Where Kentucky History Was Made

The many historical places in Kentucky reflect the diverse heritage of our state. Visit Hodgenville and walk the hallowed grounds of the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. At Harrodsburg and Boonesborough, watch history come alive as costumed interpreters portray life on the rugged frontier in pre-Revolutionary War forts. And immerse yourself in Kentucky’s complex Civil War stories at sites ranging from battlefields to cemeteries to house museums. 

 

Kentucky was shaped by its many waterways, and visiting Ohio River towns like Paducah, Maysville and Ashland will offer a glimpse into how the river brought life to the young state. Learn about Kentucky coal mining history and the important role coal has played in Kentucky’s industrial and cultural heritage by visiting Appalachian Mountain mining towns like Benham and Lynch. And explore fascinating Kentucky Main Streets to find unique artwork, antiques and other relics of Kentucky’s past.

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Brigadier General Charles Young Birthplace

Kentucky’s diverse and complex African-American history encompasses the experiences of enslaved laborers, freedmen, soldiers, activists, inventors, artists and more, across more than four hundred years. 

 

One of these men is Brigadier General Charles Young, who was born into slavery in Mays Lick, Kentucky, and overcame racial inequality to become one of the first African-American graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Young went on to be the first African-American superintendent of a National Park, as well as a Brigadier General in the U.S. Army. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. 

 

In recent years, Young’s birthplace has been the subject of fundraising and preservation efforts. Tours are available by appointment. Click here for more information.

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