Constitution Square State Historic Site
134 South Second Street
859.239.7089
www.parks.ky.gov/findparks/histparks/cs
brenda.willoughby@ky.gov
Constitution Square State Historic Site was the birthplace of Kentucky's statehood. In 1776, Kentucky was still a frontier and a county of Virginia. The Wilderness Road, blazed by Daniel Boone, led pioneers through the Cumberland Gap and into Central Kentucky. Danville's prominent location on the Wilderness Road caused it to become a crossroad for early settlers, and a center of political activity.
By 1785, Danville was chosen as Kentucky's first seat of government, and a meetinghouse, courthouse, and jail were built to administer the growing territory. Still bound to Virginia laws, though, several Danville citizens formed the political club that recognized the need for a convention to discuss statehood.
Between 1784-1792, ten constitutional conventions took place at the courthouse of Constitution Square. In 1790, Kentucky delegates accepted Virginia's terms for separation from the state.
On June 1, 1792, Kentucky became the fifteenth state in the union, and Isaac Shelby, a Revolutionary War hero, was named the first Governor of the Commonwealth.
The park hosts many special events throughout the year, such as the Constitution Square Arts Fest on the second weekend in September. It is open year-round, and there is no admission charged for self-guided tours. Guided tours are available for a fee and by appointment only.
Jail
One of the first directives of the Kentucky Supreme Court was the construction of a jail. Like the replica at the site today, the original jail was a formidable stockade, constructed with 9-inch thick logs.
Post Office
This original building, built pre-1792, served as the first post office west of the Allegheny Mountains. The first mail was delivered on November 3, 1792.
Watts-Bell House
This house, circa 1816-1817, was built by William Watts for leading Danville merchant David Bell. Like the Fisher's Row houses adjacent to it, the Watts-Bell house is constructed of brick in the Flemish bond pattern.
Alban Goldsmith House
This circa 1820 brick house was the residence of Dr. Alban Goldsmith. Dr. Goldsmith was a pupil and assistant to Dr. Ephraim McDowell, whose home is located opposite Constitution Square on Second Street. Goldsmith assisted Dr. McDowell when he performed the first successful ovariotomy on Jane Todd Crawford in 1809, pioneering abdominal surgery. This building houses Constitution Square's Museum Store, with Kentucky handcrafts, souvenirs and educational/genealogical books and items.
The Constitution Square Courthouse
The original log courthouse, completed in 1785, housed the Supreme Court of the District of Kentucky and the constitutional conventions which led to statehood. A replica of the original courthouse stands on this site today.
Meetinghouse
A meetinghouse was erected in 1784 under the direction of the Reverend David Rice. It housed the Concorde Presbyterian Congregation of the first Presbyterians in Kentucky. A replica of this building stands on this site today.
Fisher's Row
The two, two-story brick houses are joined by a common wall. These row houses were built in 1817 by Jeremiah Fisher for use as rental property.
Schoolhouse
The first brick schoolhouse west of the Alleghenies, circa 1820, now serves as a private residence. Closed to the public.
Grayson's Tavern
This original tavern was built in 1785 by Benjamin Grayson. The tavern was often the meeting place for the Political Club and the scene of many heated debates about issues concerning statehood. Currently home to the tourism office.
The Governor's Circle
A bronze statue depicting the state seal is the centerpiece in a circle of plaques dedicated to each Kentucky governor. The state insignia depicts two friends embracing, representing the motto "United We Stand, Divided We Fall."
Isaac Shelby Cemetery State Historic Site
Isaac Shelby (1750-1826), Kentucky's first and fifth governor, acquired land south of Danville as payment for a surveying job. He achieved fame for his service in the Revolutionary War and War of 1812, and he remained active in national political affairs until his death at the age of 76. He is buried at his estate, "Traveler's Rest." The cemetery is on Knob Lick Pike, 5.5 miles south of Danville on US 127.
Genealogy Information, Convention and Visitors Bureau
105 E. Walnut Street
859-236-7794
http://www.bcga2.org
cgtree1492@ctreeacres.com
Boyle County, Kentucky, was formed in 1842 from the southern portion of Mercer County. Mercer County had been formed in 1786 from a part of Lincoln County. Lincoln County was one of the three original Kentucky counties formed from Kentucky County, Virginia, in 1780. The main migration route to Lincoln County was through the Cumberland Gap from Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. We recommend that you confirm all hours of operation for the offices listed below. Also, obtaining permission from land owners before visiting cemeteries on private property is advisable. Please close gates that you have used on the property.
