On North 3rd Street (U.S. 150) north of West Brashear Avenue, on the left when traveling north.
General John Hunt Morgan, his second in command Col. Basil Duke, and other senior officers were adjourning a meeting at the Hamilton Hall House near Lebanon Junction when their command of 4,000 was surprised by an attack made by 3,000 Union troops . . . — — Map (db m121972) HM
On East Brashear Avenue just west of North 1st Street, on the right when traveling east.
This 24th bishop of A. M. E. Zion Church was born in Bardstown and educated under church auspices. Local A.M.E. Zion Church sponsored him for ministry. Licensed to preach, 1877; elected bishop, 1892. Served as president of National Afro-American . . . — — Map (db m171594) HM
On Louisville Road (U.S. 150) 0.1 miles north of Abbey Ridge, on the right when traveling north.
An Early Turnpike
The Bardstown Louisville Turnpike Company, chartered by the Kentucky Legislature in 1831, was capitalized at $130,000, increased to $200,000. Shares owned half by individuals, half by state. Turnpike completed July 1, . . . — — Map (db m72337) HM
On East Stephen Foster Avenue, on the right when traveling east.
Austin Hubbard owned this house until his death in 1823. He left the house to his reputed daughter Narcissa, enslaved by Dr. William Elliott. Hubbard wanted her to inherit his estate, but knew that she needed to be emancipated first. Her freedom was . . . — — Map (db m205027) HM
Side A Bardstown area was explored in mid-1770s. William Bard came here in 1780 as agent for his brother David, and John C. Owings and laid off the town. Settlement was first called Salem. A land grant of 1000 acres was issued by the . . . — — Map (db m74262) HM
On North 3rd Street (U.S. 150) 0.1 miles north of Maple Grove Court, on the right when traveling north.
Well-known representative and state senator Ben Johnson (1858-1950) was born and lived most of his life here. This native son was a member of Congress for 20 consecutive years and served on Ky. Highway Commission under 4 administrations. The house . . . — — Map (db m171391) HM
On North 3rd Street (U.S. 31E/150), on the right when traveling south.
A priest for 62 years, the "First Bishop of the West" became Bishop of Bardstown, 1810; of Louisville, 1841. Jurisdiction embraced area of Ky., Tenn., and old Northwest Territory. Flaget directed founding of colleges, congregations, and St. Joseph's . . . — — Map (db m74281) HM
On West Stephen Foster Avenue (U.S. 62) at Cathedral Manor (U.S. 31E), on the right when traveling east on West Stephen Foster Avenue.
Began 1819, when Bishop Flaget asked the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth to open elementary school in Bardstown area. Sisters Harriet Gardiner, Polly Beaven, and Nancy Lynch started school which Father David named Bethlehem. Served as elementary and . . . — — Map (db m171372) HM
On Bloomfield Road (U.S. 62), on the left when traveling north.
Named by Lexington Rifles, under John Hunt Morgan, who camped here, Sept. 1861. Friendly people took no pay for food. With additional recruits, horses and supplies they joined Confederates at Green River Sept. 30. The Rifles were mustered in as . . . — — Map (db m25145) HM
On Boston Road (U.S. 62) at Bellwood Road (State Road 733), on the left when traveling west on Boston Road.
(Side A) One mile south, site of The First Cedar Creek Baptist Church, second Baptist church consituted in Ky., July 5, 1781, fifth anniversary of Declaration of Independence. Pioneer settlers of nearby Rogers Station, 1780, Col. James . . . — — Map (db m30945) HM
On North Third Street (U.S. 150) at Cleo Avenue, on the right when traveling south on North Third Street.
(obverse)
On October 4, 1862, Terry’s Texas Rangers, CSA, under the command of Col. John Wharton, were posted north of Bardstown at Fairgrounds crossroads on the Louisville Pike, to intercept units of Buell’s Union Army of the Ohio, . . . — — Map (db m72338) HM
On Court Square (U.S. 31E/150) at West Stephen Foster Avenue (U.S. 62), on the left when traveling south on Court Square.
Confederates Here
On CSA Invasion, Bragg's army of 28,000 camped here, Sept. 20 to Oct. 3, 1862. Moved to Harrodsburg, then met Buell's Union army in Battle of Perryville, Oct. 8.
CSA Gen. John H. Morgan, on raid, camped here, Dec. . . . — — Map (db m74301) HM
On U.S. 31E/150, on the left when traveling north.
For Thomas Nelson, 1738 - 89. Member Va. House of Burgesses. In the first Provincial Convention, 1774; Continental Congress, 1775 - 77 and 1779. Signer of the Declaration of Independence. Commander of Va. Militia, 1777 - 81. Governor of Va., 1781. . . . — — Map (db m74282) HM
Near North 3rd Street, 0.1 miles south of East John Rowan Boulevard.
