Bardstown

About Bardstown

Bardstown Kentucky is located in Nelson County and is the county seat. Named after the Bard brothers David who purchased the land and his brother William surveyed and plotted out the town. The town was settled during the 1780's receiving its charter in 1790 making it the second oldest town in the state. Bardstown is widely known as the Bourbon Capital of the World. Every year the Kentucky Bourbon Festival is held in Bardstown due to the vast quantity of bourbon that is produced in local distilleries found in and around Bardstown. The main ingredient of Bourbon is corn, and upon completion, the bourbon is aged in huge warehouses known as rick houses. Bourbon is named after Bourbon County, Kentucky where it was first produced. The production of Bourbon is a scientific art where masters in the profession monitor the various steps in the whiskey making process. To learn more of the history of this amazing brew a visit to the museum and American Whiskey Trail that was created by the Distilled Spirits Council. The trail unites eight bourbon distilleries in Kentucky Jim Beam, Maker's Mark and Heaven Hill distilleries are in immediate vicinity of Bardstown. The Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey is open to the public and displays this part of Bardstown history. A must see while visiting Bardstown is the Basilica of Saint Joseph Proto-Cathedral the first meeting place for Catholicism west of the Appalachian Mountains. February 8, 1808 the Diocese of Bardstown was founded serving Catholics between the Mississippi River and the Appalachians, which now falls under forty-four dioceses and archdioceses participating in ten states. In 1841, the headquarters of the diocese transferred to Louisville. While in Bardstown visit the Old Talbott Tavern constructed in 1779 in center Bardstown that was visited by Abraham Lincoln and Daniel Boone. The Tavern may be haunted as people have professed to stumble into ghosts or other clairvoyant activities. My Old Kentucky State Park is also located in Bardstown where Judge John and wife Ann Rowan built the mansion "Federal Hill" which inspired Stephen foster to write the song "My Old Kentucky Home". In 2001, Federal Hill was chosen to be represented on the backside of the Kentucky state quarter. Bardstown is rich with history, monumental buildings and beautiful vineyards, making it a very picturesque area to visit.