Boyle County Area (County Seat: Danville); Boyle County Courthouse (Clerk's Office); West Main Street 859.238.1110
Boyle County Public Library; Broadway & North Third Street 859.236.8466
Boyle County Genealogical Association;Carolyn Crabtree, President, 2410 Chestnut Grove Road, Parksville, KY 40464; 859.236.1069 Doherty Library at Centre College; 625 West Walnut Street; 859.238.5272
Forkland Community Genealogy Resource Center; Shirley Sheperson, 859.936.2061
Jones Surname Museum/Genealogical Resources and Library and Military Medals Museum; 243 North Third Street 866.453.5466 jonesgenealogist@aol.com
Perryville Battlefield Museum; Battlefield Road, Perryville 859.332.8631
Perryville Civil War Reference Area Location: Perryville Community Center, Buell St.; Perryville, KY 40468 Phone: 859-332-1862
Genealogy Web Site: http://www.bcga2.org
Lincoln County Area (County Seat: Stanford; Lincoln County Courthouse (Clerk's Office)) Location: 102 E. Main Street; Stanford, Kentucky Phone: 606-365-4570
Harvey Helm Memorial Library Location: Stanford; Phone: 606-365-7513
Mercer County Area (County Seat: Harrodsburg); Mercer County Clerk's Office -- Location: 235 Main St. (Annex across from Courthouse); Harrodsburg, KY Phone: 859-734-6310
Mercer County Public Library -- Location: 109 W. Lexington St; Harrodsburg, KY 40330; Phone: 859-734-3680
Harrodsburg/Mercer County Research Library
Harrodsburg Historical Society -- Location: 220 S. Chiles Street; Harrodsburg, KY 40330; Phone: 859-734-5985
Historic Merchants Row
Buell Street
Perryville, Kentucky
859.332.1862
www.downtownperryville.com
vicki@downtownperryville.com
Perryville's historic Merchants Row is a series of original 1800s buildings with restaurant, gift shops, and museums in historic downtown Perryville. Fabric art depicting Perryville just before the Civil War battle began is displayed in the Community Center.
Picture it. Perryville, Kentucky 1862. A bustling strip of mercantile buildings and general stores, a post office, drug store and doctor's office; parents and children crossing the street; farmers loading wagons with supplies; the picture of a healthy, yet vibrant agrarian community. Substitute the wagons for cars and pave the roads.
The picture of Perryville, Kentucky 2010 is not much different. The same quaint, wooden buildings continue to house a variety of consumer shops. The noise of children playing can still be heard along the Chaplin River, and the sight of local residents bustling along the street is still an everyday image.
Merchants' Row has long been a cornerstone of life in Perryville. Indeed, many of these buildings played a significant role in the aftermath of the Battle of Perryville. The unique blend of civilian and military stories found in this town makes Perryville's history standout nationally. In addition, Merchants' Row is one of the only, intact 19th-century mercantile districts in the nation.
Historic Walking and Driving Tour
Danville/Boyle County859.236.7794www.danvillekentucky.comCome explore our history, our charming old homes, our Bluegrass back roads, our parks and our friendly people on the historic walking and driving tour.
Jacobs Hall, Kentucky School for the Deaf
Second Street859.239.7017 ext. 2801www.ksd.k12.ky.usbmelton@ksd.k12.ky.usJacobs Hall is a restored Italianate structure on the campus of Kentucky School for the Deaf (KSD), the first school of its kind in the nation, and was completed in 1857 by John McMurtry of Lexington. McMurtry was associated with his son-in-law, Major Thomas Lewinski, who drew the plans. Major Lewinski was the same architect for two other central Kentucky landmarks, The Ashland, Henry Clay's estate in Lexington, and The White Hall, the home of Cassius Marcellus Clay in Richmond.
In 1966, Jacobs Hall was designated a National Historic landmark by the U.S. Department of Interior. Jacobs Hall was constructed of hand-made bricks, choice extra-thick lumber and all other items of the best quality so that very little upkeep was necessary. The cost of the building was said to be $39,650.44, and the State of Kentucky acquired it for $17,500 plus the sale of land in Florida which was a land grant to the school by U.S. Congress in 1826.
