Abner Gaines House

The Abner Gaines House is a two-and-a-half-story brick structure with Federal-style architecture located in Walton. The residence contains ten carved mantels and three separate staircases distributed throughout its interior spaces.

The house was built in 1814 and served as a stagecoach stop on the first route between Cincinnati and Lexington. Its importance as a travel hub declined as transportation routes and methods evolved over time.

The house displays symmetrical design elements and decorative details that reflect early American building traditions of the 19th century. The interior craftsmanship, including carved mantels and multiple staircases, shows the skilled work of the period.

The building now functions as the Gaines Tavern History Center and offers visitors a look at early 19th-century residential and commercial life. The site provides context for understanding local transportation and domestic practices of the period.

The house remained in the Gaines family for four generations and narrowly escaped demolition in 1897. From 1930 to 1997, it operated as an antiques shop before becoming a history center in 2006.

Location: Boone County

Inception: 1814

Architectural style: Federal architecture

Address: 84 Old Lexington Pike

GPS coordinates: 38.88410,-84.60827

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:25