Bardstown in Nelson County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

My Old Kentucky Home

Photographed by Michael Stroud, circa June 1991

1. My Old Kentucky Home Marker

Inscription. Dedicated July 4, 1923
State Commissioners Gov. Edwin P. Morrow • Harry Giovanoli • A. T. Hert • Mrs. Clement French • Arch. H. Pullmam • Marvin H. Lewis • Young E. Allison • Mrs. A. T. Hert • Robt. W. Bingham • Mrs. S. Tescaton Ballard • C. Lee Cook • Osso W. Stanley

Erected 1923 by Bardstown Chamber of Commerce.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Landmarks • Notable Buildings • Notable Events. A significant historical date for this entry is July 4, 1818.

Location. 37° 48.388′ N, 85° 27.33′ W. Marker is in Bardstown, Kentucky, in Nelson County. It can be reached from Federal Hill Manor near Old Bloomfield Pike. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 120 Federal Hill Manor, Bardstown KY 40004, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Louisville Area.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Slave Assignments & Trades (within shouting distance of this marker); The Enslaved as Property (within shouting distance of this marker); Abolitionism, War, Emancipation (within shouting distance of this marker); Slave Population & Deaths (within shouting distance of this marker); Mack Rowan (within shouting distance of this marker); Federal Hill

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(within shouting distance of this marker); 2015 Flag Dedication (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cistern (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bardstown.

More about this marker. While Federal Hill is part of the "My Old Kentucky Home State Park", the park itself is located nearby at 501 E. Stephen Foster Ave., Bardstown, KY 40004

Regarding My Old Kentucky Home. Federal Hill, a former plantation owned by the Rowan family and now more commonly called "My Old Kentucky Home," is in the sleepy little community of Bardstown, Kentucky. A visit to Federal Hill in 1852 is said to have inspired Stephen Foster to write the song, My Old Kentucky Home, the official State song for Kentucky.

The owner of the home, John Rowan, was a state judge in Kentucky, served seven terms in the legislature and was elected to the United States Senate. He was also Kentucky's Secretary of State and the Chief Justice for the Court of Appeals. Throughout the early 1800’s, the Rowans hosted a number of dignitaries in addition to Stephen Foster, including Henry Clay, James K. Polk, and James Monroe.

The Georgian-style home was built by

An additional Stephen C. Foster Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, April 10, 2021

2. An additional Stephen C. Foster Marker

Judge John Rowan in 1818 and has since accumulated a long history of tragedy. One of the most notable tragedies happened in 1833 when an epidemic of cholera killed eight family members and eight slaves within a 24 hour period. Another tragedy occurred when John Rowan Jr., son of Judge Rowan, was killed. After having spent the previous night sitting up with his sick child, John Jr. was sitting on the window sill of his second-story bedroom . He dozed off, lost his balance and fell out the window, hitting a tree on the way down, killing him. After this, his wife never slept in that bedroom again, moving to the bedroom next door.

Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia entry for My Old Kentucky Home State Park. (Submitted on January 16, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
2. Views of Federal Hill. (Submitted on January 17, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)
3. Wikipedia entry for Stephen Foster. (Submitted on January 16, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
4. Wikipedia entry for Bardstown, Kentucky. (Submitted on January 16, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
5. My Old Kentucky Home State Park (Kentucky State Parks). (Submitted on October 13, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, April 10, 2021

3. My Old Kentucky Home Marker

Photographed by Kevin W., August 28, 2024

4. My Old Kentucky Home Marker

Federal Hill image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Stroud, June 1991

5. Federal Hill

Photographed by Michael Stroud, June 1991

6. Gardenside

Stephen Foster Painting image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Stroud, June 1991

7. Stephen Foster Painting

Foster's Desk, used to pen "My Old Kentucky Home" image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Stroud, June 1991

8. Foster's Desk, used to pen "My Old Kentucky Home"

Credits. This page was last revised on October 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 16, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,881 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 16, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 2, 3. submitted on April 19, 2021, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 4. submitted on August 28, 2024, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on January 16, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.