Although the building is not eye-catching downtown, however the inside the museum is truly amazing…read more There are two stories not including the outdoor museum space. Each corner and wall is packed with artifacts and memorabilia, and the museum curators are eager to explain each piece. There are features connecting to Native Americans, Berea College, and the history of the Red River Gorge Caves. This museum is vital to enjoying your time in the area, a private tour is needed!

One of the most overlooked places to stop on your way to Red River Gorge, or Natural Bridge…read more This has to be one of the most interesting, as well as quirky, museums I've ever seen. If you're coming to the area, it's a must stop! It's also free of charge! You can donate, but it's not required, nor thrown in your face. Here's a link to an awesome photographer who has a section on his Flickr page dedicated to the museum: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kentuckyranger/sets/72157607422762325 And here's a link to their FaceBook page. They aren't open allot, so make sure they'll be open when you come! https://www.facebook.com/Red-River-Museum-184139178315029/

Gives you some history on the slavery in this area of Kentucky. Clean walking trail. Clean restroomsread more

Really nice, in the Summer at least, you can stroll and enjoy the beautiful fields of flowers and…read morewildlife. Lots of history to read about on the signs.

I was very underwhelmed. I had seen this as a must see on a FB "must see" KY road trips. We decided…read moreto surprise my parents and do a family trip. I do not feel there was really "anything" to this. But I must admit, I may be a bit tainted because I have been on other much more interactive train ride. That being said. The gentleman who gave details and shared historical tidbits was very knowledgeable.

Looking for something new to do on Labor Day weekend (also our Anniversary weekend), my wife ran…read moreacross the Bluegrass Railroad Museum. We've always loved doing things that are train-related, so this was an easy decision. Riding the train? Even better, as I've always loved train travel. They have the coach, first class, and the new open-air cars. Those looked awesome, but since it was our anniversary weekend we were looking for a bit more. "A bit more" meant we got to rid in The Cab with the engineers! It was a totally awesome experience, sitting, literally, at the front of the train with the guys making the thing go. As I recall the engineers were Robert and Steve, and were really nice guys. They were funny and informative, and it was cool to see the "behind the scenes" while the train was in motion. The Cab wasn't as big as I expected it to be and the controls weren't really high-tech, then again this was a pretty vintage engine. It was fun as we heard them calling out commands and statuses to each other and with the conductor at the rear of the train. The scenery along the way is beautiful. Horse farms and rolling fields make for post-card ready photographs, and the limestone cuts along the way make you realize just how much work went into getting the track built back during the civil war. We were also told that, while the railroad ties are replaced very 25 years, the iron rails are still the original rails that were laid back then. Once we got to the end of the track we ended up at the Kentucky River, which was seriously cool. While it's no longer viable for river crossings it's still an awesome thing to see. We stopped there for about 15 minutes to take pictures and to take in the scenery. Back on board the train and now the Engine is pushing the train from the rear and the engineers and conductor continued their calls, making sure things were moving safely. Once back at the station it was time to disembark and visit the museum and gift shop, which doubles as the ticket booth. They have a nice array of souvenirs to chose from for anyone at any age. The museum is a bit on the small side compared to others we've been to, but at the same time it's perfectly sized for their operation. There is also a model train exhibit in one of the stationary rail cars, and a few other cars to check out on the grounds. We really enjoyed our visit and train ride - especially riding in The Cab - and we'll be back again. Looking at other reviews it makes absolutely no sense why someone would give this a 1-star rating because it was, in every sense, and absolutely awesome experience.

This is not as big as other children's museums but is still fun and well kept. There were a range…read moreof activities for different ages and it's conveniently located to lunch places.

This is a wonderful place to bring your children. My 2.5 year old grand]daughter loved it. A hidden…read moregem in Lexington.

