• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Genuine Kentucky

Kentucky Pictures, Events, Restaurants

  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
      • Advertise
    • Facts About Kentucky
      • Kentucky Geography 101: Where is Kentucky?!
      • Kentucky’s Lakes (Listed Alphabetically)
    • Famous Kentuckians
    • Kentucky Birds
      • Joys of Bird Watching
      • Bird Watching: Keeping a Journal
      • Backyard Birds Love Water!
      • Create a Backyard Bird Watching Haven
      • How to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Yard
    • Kentucky Food
    • Kentucky History
    • Sitemap
  • Pictures
  • Restaurants
    • Best Catfish Restaurants
    • Best Pizza in Ky
    • Best BBQ in Ky
    • Bowling Green Restaurants
    • Gluten Free in Kentucky
    • Kentucky Lake Restaurants
    • Off the Beaten Path
    • Owensboro, Gluten Free
    • Owensboro Restaurants
    • Where to Eat Lunch in Owensboro
  • KY State Parks
    • Carter Caves State Resort Park
    • Cumberland Falls State Resort Park
    • Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park
    • Kenlake State Resort Park
    • Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park
    • Lake Barkley State Resort Park
    • Rough River Dam State Resort Park
    • Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park
    • Pine Mountain State Resort Park
    • John James Audubon State Park
    • Lake Cumberland State Resort Park
    • More Kentucky State Parks
  • Things to Do
    • Grand Rivers Variety
    • Kentucky State Parks
    • Kentucky Lake
      • Kentucky Lake Pictures
    • Land Between the Lakes
      • Elk & Bison Prairie
      • Golden Pond Planetarium
      • The Homeplace
      • The Nature Station
      • LBL Pictures
        • Elk and Bison Prairie Pictures
    • Windy Hollow Campground and Speedway
    • Western Kentucky Botanical Garden
    • Smothers Park and Owensboro’s Riverfront
    • The Hitching Post
  • Events
You are here: Home / Archives for My Old Kentucky Home State Park

My Old Kentucky Home State Park Celebrates Federal Hill’s 200th Year With Culinary New Tours and Additions to Collection

February 20, 2018 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

My Old Kentucky Home State Park is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the construction of Federal Hill mansion with new tours and new displays at the popular Bardstown historic site.

Federal Hill was built by the Rowan family in 1818 and became popular because of its connection to Stephen Foster’s famous song “My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night!” Visitors can tour the home and learn about the Rowan family history.

New this year is a “Culinary Biscuit Tour” that explains how to make beaten biscuits as well as southern ham biscuits. This tour is offered to groups of 15-30 people.

Also new is the “Mint Julep Tour,” which explains the history of one of the earliest mixed cocktails and symbolizes southern hospitality. It is the favorite drink for the Kentucky Derby.

Other new culinary tours include the “Lemonade Tour,” and “Apple Cider Tour.”

This year has been declared “The Year of Kentucky Food” and the Kentucky Department of Tourism and Kentucky State Parks are celebrating all the local flavors, spirits and delicious foods of the bluegrass state.

School groups can take tours at My Old Kentucky Home on architecture, furniture made from wood, and farm to table, as well as the mansion tour.

The park also has some new items on display for 2018. They include:

The Rowan family’s original Victorian style parlor set, crafted from walnut and upholstered in woven horse hair, has been fully restored and returned to My Old Kentucky Home’s parlor. Consisting of two settees, a gentleman’s arm chair, a ladies chair, and multiple side chairs, the set was likely purchased by the mansion’s second owner, Rebecca Carnes Rowan, in the mid to late 19th century.

An original 19th-century painting of the birthplace of Stephen Foster, known as “The White Cottage,” was purchased by My Old Kentucky Home State Park for inclusion in the park’s permanent collection and will be on display in the mansion’s parlor.

My Old Kentucky Home State Park acquired an original 19th-century portrait of Stephen Foster that once belonged to Oliver Ditson, a publisher of Foster’s music during the mid to late 1800s. The oil on canvas portrait was painted by Frederick R. Spencer has been placed in the mansion’s central hall.

Visitors to the park gift shop will notice a new collection of Kentucky Proud jellies, jams, sauces, and mixes from My Old Kentucky Home. The new collection of food products include blackberry jam, strawberry jam, pepper jelly, biscuit mix and Henry Bain sauce.

Besides historic Federal Hill and the visitor center, My Old Kentucky Home State Park also has a campground and an 18-hole golf course.

