Time travel
The ancient past
Your journey begins deep underground at Park City’s Historic Diamond Caverns, a proud consumer-member of Warren County RECC as described by owner Christine Bragg. Discovered in 1859, the cave’s glittering calcite formations—stalactites, stalagmites and flowstone draperies—have been sculpted over millions of years, and daily guided tours lead visitors through chambers where geology whispers of this ancient world.
“We are the second-oldest show cave in Kentucky and the fourth-oldest continuously visited commercial cave in the nation,” says Bragg, adding that the cave’s formations are considered some of the nation’s finest. “We are a historic landmark hiding right beneath your feet, a world-class beauty with our calcite drapery deposits.”
So come for the geology, but stay for the ultimate natural air conditioning, deliciously cooling in Kentucky’s sweaty summertime humidity.
“We are always enhancing our guest experience through guided storytelling that connects our 1859 roots to the modern-day wonders of the cavern,” says Bragg.
Native American history
Next, walk in the footfalls of Native American history at Mantle Rock Nature Preserve, located in Smithland in the Warren RECC service area and managed by The Nature Conservancy. A certified site on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, the preserve is marked by a natural sandstone arch shaped over millennia by wind and water, with upland forest and a rocky stream.
Mantle Rock rises 30 feet above the forest floor and spans 188 feet—a rugged and natural shelter characterized by fluorite deposits and bluffs. It was here, during the harsh winter of 1838–1839, that thousands of Cherokee people camped during forced removal from their homelands, waiting for the frozen Ohio River to thaw and ferry operations to resume.
A hiking trail takes visitors along the road the Cherokee walked—the halfway point of their 800-mile journey—and to the arch framed by rare glade ecosystems and native plants. A longer Loop Trail features a historic roadbed, and a series of interpretive panels provide historical and ecological context.
Early exploration
In 1778, while hunting near Blue Licks, Daniel Boone was captured by Chief Blackfish, a Shawnee leader. Impressed with Boone’s skills, Blackfish called Boone Sheltowee, meaning “Big Turtle” and marked Boone as an adopted son and member of his clan. The Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail is named in honor of Kentucky’s favorite frontier explorer.
Winding through Daniel Boone National Forest is the backbone of its vast trail system, Sheltowee Trace. The trail begins on Main Street in Morehead in Rowan County and traverses 300-plus miles of rugged, forested terrain. It traces Boone’s footsteps across forests and ridges that still feel untamed, from the Knob region to the Cumberland Plateau. White blazes with the image of a turtle mark the meandering trail routes for hikers.
Meanwhile, Harrodsburg’s Old Fort Harrod State Park recreates Kentucky’s first permanent settlement, complete with cabins, blockhouses, a working blacksmith shop and costumed interpreters who make frontier life come alive.
Explore its pioneer cemetery— the oldest cemetery west of the Alleghenies—with its crooked and weathered tombstones. Visitors also can see the humble cabin where Abraham Lincoln’s parents, Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks, wed on June 12, 1806, enclosed within the Lincoln Marriage Temple, a stop on Kentucky’s Lincoln Heritage Trail. In the historic Mansion Museum, find exhibits including furniture and tools used by early Kentucky settlers, and souvenirs in the gift shop.
Bourbon beginnings
Bourbon’s origin story traces back to 1789, with the discovery that charred oak barrels imparted a mellow smoothness and flavor to America’s native spirit. That legacy lives on at Sparta’s Neeley Family Distillery, served by Owen Electric, and on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, where 11 generations have carried forward traditional methods—small batches, copper stills and family craftsmanship—linking today’s bourbon to its frontier beginnings.
According to its website, the operation had been distilling and bootlegging illegally in Eastern Kentucky for 11 generations, but in 2015 the family business went legal when Roy Neeley built the state-of-the-art distillery. His son, Royce Neeley, president and master distiller, began working in the distillery at age 24—becoming one of the youngest distillery owners in the world. Together they continue the family tradition of crafting authentic moonshine, including Bottled in Bond Old Pap Neeley’s Reserve Kentucky Bourbon Barrel-Aged Moonshine, and a variety of bourbons like Neeley Bottled in Bond Four Grain Bourbon.
Take a guided tour for an insider’s look at daily operations and the handcrafted production process, concluding with a tutored tasting of eight Neeley signature spirits. You also can bottle your own Neeley Family Distillery Single Barrel Bourbon straight from the cask, filling, corking and sealing a one-of-a-kind Kentucky keepsake.
Roots of commercial wine
Established in 1799, First Vineyard Winery in Nicholasville was America’s first commercial vineyard, a pioneering spirit that is honored with tours and tastings amid rolling hills overlooking the Kentucky River Valley.
“The view is breathtaking,” says Bobbye Carpenter, who co-owns the winery with Tom Beall. “To gaze upon the Alexander grapevines that were the same type of vine planted by (master vinedresser) John James Dufour in 1799 is awe inspiring.”
Served by Blue Grass Energy and on the National Register of Historic Places, First Vineyard Winery offers, as its tagline suggests, “a taste of history” with every sip. The winery has ties to Daniel Boone, who surveyed the land; Patrick Henry, who issued the deed; and Thomas Jefferson, who in 1805 tasted the wine made with those Alexander grapes.
Drop by for a taste of one of First Vineyard Winery’s dry, semi-dry, or sweet red and white wines, along with a crowd pleaser, the sweetly decadent Cherry Cordial.
In Graves County, the first winery established there is named as much for its community as for its fine wine grapes: Fancy Farm Vineyard and Winery, served by West Kentucky RECC, continues the Bluegrass state’s winemaking tradition, blending heritage with modern winemaking.
