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Kentucky
62

Kentucky State Parks

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USA Parks
Kentucky
Heartland Region
Old Fort Harrod State Park
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Old Fort Harrod State Park Facing The Fort © Rich Fowler
Entrance to the Fort
Old Fort Harrod State Park Petting Zoo © Rich Fowler
Inside the Fort
Old Fort Harrod State Park Inside the Fort © Rich Fowler
Crops and the bunker for storing black powder
Old Fort Harrod State Park Inside the Fort © Rich Fowler
Old Fort Harrod State Park Inside the Fort © Rich Fowler
Old Fort Harrod State Park Inside the Fort © Rich Fowler
Old Fort Harrod State Park Facing The Fort © Rich Fowler
The southwest corner of the garrison wall
Old Fort Harrod State Park Leather Shop © Rich Fowler
Inside the Fort
Old Fort Harrod State Park © Rich Fowler
Old Fort Harrod State Park Inside the Fort © Rich Fowler
Old Fort Harrod State Park Working Blacksmith © Rich Fowler
Old Fort Harrod State Park Working Blacksmith © Rich Fowler
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OLD FORT HARROD STATE PARK
OLD FORT HARROD STATE PARK
100 South College Street
Harrodsburg, Kentucky   40330-0156

Phone: 859-734-3314
Email: park email button icon
In 1774, James Harrod established the first permanent settlement west of the Alleghenies in what would become Central Kentucky. Preserving Kentucky?s pioneer history, the fort has been reconstructed near the site of the original.

Heavy timbers form stockade walls and enclose the cabins and blockhouses. Costumed craftspeople perform pioneer tasks such as woodworking, weaving, basketry and blacksmithing and tend the farm animals and gardens.

The Lincoln Marriage Temple shelters the original log cabin where Abraham Lincoln?s parents were married in 1806, and the Mansion Museum houses Civil War artifacts, a gun display, Native American artifacts and a collection of Lincoln memorabilia.


Location
Old Fort Harrod State Park is located near Danville, Harrodsburg and Lancaster

Picnicking
1. Picnic Tables: The park has numerous picnic tables scattered throughout the area where visitors can enjoy a meal amidst nature.

2. Grills: Some of these picnic areas also have grills available for use, allowing you to cook your own food on site.

3. Covered Shelters/Pavilions: For larger gatherings or events, there are covered shelters/pavilions that can be reserved and used for group picnics.

4. Open Green Spaces: There's plenty of open green space within the park where one could lay out a blanket and have an impromptu picnic while enjoying views of historic structures like James Harrod Blockhouse replica.

5. Picnic Groves: These shaded spots with benches offer another great option for outdoor dining at Old Fort Harrod State Park.

Area Attractions
Gift Shop/Museum StoreOld Fort Harrod State Park has a wonderful gift shop/ museum store. Our shop has a wide variety of unique gifts, books, music, crafts, food products, handmade items, children?s items, Kentucky handcrafts, souvenirs and many other items.

The Fort StructuresAnn McGinty BlockhouseAnn Kennedy Wilson Poague Lindsay McGinty brought the first spinning wheel to Kentucky. Widowed three times out of four marriages, her second husband made the first loom in Kentucky, and her third husband was killed in the Battle of Blue Licks.

George Rogers Clark BlockhouseIn this militia blockhouse, George Rogers Clark planned his great northwest campaign, which secured the Old Northwest and opened westward expansion.

Mark McGohon CabinThis cabin contains possessions that belonged to this pioneer family.

Earliest Settlers CabinIn this cabin are items used by frontier families in many home industries, such as broom making, candle making, soap making, and hominy grinding.

William Poague CabinWilliam Poague made the first loom and plough in Kentucky. He also made all of the buckets, milk pails, churns, tubs, noggins, and piggins for the pioneers.

Bryant Station CabinThis cabin is a memorial to the brave women of Bryant Station. With Indians concealed about the fort, the women went to the spring as usual to get a supply of water; knowing the fort could not be held without water on that hot August 16, 1782.

First SchoolThe school at Fort Harrod was taught by Jane Coomes, a Catholic from Maryland. She taught her students from a primitive version of the Old English Horn Book, made of clapboard in the shape of a paddle with its handle whittled to fit the children?s fingers. On these books the children learned their ABC?s, arithmetic, and the Lord?s Prayer.

John Lythe CabinAn integral part of life in the fort was the religion practiced by Reverend Lythe, the minister who came to the fort with a Bible in one hand and an axe in the other.

James Harrod BlockhouseJames Harrod was the unanimous choice to be the leader of the expeditionary company which founded Kentucky?s first settlement. He was an expert in the use of a rifle, a successful hunter, and a skillful antagonist of the native American.

Fort open year-round, admission charged, group rates available. (Closed on weekends in December, January and February, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas week)9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. March 16 - October 319:00 AM - 4:30 PM November 1 - March 15.

Mansion MuseumThe Mansion Museum is one of the oldest Greek Revival homes built in Kentucky. Inside its impressive structure, the museum displays Civil War history, a one of a kind McIntosh Gun collection, paintings, documents, music collection, Lincoln memorabilia, Native American artifacts, and much more.

Open March 16-November 30, March 16-October, 9:00 AM-5:30 PM November, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM

Pioneer Cemetery:

This is the oldest cemetery west of the Allegheny Mountains, and contains graves of 500 pioneers.

Lincoln Marriage TempleA brick building shelters the cabin where Abraham Lincoln?s parents were married. The cabin was moved from the original site near Springfield, Kentucky, where Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks were married June 12, 1806.

Federal Monument:

The exploration of the Northwestern Territory by George Rogers Clark, dedicated in 1934 by Franklin D. Roosevelt. We are a member of the Museum Store Association.

Osage Orange Tree:

One of the most unique trees in the nation, this specimen is a must-see. This tree is taller and broader than the national champion, but remains the unofficial national champion because of its split trunk. Circa late 18th century.

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Area Campgrounds
Camp Nelson RV Park
27 Chase Lane
Lancaster, KY
859-548-2113
Cummins Ferry RV Park, Campground
2558 Cummins Ferry Road
Salvisa, KY
859-865-2003
Nearby Hotels
Booking.com

Directions
The park is 32 miles southwest of Lexington on US 68 in Harrodsburg.

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Kentucky
62

Kentucky State Parks

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