My Old Kentucky Home State Park

My Old Kentucky Home State Park is a historic estate with a museum in Bardstown, Kentucky. The building displays Federal-period architecture with tall ceilings, wood paneling, and several rooms furnished with items from the early nineteenth century.

Judge John Rowan built the house in 1795 as a residence later used as a plantation. The state of Kentucky acquired the grounds in the 1930s and made it the first state shrine.

The property takes its name from Foster's song and now serves as a museum of early nineteenth-century upper-class life. Visitors experience rooms and furnishings as they once appeared, including handcrafted cherry and mahogany furniture.

The park opens daily and provides guided tours of the interior along with walks through the gardens. A visitor center with information on the history stands at the entrance and the pathways are mostly level ground.

The original kitchen still stands on the grounds with implements and hearths from around 1800. A large collection of silver objects from Kentucky workshops shows the craftsmanship of the region at that time.

Location: Kentucky

Inception: 1936

Architects: John Rowan

Email: myoldkentuckyhome@ky.gov

Website: https://parks.ky.gov/explore/my-old-kentucky-home-state-park-7821

GPS coordinates: 37.80734,-85.45411

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:31