Owned by fourth-generation landowner Tom Curtsinger, the vineyard is known for its boutique winemaking spirit, growing European grape varietals in Western Kentucky soil that features an array of grape varieties: cabernet sauvignon, merlot, Sangiovese, malbec, chardonnay, viognier and Riesling.
The winery crafts small batch wines that reflect the region’s warm climate, while the cozy tasting room with wood-spindled wraparound porch and farmhouse décor creates a relaxed setting for those who like to linger over their favorite wine.
“When folks arrive, they tell us they feel like they’re old friends,” says Curtsinger. “And that they’ve found the best new hideaway getaway.”
Civil War era
The Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site, served by Inter-County Energy, preserves the grounds where Kentucky’s largest and bloodiest Civil War battle unfolded on October 8, 1862. As one of the most unaltered battlefields in the United States, Perryville presents visitors with the same sweeping panoramas the soldiers of the Union and Confederate armies saw on the fateful day they clashed.
Standing in the hush of open prairie and grasslands, with monuments recalling the stories of the soldiers and civilians caught in the conflict, one can almost sense the ghosts of that long-ago conflict—and in fact, the park offers Ghost Walks in the fall.
Miles of hiking trails marked with cannons and dozens of interpretative signs detailing the battle invite visitors to explore the land. Many of the fallen remain unknown, resting in mass graves or beneath simple markers that reflect the battle’s scale and hurried burials.
“The Perryville Battlefield has two Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, Pvt. John Durham of the 1st Wisconsin Infantry, and Pvt. William Surles of the 2nd Ohio Infantry,” says Park Manager Bryan Bush.
Take a guided tour. See the wildflowers, birds and butterflies at Perryville, which is also a wildlife refuge. Visit the Perryville Battlefield Museum with its Civil War display and pop into the Museum Store for a book on the subject, including Kenneth Noe’s comprehensive Perryville: This Grand Havoc of Battle.
This summer, on July 4, the Sons of Union Veterans of Kentucky will celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the United States at Perryville Battlefield. (More info at KentuckyLiving.com.)
Coal mining history
Coal fueled Kentucky’s economy for generations and now, in a place where history and adventure intersect, visitors can explore over 60,000 acres of former coal lands repurposed for adrenaline-pumping recreation.
At Knott County’s Mine Made Adventure Park and Campground, trails for ATVs, side-by-sides, dirt bikes and more cut across the rugged terrain.
Pull into an RV site equipped with water, electricity and Wi-Fi; book one of eight cozy cabins; or pitch a tent, choosing from 109 campsites in a wooded setting. A year-round paradise in Eastern Kentucky, the park is managed by County Judge-Executive Jeff Dobson and the Knott County Fiscal Court. It offers a family-oriented campground for a laid-back and carefree vacation, where swapping stories around the campfire, drinking in the beauty of the hills of Eastern Kentucky and traversing the trails are what’s on the itinerary.
The birth of bluegrass
The 1940s brought the sound of bluegrass music to the world stage. Learn the story on Jerusalem Ridge in Beaver Dam at the Bill Monroe Homeplace, site of the childhood home of the Father of Bluegrass and a historic musical touchstone that has become a pilgrimage site for music fans around the world.
Served by Warren RECC, the homeplace is staged for the period Monroe lived there, from 1917 to 1929, and is filled with replicas of the family’s belongings, along with a few original pieces.
“The home was restored using 70% of original material, and those walls have music in them,” says Jody Flener, executive director at the Ohio County Tourism Commission. “You’ll see the woodburning stove in the boys’ room, Bill’s mother’s rocker in the girls’ room, her butter churn in the kitchen, and the ironing board where (Malissa Vandiver Monroe) stood many hours to instill the importance of a good appearance in her son.”
Visit the home March through November. Bring a lawn chair for live bluegrass music during Pickin’ on The Porch, 6–8:30 p.m. on the second Saturday each month, May to October.
The fight for civil rights
Continue the journey into the 1960s and Kentucky’s role in the struggle for Civil Rights and social justice at Lincoln Hall in Berea. A stop on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, Berea College was among the first integrated colleges in the South, and Lincoln Hall, erected 1885-1887 and named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln, symbolizes its commitment to equality.
Lincoln Hall originally housed classrooms, a laboratory and the college library. Its architectural style, according to Berea archivist Tim Brinkley, is reminiscent of buildings on the campus of Harvard University. Today it is an administrative office building and, while not open to the public, you can enjoy the historic building from the outside. Afterward, head over to the college’s Doris Ullman Galleries for an enriching way to experience the campus.
Showcasing more than 16,500 pieces of artworks and artifacts from around the world in a collection that spans about 5,000 years, the galleries present rotating exhibits of contemporary visual artists. It is also home to the Berea College Art Collection, which was established in 1935 as a teaching collection.
Featured are paintings, prints and photographs by European and American masters and contemporary artists as well as contemporary ceramics and Asian arts. Significant pieces include works by Rembrandt, Renaissance paintings from the Samuel H. Kress Collection, Japanese woodblock prints and over 3,000 photographs by gallery namesake, Doris Ulmann (1882-1934), a photographer famous for her portraits of the people of Appalachia.
In addition to rotating exhibitions, the venue hosts gallery tours, hands-on workshops and artist talks, and guest lectures.
From the ancient formations of Historic Diamond Caverns to the Civil Rights legacy of Berea, Kentucky’s history is a journey through time. Each stop along the way, from battlefield and distillery to vineyard and historic home, adds a layer of depth and character to the state’s identity.
