93 SOUTHERNLADYMAGAZINE.COM
T
hrough the years, the unassuming community
of Bardstown, Kentucky, has earned many
flattering labels: the most beautiful small town
in America; the best place in the South to raise
a family; and, its official title, the Bourbon
Capital of the World. While these monikers paint an
eclectic picture, it is Bardstown’s great appreciation for its
history that binds this array of evolving qualities. From six
bourbon distilleries and counting to a downtown district
with almost 200 buildings on the National Register of
Historic Places, Bardstown embraces its past with a
progressive outlook.
The second-oldest city in Kentucky, Bardstown was
settled in 1780 as explorers from the East began journeys
into the wilderness that was the West. The town is named
for the pioneeering brothers, David and William Bard, who
first surveyed and mapped the land. When their fellow
voyagers reached the area, they quickly realized it was the
perfect setting for distilling bourbon due to the fertile land
for growing corn, wealth of limestone for pure water, and
climate made for aging barrels.
From the start of this migration that put Bardstown on
the map, the 1779 Old Talbott Tavern—the oldest Western
stagecoach stop in America—welcomed travelers with a
place to rest and recharge. A testament to the city’s
dedication to preserving its history, the tavern still
operates as a restaurant, bar, and bed and breakfast,
offering visitors the same gracious hospitality that greeted
guests like Abraham Lincoln and Daniel Boone, as well asoutlaws like Jesse James. Even royalty like King Louis-
Philippe of France and Queen Marie of Romania have
passed through.
Beyond the tavern, an abundance of other renowned
attractions are just a short stroll or carriage ride away
through the scenic tree-lined streets of central downtown.
One of the first cities in the nation to adopt historic zoning
and preservation guidelines, Bardstown’s past is deeply
ingrained in its present. A new walking-tour app guides you
to notable structures while delivering digital images of the
locations through various eras as you view them in person.
Among the many well-maintained edifices, you’ll want
to see the striking Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral.
Another important site in America’s westward expansion,
it made Bardstown the first center of Catholicism west of
the Allegheny Mountains in the early 1800s. Learn more
about the city’s beginnings at a few Civil War museums, a
quaint re-creation of a Colonial village, and My Old
Kentucky Home State Park, which features the acclaimed
Rowan plantation, Federal Hill, that appears on the
Kentucky quarter.
For nearly 30 years, the Bardstown Main Street
Program has worked to uphold the town’s historic
significance while promoting a lively contemporary culture,
and much of this revitalization is centered around the arts.
Galleries, along with shops selling home goods, clothing,
and accessories, have cultivated creative flair within the
community. This October, the 39th annual Arts, Crafts, &
Antiques Fair will showcase more than 250 booths filled
with handmade wearables, jewelry, pottery, flowers,
woodwork, antiques, and more.
While the arts are flourishing, bourbon remains the
lifeblood of the city and is commemorated every September
with the annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival. Throughout
the year, the iconic beverage is celebrated in distilleries in
the area—both time-tested, family-run businesses like
Heaven Hill and its Bourbon Heritage Center and
innovative hot spots like Bardstown Bourbon Company.
Specialty shops also offer tributes, such as the Blind Pig
Bourbon Market that sells furnishings made from bourbon
barrels. It also permeates the culinary scene, where
restaurants pair the versatile spirit with everything from
down-home Southern cooking to fresh seasonal fare.
A dining option you won’t want to miss, My Old
Kentucky Dinner Train provides a convenient way to
experience many facets of the town while partaking in a
leisurely meal aboard a 1940s railroad car. Take in the view
as the train travels through the Bernheim Arboretum and
Research Forest to the Jim Beam distillery property,
Limestone Springs, and back. You’ll see the best of
Bardstown in its natural beauty, distinctive heritage, and
its ultimate accolade: a signature Southern charm of days
gone by.Fall settles in
Bardstown like a
comfortable, colorful
coat that impeccably
suits its setting. A
prominent tree canopy
provides shady respite
for pedestrians and
takes on warm, radiant
hues that complement
the charming
architecture. This
small, tight-knit
community prides
itself on its many
attractions within a
walkable distance. You
can always fi nd
residents and visitors
alike ambling through
neighborhoods and
meandering to the
busy historic
downtown district
where entertainment
options abound.