Things to do / Travel Guide
Pace the rooms where prominent U.S. historical figures like Abraham Lincoln, Henry Clay, Thomas Edison, Jefferson Davis, and Andrew Jackson once lived, and stand at the sites of some of the Civil War's most important (and bloodiest) battles. Central Kentucky and Tennessee's educational and engaging historical attractions will make local history your vacation hobby.
Homes of Historic Figures in Central Kentucky
- Jefferson Davis State Historic Site, east of Hopkinsville is the birthplace of the President of the Confederacy.
- Louisville's Locust Grove, hosted several Presidents and well as explorers, Lewis and Clark.
Stand where a genius once stood: Thomas Edison's 1850s shotgun home, featuring some of his inventions (like phonographs and incandescent bulbs) is open to the public on Washington Street in Louisville.
Ashland, the stately mansion of Whig Party founder and emancipationist Henry Clay, is situated on beautifully-manicured 20 acres near Lexington. Tour the sprawling estate or take a stroll through the lovely grounds.
Take a long, hard look at Honest Abe's history when you visit the log cabin where Lincoln is believed to have been born, at the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site in Hodgenville. You can also visit Knob Creek, where Lincoln was miraculously saved from drowning as a small boy, as well as the Neo-Classical memorial building designed in his honor by John Russell Pope.
Cave Hill Cemetery is the final resting place of Colonel Sanders and others.
Homes of Historic Figures in Central Tennessee
- President Andrew Jackson's restored historic home, Hermitage, in Hermitage, Tennessee is a large mansion featuring original furnishings and wallpaper, and is open to the public for historic tours.
Civil War Historical Sites in Central Kentucky and Tennessee
While Nashville's Belle Meade and Belmont antebellum mansions provide a glimpse of the wealthy lifestyles maintained during the Civil War period, Central Kentucky and Tennessee battlefields betray the tragedies and struggles of the time. Tebbs Bend Battlefield and Perryville Battle State Historic Park in Kentucky, and the Nashville Battlefield, Chickamauga Battlefield near Chattanooga, the Stones River National Battlefield in Murfreesboro, and the Franklin Battlefield in Franklin (all in Tennessee) are just a few of the sites you may want to visit.
Here is a brief synopsis of how some of the area's Civil War battles “went down” and the battlefields that are preserved as sacred ground for interested visitors:
October 8, 1862: The Union Army “won” the state of Kentucky in the Perryville Battle.
December 31, 1862 - January 2, 1863: 23,500 casualties at Stones River resulting in a Union victory.
July 4, 1863: At the Battle of Tebbs Bend (near the Green River), Confederate General John Hunt Morgan's surprise attack proved fruitless, as he lost the battle along with 35 men.
September 18-20, 1863: The Chicamauga Battle was one of the Civil War's goriest. Over 34,600 men were killed as the Confederates won, retaining control over Chattanooga, despite having more casualties (about 2,300 more soldiers died on the Confederate side).
December 15-16, 1864: 6,600 men died in a Confederate army defeat at Nashville.
The Franklin Battlefield saw action once in April, 1863 and later, in November, 1864. Thousands were killed.
Other sites of military importance that may intrigue you include:
- A memorial to the heroes of the Battle of Franklin, The Carter House, in Nashville, was a Federal Command Post during the Civil War. This is the most battle-damaged building in existence from Civil War times; over 1,000 bullet holes remain on-site.
- The famous “Battle above the Clouds,” one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War, took place at Lookout Mountain Battlefield in Point Park, near Chattanooga. The site was a turning point in the war between the states, when Northern armies ascended Lookout Mountain and claimed it as a strategic stronghold. The 3,000-acre park includes trails, monuments, historical markers, and panoramic vistas.
Historical Attractions in Central Kentucky
Baseball history fans are all but required to make a stop at the place that upped the nation's batting average throughout the past 120 years. At the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory on West Main Street in Louisville, you can learn about the history of J. Fred Hillerich and the company he founded; the world's most famous baseball bat company. “Louisville Slugger” became the official bat of Major League Baseball in 1884 and has been ever since. Historical “Sluggers” include the likes of Babe Ruth, Tony Gwynn, Ken Griffey Jr., and Derek Jeter. The Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory is open year-round, and factory tours are available seven days a week from morning until afternoon, though hours are limited on weekends.
Historical Attractions in Nashville and Central Tennessee
For a taste of pioneer life going back to the days when Nashville was a frontier settlement, visit recreated Fort Nashborough on the banks of the Cumberland River..
For a taste of life long before laser printing, visit Hatch Show Print and inspect the old presses from the 1800's. Watch them print current posters as well.
Historical Sites in Nashville, Louisville and Lexington in Central Kentucky and Tennessee
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