12 USD) | Child: Free under 12