Daniel Rudd was a lay leader within the Catholic Church during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He used his experience and influence to usher in black consciousness among Catholics in the United States and to advocate for the . . . — — Map (db m223308) HM
On South 5th Street at Edgewood Drive, on the right when traveling south on South 5th Street.
Right wing built, 1815, main part, 1819, by Ben Hardin, noted lawyer, statesman, member Kentucky Legislature and U.S. Congress. Hardin born in Penn., 1784; his daughter married John L. Helm, twice Ky. Governor and President L&N R.R. Their son . . . — — Map (db m171368) HM
Inspiration for the state song of Kentucky by Stephen Collins Foster in 1853. Judge John Rowan, cousin, owned and had built back wing in 1795 and the front in 1818. Federal Hill became renowned as a center of legal, political and social activity. . . . — — Map (db m100770) HM
On Springfield Road (U.S. 150) at Poplar Flat Road (State Highway 605), on the right when traveling north on Springfield Road.
Three miles north is site of first
church in area, erected ca. 1792
under Joseph Ferguson's leadership.
He led Methodist movement after
settling in Nelson Co. Church was
nucleus around which Salt River
circuit was formed. Original . . . — — Map (db m162507) HM
On Louisville Road (U.S. 150) at Sullivan Lane, on the right when traveling south on Louisville Road.
Froman’s Road and Station
One mile to the northwest, Paul Froman, grandson of pioneer Joist Hite, cut his wagon road in 1781 from the Salt River stations near Bullitt’s Lick to his new station (1782) on the east side of Froman’s Creek. . . . — — Map (db m72335) HM
On U.S. 31E/150, on the right when traveling north.
After a fresco in the Capitol at Washington which depicts John Fitch at work on the model of his first steamboat to effect a successful voyage
Beneath this monument are interred the mortal remains of John Fitch, Soldier and Inventor, . . . — — Map (db m158418) HM
On Bloomfield Road (U.S. 62) at Brown's Lane (County Route 2230), on the left when traveling north on Bloomfield Road.
Near here is site of Kincheloe's Station. Named for Capt. William Kincheloe, one of the leaders who established station in early 1780s. Later called Polke's Station for Chas. Polke, who claimed the land. Indians made a surprise attack in Sept., . . . — — Map (db m122024) HM
On East Stephen Foster Avenue (U.S. 62/150) at Court Square (U.S. 31E), on the right when traveling east on East Stephen Foster Avenue.
This remarkable commercial building was built for the brothers Samuel & Hector McLean, patterned on circa 1800 examples found in Philadelphia & Baltimore. Each ground floor room could serve a separate purpose, with the southwest room designed for . . . — — Map (db m74287) HM
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 . . . — — Map (db m4770) HM
On Louisville Road (U.S. 150) at Nazareth Road, on the right when traveling south on Louisville Road.
Mother House of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth since 1822. The first establishment was made in 1812 at St. Thomas Plantation five miles southwest of Bardstown. The site of Nazareth Academy, now Nazareth College of Kentucky, founded 1814, . . . — — Map (db m72336) HM
World War II Guy Baldwin • Miles Ballard • Leroy Barnett • Lucien Beam • Joseph Boone • Thomas Bowling • Billy S. Bowman • Emmett Brown • Guy Brown • Samuel Hays Brown • Mike Burge • Henry Cecil • James Cheshire • John Clark • Joseph Clark . . . — — Map (db m214814) WM
Russell Cahoe • Chester Stewart • Charles Boblitt • Joseph L. Nally • James A. Clayton • WM T. Rapier • George B. Allen Korean War Raymond Cecil • Lewis P. Howard • Kenneth A. McAllister • Charles L. Newton • Clarence H. . . . — — Map (db m215311) WM
On U.S. 31E/150, on the left when traveling north.
Dedicated to the Memory of Those who Offered their Lives in the Service of our Country during W.W. I - W.W. II - Korean and These During the Vietnam Conflict.
SP4 Raymond S. Ford Feb. 20, 1966 •
CPL William Russell Taylor Aug. 28, 1966 •
PVT . . . — — Map (db m74347) WM
On South 4th Street south of West Stephen Foster Avenue, on the left when traveling south.
This log school house (circa 1840) was located 1 mile from Cox's Station which was the first fort built in Nelson County. The 1882 Precinct Map shows the original location of school in the midst of agricultural fields, not in town. The location . . . — — Map (db m242481) HM
On Boston Road (U.S. 62) at Airport Road (State Road 2737), on the right when traveling west on Boston Road.