The Italianate Renaissance-style building, which now houses KSD's museum, has served as a classroom building, a girls dormitory and residence for teachers and various other staff members in past decades.
It was named for John Adamson Jacobs, third superintendent of the school, who worked at Kentucky School for the Deaf for 44 years. He rode horseback from Danville to Hartford, Connecticut, to study methods of educating deaf children under the tutelage of Laurent Clerc, first deaf teacher in America, and Thomas H. Gallaudet, founder/principal of the first school for the deaf in the country at the American School for the Deaf. It took thirty days to reach Hartford, where he remained one year and returned to Danville riding the same white horse. It is believed that Jacobs Hall was the first building designed and constructed for use by deaf persons in the United States.
The recently finished renovations have received the Cecil Dulin Wallace award for Preservation given by the Heart of Danville and the Ida Lee Willis Preservation Project Award from the Heritage Council of Kentucky. The museum is open weekdays.
JFC Museum
1369 Stanford Avenue859.236.7057 or 859.236.3442www.bellsouthpwp.net/r/o/rocktown/jfcdanny@bellsouth.netThe JFC Museum specializes in fossils, rocks, Native American artifacts, and antiques and serves the community of Danville and the surrounding counties. A 40-year private collection of "where the past meets the present" is on display.
It is believed that the land that the museum sits on is one of the earliest settlements in Danville, dating back to 1774. It is likely that this site was the location of Clark's Station owned first by George Clark and William Whitley and later by Sam Ferrel.
The JFC Museum is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. or by appointment during the week. School children are welcome. In addition, the Museum is always looking for more information on the history of Danville, so if you have any information or old newspaper clippings, please contact the Museum by email or phone.
Jones Surname Museum/Genealogical Resources and Library and Jones Military Medals Museum
243 North Third Street866.453.5466www.thegoldenlionbb.comjonesgenealogist@aol.comThe Jones Surname Museum/Genealogical Resources and Library and the Jones Military Medals Museum provides genealogical resources to those interested in researching the JONES surname and other difficult surnames.
The home's library, museums, and research center are centered around the private collections of Dr. Jerry Jones, a genealogist who has researched the JONES surname for more than thirty years. These offer our visitors a unique atmosphere in which to indulge their genealogical interests for an afternoon, day, or even a weekend!
Open daily from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. by appointment. Admission is free.
The Great American Doll House Museum
6th Street, Danville, KY859-583-8000www.thedollhousemuseum.comlori@thedollhousemuseum.comLocated in a 1939 WPA historic building, the Great American Doll House Museum contains hundreds of buildings, large and small, of various time periods in history. The museum is full of activity with both a play and educational center, as well as outdoor landscaped gardens. Shopping available as well.
McDowell House and Apothecary Shop
125 South Second Street859.236.2804www.mcdowellhouse.commcdhse@kih.netDr. Ephraim McDowell made medical history on Christmas morning 1809. From the early frontier town of Danville, he became world-renowned as the "Father of Abdominal Surgery."
Without the benefit of anesthetic and antisepsis, he performed the first successful removal of an ovarian tumor. Jane Todd Crawford, a pioneer woman, was his patient. Today the carefully restored McDowell House, apothecary shop, and gardens stand on their original site.
The house and shop contain furnishings of the period, some of which are family connected. A guided tour of the house and grounds will inform visitors of Dr. McDowell's accomplishments and remind them of another era when America was new. Open daily 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1 p.m.-4 p.m., Sundays 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Closed Mondays from November 1 to March 1, Thanksgiving and Christmas Days.
Penns Store
257 Penn's Store Road859.332.7715 or 859.332.7706www.pennsstore.compennsstore@aol.comATTENTION: Due to recent severe flooding, the store will be closed until further notice. We are sorry for the inconvenience to our wonderful visitors, but do hope you will be patient with us. Thank you.
A store site since 1845 and in the Penn family since 1850, Penn's Store is the oldest country store in America in continuous ownership and operation by the same family. You are most welcome to come by, sit a spell and visit an American original.
Penn's Store also served as the community's first post office, opening on November 7, 1882, with the postmark reading, "Rollings, Kentucky." The postal section adjacent to the main store room displays some memorabilia from those earlier days.
Inside the store, the sagging floor and shelves, hand rubbed countertops, and glass showcases are testaments to its history and age. Large spike nails in the ceiling, from which rolls of bologna hung in past years, are now used to hang herbs gathered from the herbal gardens next to the store. On cold days, the Warm Morning Model 521 wood/coal stove provides solace for those coming by to sit a spell or to trade. A cigar box is still used for the cash register.