For more information about tours and other events at My Old Kentucky Home State Park, visit https://www.visitmyoldkyhome.com/ For more information about Kentucky State Parks, visit www.parks.ky.gov

Filed Under: Events, My Old Kentucky Home State Park Tagged With: Kentucky events, My Old Kentucky Home State Park

An Old Kentucky Garden Party at My Old Kentucky Home State Park

April 7, 2016 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

If you’ve ever been to Bardstown, you know what I mean when I say this is a very special Kentucky town. If you’ve never visited Bardstown, here’s your chance!

Enjoy an evening full of Kentucky history in the newly landscaped gardens at Federal Hill by Jon Carloftis at “An Old Kentucky Garden Party” on April 28 from 5:30-8 p.m., at My Old Kentucky Home State Park in Bardstown.

The event will feature photographs from Linda Bruckheimer’s “Local Color: Scenes from the Kentucky Roadside” collection, the Stephen Foster Story Singers, southern hors d’oeuvres, mint juleps and Kentucky spirits.

Bruckheimer, a Kentucky native, has been recognized for her preservation and philanthropic work across the country. She has restored numerous buildings in Bloomfield and in 2012, Preservation Kentucky established the Linda Bruckheimer Excellence in Rural Preservation Award.  Her photography is inspired by a road trip from Kentucky to Hollywood. An Old Kentucky Garden Party

Carloftis, also a Kentucky native, is an award-winning garden designer, writer, author and lecturer. His 25-year career in gardening began in New York City where he designed and installed rooftop gardens in Manhattan.

The event will benefit Preservation Kentucky and the Kentucky State Park Foundation. Tickets are $75 per person. For more information, call 502-871-4570 or visit preservationkentucky.org.

 

Filed Under: Bardstown, My Old Kentucky Home State Park, Springtime in Kentucky Tagged With: Bardstown, Kentucky events, My Old Kentucky Home, My Old Kentucky Home State Park, News

Tobacco Barn Candle Sold at My Old Kentucky Home State Park

September 16, 2015 by Joi Sigers 3 Comments

My Old Kentucky Home Tobacco Barn Candle

My Old Kentucky Home Tobacco Barn Candle

If you haven’t visited the My Old Kentucky Home State Park recently, here’s a friendly reminder to do so asap. The park is a one-of-a-kind experience that’s just perfect in every way.

My Old Kentucky Home has a little extra incentive for you to pay them a visit soon – candles! If you love candles even half as much as I do (I have at least one flickering during all waking hours), you’re going to have to check out their fun line of Kentucky accented candles. These candles include a “Tobacco Barn Candle” that has apparently become really popular.

The candle, made by Kentucky Green Studio in Paris, Kentucky, has the scent of tobacco curing in a barn and is sold at the park’s gift shop. Other candles, which are also related to the history of the park, include: Doo-Dah!, Mint Julep, Bacon, Meadow in the Bloom, Muscadine Wine, Blackberry Wine, and Hard Times.

The candles (which would make wonderful Christmas gifts) each cost $16. Call the park at 502-348-3502 for orders and information.

My Old Kentucky Home State Park includes the historic mansion called Federal Hill. Construction of Federal Hill was started by John Rowan in 1795 and was completed in 1818. The historic home is the subject of Stephen Foster’s song, “My Old Kentucky Home,” which is also the Kentucky state song. The park also has an 18-hole golf course, campground, picnic area and a summertime theatrical production – “The Stephen Foster Story.”

Read more about My Old Kentucky Home State Park on the Kentucky State Parks’ Official Website!

 

Filed Under: Kentucky History, My Old Kentucky Home State Park, Shop Tagged With: My Old Kentucky Home, My Old Kentucky Home State Park, My Old Kentucky Home Tobacco Barn Candle

Welcome to Genuine Kentucky!

Genuine Kentucky is a Kentucky Blog and online magazine celebrating the beautiful Bluegrass State. We shine the spotlight on Kentucky with pictures, restaurant reviews, news, tourism, Things to Do in Kentucky, and more.

We’re proud Kentuckians and the non-profit effort you see before you is a labor of love.

E-mail me anytime! ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Kentucky Blog Updates

The Pond Grilled Shrimp and Baked Potato.