Site of station located on 1,000-acre tract "marked and improved" in 1775 by Col. James Rogers. Born Va., 1742; died Ky., 1828. Fought in Dunmore's War, 1774, and Revolutionary War. Appointed Colonel of Nelson Co., Ky. Militia and a Justice of the . . . — — Map (db m30984) HM
On New Haven Road (U.S. 31E), on the right when traveling north.
Site in valley to east, one of most famous duels in Kentucky because of prominent men involved. John Rowan, later jurist, and US Senator. His second, George M. Bibb, Kentucky Chief Justice, US Senator, Secretary of Treasury. Dr. James Chambers was . . . — — Map (db m122026) HM
On West Stephen Foster Avenue (Route 62) at Cathedral Manor (U.S. 31E), on the right when traveling west on West Stephen Foster Avenue.
Saint Joseph Cathedral. Planned by Bishop Flaget and designed by John Rogers, the cathedral was dedicated Aug. 8, 1819. It is constructed of locally
quarried stone, hand-made bricks, and pillars hewn from nearby trees. Catholics and . . . — — Map (db m171359) HM
On New Haven Road (U.S. 31E) at St. Thomas Lane (County Route 2227), on the right when traveling north on New Haven Road.
The cradle of the Catholic Church in Ky., 1/2 mile east. In 1811, became residence of Bishop Flaget and Father David, when pioneering Saint Joseph's Cathedral, Saint Joseph's College and the old Bethlehem Academy in Bardstown. First home, 1812, of . . . — — Map (db m122027) HM
On North 3rd Street (U.S. 150) north of Beall Street, on the left when traveling south.
Bardstown's first school, 1788, formed by Va. act. James Priestley, the noted educator, in charge. One class of Kentuckians later noted in life consisted of John Rowan, Judge and US Senator; Joe Daveiss, lawyer and hero in Battle of Tippecanoe; John . . . — — Map (db m325) HM
On North 5th Street at West Flaget Street, on the right when traveling south on North 5th Street.
Erected 1826 and later named for Bishop M. J. Spalding. Until 1889, it was part of St. Joseph College, founded by Bishop B. J. Flaget. Jesuits took charge of celebrated college, 1848-68. During Civil War, St. Joseph was a military hospital. Spalding . . . — — Map (db m171419) HM
On West John Fitch Avenue west of South 4th Street.
In Oct., 1788, he built boat which carried passengers on 20-mile trip from Philadelphia to Burlington. In 1790 constructed boat which ran regular schedule between those cities. On Aug. 26. 1791. patent granted to Fitch by US Congress. France also . . . — — Map (db m205146) HM
On North 3rd Street (U.S. 31E/150), on the right when traveling south.
The first successful amputation of a leg at the hip joint in US. Done here by Dr. Walter Brashear in 1806 without any precedent to guide him. The patient was a seventeen-year-old boy whose leg had been badly mangled.
Dr. Brashear was born in 1776, . . . — — Map (db m74283) HM
On Court Square at W Stephen Foster Ave, on the left when traveling west on Court Square.
In October 1774, the Dunmore treaty with the Shawnee Indians opened Kentucky up for white settlement.
Early in 1775, David Bard and his brother, William, came down the Ohio River, then to this area and selected this site for their 100 acre - . . . — — Map (db m223282) HM
On Bellwood Road (State Road 733) 0.8 miles south of Boston Road (U.S. 62), on the right when traveling south.
Organized July 4, 1781, as Cedar Creek Baptist Society. Constituted by Joseph Barnett, first pastor. Assisted by John Gerrard and John Whitaker. Early members and trustees included Col. James Rogers, Atkinson Hill, Evan Williams, Anthony Foster and . . . — — Map (db m30947) HM
On South Third Street (U.S. 31E/150), on the right when traveling north.
One of the oldest houses in Bardstown, the west side stone portion has to date from before 1795. On one side of the "settled lots," improved by Samuel Duncan under the lottery terms of settlement, it was the residence of both William Pope Duval and . . . — — Map (db m74288) HM
On North 3rd Street (U.S. 31E/150), on the right when traveling north.
Black's Store and Tavern operated here on Lot #64 by 1820. Moses Black, the tavernkeeper, was also a noted coppersmith who signed his craft-work and had his copper-works in a log shop at the rear of the tavern. The new name for Black's Tavern became . . . — — Map (db m74290) HM
On West Stephen Foster Avenue. Reported permanently removed.
The stone portion of the Talbott Tavern dates before 1790 --- probably built to serve as Salem Academy. The first owner of record about 1800, Wm. Rose Hynes began to add brick wings to the stone part. He started the tavern operation with the first . . . — — Map (db m223283) HM
On North 3rd Street (U.S. 31E/150) at Blackberry Alley, on the right when traveling north on North 3rd Street.