Penn's Store is a "meeting place" for folks from everywhere. Nestled in the unique Knob Region of central Kentucky known as Forkland, Penn's Store continues providing services to local descendants of pioneering families that settled in the area in the 1700s, as well as the newcomers that have more recently "settled-in" the area.
Special events include
Kentucky Writers' Day, Penn's Store Great Outhouse Blowout and Cruise-In and "Picking and Singing" on the last Sunday afternoon of each month from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Penn's Privy gained national attention October 17, 1992, for being the first restroom facilities at Penn's Store. The dedication ceremonies were conducted by world-renowned guitarist Chet Atkins and songwriter Billy Ed Wheeler. Outhouse memorabilia is available.
A variety of
herbal gardens flourish for your browsing pleasure: Medicinal, Tea, Butterfly, Kitchen, Flowering, Moon, as well as native plants.
Introducing
M. W. PENN & Company Herbals offering a wide variety of aromatic, culinary, and medicinal herbs, herbal soaps, sachets, vinegars, as well as items to create your own herbal treasures.
The nearby
North Rolling Fork River and
Little South Creek provide a haven for swimmers, rock hounds, fishermen and water lovers of all ages.
Impromptu entertainment is not uncommon. At any given time, one may find whittlers, fiddlers, singers, musicians, and storytellers sharing their talents at Penn's Store. "Picking and Singing" occurs on the last Sunday afternoon of each month from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site
1825 Battlefield Road859.332.8631 or 859.332.1862parks.ky.gov/findparks/histparks/pbkurt.holman@ky.govPerryville Battlefield is the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. A Confederate campaign to "free" Kentucky was launched in 1862 under the direction of General Braxton Bragg, Army of Tennessee, CSA. Twelve thousand soldiers under General E. Kirby Smith fought northward, and by the end of August, controlled the central part of Kentucky. Bragg then moved his army with the intention of linking forces with Smith's, thereby gaining control of the entire state.
Union forces in Kentucky under Major General Don Carlos Buell, raced toward Louisville to save the major Union supply base from capture. Bragg let Buell beat him to Louisville, giving Buell a tactical advantage.
Thwarted temporarily, Bragg moved into Central Kentucky to join Smith, and Buell followed close behind. The opposing armies met in battle on October 8. There were nearly 40,000 men directly involved in the fighting; casualties exceeded 7,500. One Union general described the action as "the bloodiest battle of modern times."
At the end of the battle, the Confederates had done very well. Bragg, however, realized that only a portion of the Union Army had seen battle, so he began a midnight retreat to Harrodsburg, where he joined with Smith but disregarded the wishes of his officers to re-engage the now-outnumbered Union troops. General Buell on his part permitted the Confederates to withdraw unmolested; this action resulted in his being replaced as Union Commander.
The Battle of Perryville was the most important Civil War engagement fought in Kentucky. Some historians believe that this battle, because it marked a fatal loss of initiative for the South, was as decisive as any other during the entire four-year conflict.
MuseumThe Civil War comes to life in the Perryville Battlefield Museum. Recently renovated, you can examine actual battle artifacts, a Civil War display, and a large map with the layout of the battle. Open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., seven days a week. Call the park office (859) 332-8631 for more information. Admission: $2.00 for adults, $1.00 for children. Group rates available.
New winter hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-3pm.Nature TrailsEnjoy the beautiful and historic grounds of the park on one of the self-guided walking trails.
Gift ShopFor the perfect memento of your visit to Perryville Battlefield, visit the Gift Shop, featuring Kentucky handcrafts, souvenirs, and a large selection of Civil War books.
MonumentsMonuments from several states, honoring their fallen dead from the Perryville Battle, dot the battlefield site. A Confederate monument was erected in 1902. A Union monument went up in 1931.
Raintree County Display
Pioneer Playhouse Outdoor Dinner Theatre859-236-2747 or toll free 866-597-5297www.pioneerplayhouse.compioneer@mis.netDisplay of the history behind the making of the epic film "Raintree County" in Danville, KY in 1956. Memorabelia of Elizabeth Taylor, Lee Marvin, Montgomery Clift, Eva Marie Saint, and many others connected with the production. Open June 1-September 1 from 9am-8:30pm. Free admission.