Delicious Grilled Shrimp at The Pond in Aurora, Kentucky If you're anything like me, you LOVE to get out in all the hustle … [Read More...] about Enjoying all Kentucky Has to Offer in Cold and Flu Season…

Beautiful Cardinal in Ice Covered Tree

Cardinal Riding Out the 2014 Ice Storm Can you believe it's been 8 years since the famous 2014 ice storm (well, it was … [Read More...] about Throwback to 2014 and the Kentucky Ice Storm… Even Then, There was Beauty

The Pond Catfish and Baked Potato

Baked Potato and Grilled Catfish at The Pond One of my favorite Kentucky restaurants is The Pond in Aurora, Kentucky. I love … [Read More...] about The Pond at Kentucky Lake: Always a Relaxing and Wonderful Place to Dine

Kentucky Lake - Winter at Lighthouse Landing

Lighthouse Landing at Kentucky Lake If you were a regular reader of Genuine Kentucky, you know all too well that we've been … [Read More...] about Genuine Kentucky… Recovering from a Whirlwind of Changes!

The Kentucky Legend Cafe

Photo Credit: The Owensboro Convention Center My youngest daughter, Stephany, often talk about squeezing as much joy out of … [Read More...] about Hot Dog Days of Summer at the Kentucky Legend Cafe in Owensboro (Located in the Convention Center)

Golden Pond Visitor's Center and Planetarium

The Golden Pond Visitor Center Planetarium and Observatory International Astronomy Day is Saturday, May 7, 2022 and The … [Read More...] about Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory: Activities for Astronomy Day (May 7, 2022)

Smothers Park Owensboro

Some of the more popular posts we've done on Genuine Kentucky have been the ones under the category "Where to eat in … [Read More...] about Kentucky Legend Café: Delicious Place to Enjoy Lunch in Owensboro, Kentucky

Gorgeous owl at the Nature Station

Owl at Woodlands Nature Station As I said in my last post, everything is coming back to life around Kentucky... everything … [Read More...] about A Sensational Spring Break at Woodlands Nature Station in the Land Between the Lakes April 2-10, 2022

Follow Genuine Kentucky on Twitter!

Tweets by @GenuineKentucky


"When reading about a Kentucky event, please be sure you check the date. Old events are not always deleted from the website. If you have an event you'd like to see on Genuine Kentucky or a 'Made in Kentucky' food or product you'd like reviewed, please contact us! " ~ Joi ("Joy")

Flowering Tree in Bowling Green
Fraley Music Festival
Maddox

Kentucky News and Events

  • Enjoying all Kentucky Has to Offer in Cold and Flu Season…
  • Throwback to 2014 and the Kentucky Ice Storm… Even Then, There was Beauty
  • The Pond at Kentucky Lake: Always a Relaxing and Wonderful Place to Dine
  • Genuine Kentucky… Recovering from a Whirlwind of Changes!
  • Hot Dog Days of Summer at the Kentucky Legend Cafe in Owensboro (Located in the Convention Center)
  • Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory: Activities for Astronomy Day (May 7, 2022)
  • Kentucky Legend Café: Delicious Place to Enjoy Lunch in Owensboro, Kentucky
  • A Sensational Spring Break at Woodlands Nature Station in the Land Between the Lakes April 2-10, 2022

Kentucky State Parks

We have a special passion for Kentucky State Parks, so you'll find many articles and reviews centered around the beautiful state parks in Kentucky.

A personal goal is to visit, photograph, and enjoy each and every one of our state parks and eat at each of the state resort parks. Make no mistake about it, we're well on our way!

Bird Watching in Kentucky!

One of our greatest passions is birds and bird watching is an absolute favorite pastime. If you love our feathered friends and want to learn more about bird watching and attracting birds to your own backyard, be sure to check out our section dedicated entirely to Kentucky birds.

Kentucky Restaurants and Reviews

Kentucky Restaurant Reviews

Where are the best Kentucky restaurants?! Find out in our Kentucky Restaurant Reviews.

Also See: Best Fried Catfish in Kentucky
  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Kentucky Events

The pandemic has crushed many activities, events, and normalcy – not just in Kentucky, but all around the world. As we creep back toward normal, I want desperately to highlight any and all events going on around Kentucky. Please E-mail me any information you’d like shared about your Kentucky event! ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Kentucky Pictures

Kentucky Pictures
Check out the beautiful Pictures of Kentucky in our photo albums!

Advertising & Reviews

If you are interested in advertising on Genuine Kentucky, please contact us: e-mail Joi Sigers.

Also, if you have a resort, condo, golf course, restaurant, or even a cup of coffee (LOVE coffee!) you'd like for us to review, please contact us at joi@genuinekentucky.com.

Genuine Kentucky Disclaimer

We do not work for any Kentucky service or organization. We are simply proud to have been born and raised in the greatest state in the country and are thrilled to call it home. This site serves as our tribute to Kentucky and its warm and wonderful people. Our mission is to bring more travelers to Kentucky and keep more Kentuckians home! See our Privacy Policy.
Copyright Genuine Kentucky 2022