Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History, Whiskey history museum in Bardstown, Kentucky, United States
The Oscar Getz Museum is a museum in Bardstown, Kentucky dedicated to American whiskey and bourbon heritage. The collection spans thousands of bottles, documents, and objects that illustrate how spirits were produced, sold, and regulated across different periods.
Spalding Hall was built in 1826 and originally served as an educational institution before the Civil War brought it new purposes as a hospital. The building later became the home for this collection, preserving two centuries of American alcohol production and trade.
The museum reflects how whiskey shaped American life and settlement patterns, particularly in Kentucky where distilling became central to the region's identity. Visitors encounter objects that reveal the social and economic importance of spirits production in everyday communities.
The museum is straightforward to navigate with clear displays throughout the space. Taking time to read the informative labels helps visitors understand the context and significance of individual pieces in the broader story.
The collection includes actual prescriptions for medicinal alcohol from the Prohibition era when drinking was banned by law. These documents reveal an unusual loophole that allowed people to legally obtain spirits despite the nationwide ban.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