Going here was an impromptu, spur of the moment decision. We were out driving the countryside when…read morethis gem popped up on Google Maps. On a whim we followed our way through the countryside to the museum. The museum is well lit, spacious and clean. Parking is ample. All areas are ADA compatible. Restrooms were sparkling clean. The museum hosts a large number of memorabilia items from some well known and lesser known names in country music. Each display case is neatly organized and well kept. The museum also weaves some of Kentucky's history into the story and describes how Kentucky not only influenced country music, but how country music helped shape Kentucky. The price of admission seemed a little steep, but the museum was very clean and well laid out. It guess it costs more to keep the lights on these days. The setting is beautiful. The countryside surrounding is charming. Next door is the barn at Renfro Valley where the Oak Ridge Boys were singing the night we came. There isn't much to say about this museum other than that it is exactly what it says it is...a tribute to Kentucky's rich country music heritage. If you enjoy the songs of yesteryear or are charmed by the sound of a fiddle and steel guitar, you'll probably enjoy yourself "riche here". Lots to do, and this little venue should be on your to do list.

Well, this was quite the nice surprise. What a lovely museum. It is staged beautifully -…read morespotlighting Kentucky born artists in the music field as well as providing information about the history of bluegrass music. It was not crowded. Very reasonable entrance fee. Nice gift shop. Highly recommend a visit if you travel through. Right off the highway.

We had a nice time here for a hour or so. Staff was very friendly and willing to answer any…read morequestions. They had some interesting planes to check out up close. You can walk outside on the actual runway and see planes coming and going.

The staff was extremely friendly and welcoming! The exhibits were interesting and one of a kind!!…read moreThe only reason I gave it a four-star review was because the bathrooms were a bit rough. However, other than that, it was a great experience and I recommend!!

Although Waveland was closed, the grounds are open from dawn to dusk. A misty morning, I strolled…read morethe paths, taking in the lovely historic property. Fog had rolled in this morning which gave it a surreal view. 83 83

Excellent personal tour by Kathy. Great place to stop and…read morehear some KY history of the Bryant Boone family. Price is fair and i love love that we were able to walk into each room and see the antiques up close. We were so pleased to find this tour.

The Kentucky Military History Museum admission is included with admission to the Old State Capitol…read morebuilding. Our family visited last week. The building, complete with turrets, served as the second state arsenal after fire destroyed the first building near the Old State Capitol. Architect Nathaniel Cooke designed the arsenal in the 1850s. The arsenal was captured by the Confederates during the Civil War but later reclaimed by Union troops. Today, the building serves as a museum of weapons, artillery and memorabilia from early U.S. wars through present. I found, of most interest, the stories and memorabilia of Kentucky residents that served in various wars. There are two floors of museum, which are accessible by elevator or stairs. The museum is immaculate. A curator is available to answer questions. Free parking is available in their dedicated lot. The museum is worth a visit if you like military history.

Was in town exploring a couple of distilleries and decided to stop in the museum on the way out of…read moretown. Wish we would have stopped in earlier so we could have checked out the other museums in the area. There are lots of weapons in the museum and lots of stories told in the artifacts. We will have to come back to explore the other museums.

Located on South Main Street, in Winchester, I've driven by this place tens times. It's an old…read morehospital building, and they describe it as a signature Romanesque Revival building. It's three levels of bluegrass heritage, history, artifacts, etc. We were exploring the Hemp Fest this weekend and this was a recommended stop. They had a shuttle taking you to and from the fest. They recently added a hemp exhibit here, so this was a great opportunity to bring people in. Today they had a lady spinning hemp fiber and explaining that process and more. There was another volunteer in the hemp exhibit area. She too was super knowledgeable. I was surprised to learn how much hemp farming is part of the Winchester history. Located on the third floor, is the surgery room. As I walked around up there, I literally experienced the cold chills knowing the demise of many people in years past. If you work or are interested in the health field I definitely would recommend checking it out. That's not all on the top floor, but I'll leave the rest for you to discover. The second floor was my favorite. That's where the military history is. Usually I'm not too fascinated by history, but I was pleasantly surprised here. It was astounding to learn about the amount of the people who were drafted and served in several wars. The history that involved Clark Countians, was beyond intriguing to me. I'll post some exhibit photos. Don't miss it though, especially if you're a Kentuckian or if you're intrigued by history.