Capt. Ralph Sheldon, leading several hundred Confederates of Company C, 2nd Kentucky Cavalry, descended on Bardstown on Sunday morning, July 5, 1863. They drove the handful of Union troops occupying Bardstown into a livery stable two blocks . . . — — Map (db m74291) HM
On North 2nd Street north of East Maidens Alley, on the right when traveling north.
This is the first brick church erected within the original city limits of Bardstown. The 1804 will of Samuel P. Jones directed that his possessions be sold and the money be used to build a church for all Christian denominations. His wishes were . . . — — Map (db m202210) HM
On U.S. 31E/150, on the left when traveling north.
In Memory
Dedicated to These Men who Gave their Lives in Vietnam 1969 for the Preservation of Freedom.
SSG. Harold M. Brown •
1SG. Luther M. Chappel •
SP4. David B. Collins •
SP4. Joseph R. McIlvoy •
SSG. James T. Moore •
SGT. . . . — — Map (db m74355) WM
On Bloomfield Road (U.S. 62) 0.4 miles east of East Stephen Foster Avenue (U.S. 150).
This Georgian mansion, built ca. 1815 by Charles A. Wickliffe, is known as the home of 3 governors: the builder, gov. of Ky., 1839-40; his son, Robert C. Wickliffe, gov. of Louisiana, 1856-60; and his grandson, J. C. W. Beckham, gov. of Ky., . . . — — Map (db m324) HM
On North 3rd Street (U.S. 31E/150), on the right when traveling north.
One of the oldest banks in Kentucky, founded in 1865, it operated first 1865 - 1867 under the name of Richard Shipp & Company, Bankers. From 1867 through 1869 it was the banking house of William W. George, Jr. & Company. From 1869 through 1976, the . . . — — Map (db m74289) HM
On Taylorsville Road (Kentucky Route 55), on the right when traveling south.
Prior to the Civil War, Ham Brown was “a free man of color.” On May 21, 1866, he purchased the cabin in Bloomfield and it remained in his family until 1980. Ham, a shoemaker, and Adeline Brown had seven children. Vacant and in disrepair, . . . — — Map (db m136828) HM
On Taylorsville Road (Kentucky Route 55) 0.1 miles north of Decatur Avenue, on the right when traveling north.
(Front)
Jereboam Beauchamp and wife Anna buried here in same coffin at own request. To avenge her alleged seduction by Col. Solomon Sharp, Beauchamp murdered him at Sharp's Frankfort home, 1825. Beauchamp and Anna were held in Frankfort . . . — — Map (db m136823) HM
On Taylorsville Road (Kentucky Route 55) 0.2 miles north of Pleasantview Road, on the left when traveling north.
Front
Established in 1818 when Samuel Boone Merrifield and his wife, Frances Bemiss, purchased 333 acres on Simpson Creek. Farm was originally a 1,000-acre Virginia land grant, signed by Governor Patrick Henry, to Thomas Lewis on June 1, . . . — — Map (db m136826) HM
On Nelsonville Road (Kentucky Route 52), on the left when traveling north.
Established by Samuel Goodwin in 1780 at the site of Old Boston. Important link with other stations encircling future Bardstown, and became refuge for pioneers in area. Fort raided by Indians, July 1781. Peter Kennedy led the reprisal against . . . — — Map (db m122028) HM
On Boston Road (U.S. 62) at Lebanon Junction Road (State Road 61), on the right when traveling east on Boston Road.
CSA Gen. John H. Morgan ordered Col. D.W. Chenault's regiment to burn the railroad trestle here, Dec. 29, 1862. This and destruction of two trestles at Muldraugh's Hill, the previous day, put L&N railroad, the main USA supply line, out of use for . . . — — Map (db m30650) HM
On Louisville/Bardstown Road (U.S. 31E/150) 0 miles north of Wheeler Wright Lane, on the right when traveling north.
The first settlement in Nelson County, KY. Three miles east of this spot stood Cox's Station, established in 1775 by Colonel Isaac Cox, a Colonial and Revolutionary War officer who came from Virginia to Kentucky and who was killed by the Indians in . . . — — Map (db m74267) HM
On West Center Street west of North Main Street (U.S. 31E), on the right when traveling west. Reported unreadable.
In the early morning hours of December 30, 1862, three companies of Gen. John H. Morgan’s 9th Kentucky Cavalry, supported by a single 12-pounder mountain howitzer, demanded the surrender of the Federal garrison at New Haven, Kentucky. The . . . — — Map (db m236706) HM