Bardstown: The Bourbon Capital of the World
Bardstown is the county seat of Nelson County, located about 35 miles southeast of Louisville along US Route 31E. Founded in 1780, it is the second-oldest city in Kentucky. The Federal Hill plantation near Bardstown is traditionally cited as the inspiration for Stephen Foster's "My Old Kentucky Home," and the estate is now a state park where outdoor performances of the song are held during the summer months.
The bourbon industry is central to Bardstown's economy and identity. The city adopted the title "Bourbon Capital of the World," and several major distilleries operate in and around Nelson County, including Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Heaven Hill, and Bardstown Bourbon Company. The Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History, housed in a former seminary in downtown Bardstown, traces the history of American whiskey production. The Kentucky Bourbon Festival, held annually each September, draws tens of thousands of visitors.
Bardstown's downtown has been recognized for its preserved 18th- and 19th-century architecture. The Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral, completed in 1819, was the first inland Catholic cathedral in the United States. The courthouse square and surrounding blocks retain a walkable historic character that has helped attract tourism beyond the bourbon-focused visitors.
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Bardstown is the county seat of Nelson County, located about 35 miles southeast of Louisville along US Route 31E. Founded in 1780, it is the second-oldest city in Kentucky. The Federal Hill plantation near Bardstown is traditionally cited as the inspiration for Stephen Foster's "My Old Kentucky Home," and the estate is now a state park where outdoor performances of the song are held during the summer months.
The bourbon industry is central to Bardstown's economy and identity. The city adopted the title "Bourbon Capital of the World," and several major distilleries operate in and around Nelson County, including Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Heaven Hill, and Bardstown Bourbon Company. The Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History, housed in a former seminary in downtown Bardstown, traces the history of American whiskey production. The Kentucky Bourbon Festival, held annually each September, draws tens of thousands of visitors.
Bardstown's downtown has been recognized for its preserved 18th- and 19th-century architecture. The Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral, completed in 1819, was the first inland Catholic cathedral in the United States. The courthouse square and surrounding blocks retain a walkable historic character that has helped attract tourism beyond the bourbon-focused visitors.
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