THIS ISN'T A MUSIC HISTORY MUSEUM I'm from California and I thought bluegrass was just a type of…read moremusic but I'm so happy I stopped by- it's a whole region! This museum has historical documents and artifacts that predate the state of Kentucky - the museum is run by former educators and they've put a lot of love and effort into this place- even restored floors and matched paint from its hospital days. I spent practically the whole four hours it was open wandering around with my tour guide and I feel like there was more to talk about. This woman was digging around attics and stuff getting old log books and things that by all reasonable people would have been lost to time and negligence and safeguarding them for the future. She was a fount of information and you can tell she cares a lot about the place and the history of the people that lived in Winchester. There's a whole room dedicated to military members and artifacts from various wars- long rifles and french phrase books, uniforms and captured flags. The whole museum is so well designed. I absolutely suggest you stop here if you're anywhere within a hundred miles, it's well worth it.

The Mary Todd Lincoln House in Lexington was a really interesting place to visit and definitely…read moreworth checking out if you're in the area. It's amazing to walk through a home that has such a direct connection to both Mary Todd Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln and to see the rooms where Mary spent part of her childhood. The house itself is beautiful and has a lot of character. The period furnishings, family portraits, artwork and other artifacts really help bring the history to life. I especially enjoyed being able to walk from room to room and actually see the kind of home Mary grew up in rather than just reading about her in a history book. One thing I really liked was learning more about Mary Todd Lincoln herself. She was much more than simply Abraham Lincoln's wife, and the exhibits do a good job showing her life from her childhood in Lexington through her years as First Lady and later in life. There are a lot of interesting details about her education, family and experiences that I didn't know before visiting. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, and the self-guided format was nice because we could take our time and really look at everything without feeling rushed. The small garden behind the house was also a nice touch and gave us a peaceful place to walk around after touring the home. The location in downtown Lexington is convenient too, and it's easy to combine this with other things to see, restaurants and attractions in the area. There's also a complimentary downtown walking tour available, which is a nice bonus. Overall, this was a great historical experience. If you enjoy American history, presidential history, historic homes or just visiting unique places that have a real story behind them, I would definitely recommend the Mary Todd Lincoln House. Beautiful historic home, fascinating history, knowledgeable staff and a really interesting look into Mary Todd Lincoln's life. Definitely 5 stars

If you are even remotely interested in American history, presidential families, or powerful women…read moreahead of their time, stop scrolling and just go. The Mary Todd Lincoln House is a beautifully preserved window into the early life of a complex First Lady and the turbulent times she lived through. We opted for the guided tour, and it was absolutely the right choice. Phillip was our guide, and he didn't just recite facts. He gave perspective. Thoughtful, objective, and deeply knowledgeable, he handled the complicated dynamics of a slave-owning border state with grace and clarity. He was also incredibly kind in his portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln, helping us see her not as a caricature, but as a layered, resilient, and deeply human figure. Each room is meticulously curated. Not every item was original to the Todd or Lincoln families, but everything was period appropriate and helped tell the story. The artifacts weren't just on display. They became part of the narrative, which made it all the more engaging. What surprised me most was how much the visit made me reflect on grief ... her profound losses, her perseverance, and the emotional weight she carried as First Lady during the Civil War. It gave me a new respect for her. And even better? My wife, who is not a big history buff, was the one who suggested we go, and she loved it. That says a lot. The whole tour ran a little over an hour and was the perfect pace. Despite the unseasonably hot June day, the air conditioning kept us comfortable, and the staff were welcoming from start to finish. Bonus points for the gift shop, it's small, but full of genuinely cool and thoughtful items. Well worth the money. Perfect for history buffs, curious minds, and even the skeptics. Educational, immersive, and honest. This isn't just a house. It is a home full of stories. And thanks to Phillip, we walked out with a deeper understanding of the people and times that shaped a presidency and a nation.