Preserve America is a White House initiative in cooperation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; the U.S. Departments of Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Education; the National Endowment for the Humanities; the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities; and the President's Council on Environmental Quality.

Preserve America Community:
Bardstown, Kentucky

Located in central Kentucky, Bardstown (population 10,374) is the county seat of Nelson County and was first settled in the late 1700s as Americans began pushing west. Its most celebrated historic attraction is Federal Hill Mansion, which was frequently visited by American composer Stephen Foster and said to be his inspiration for Kentucky's State song, "My Old Kentucky Home."

Bardstown is well known as the "Bourbon Capital of the World," with two distilleries in town and several others within a short drive. The history of whiskey-making is celebrated in the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History, which is located in Spalding Hall (1826), once part of St. Joseph College and Seminary.

Through its Bardstown Renaissance Program, the city has helped to rehabilitate and reuse the building, which also houses the Bardstown-Nelson County Historical Museum, restaurants, and offices. Bardstown has 279 buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places, including those in the Bardstown Historic District.

For more information

City of Bardstown: www.cityofbardstown.org/
Nelson County Economic Development Agency: www.bardstowntourism.com/

Updated November 23, 2004

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Designated Preserve America Communities