Discover Frankfort

Frankfort brings together historic sites, architecture, wildlife and guided experiences. If you’re looking for a hotel in Frankfort, your personal interests can help you plan your activities: historic homes, earthwork fortifications, a distinctive stone staircase, native wildlife or tours covering a range of topics.

Historic Sites on Different Scales

Liberty Hall Historic Site comprises two historic homes: Liberty Hall and the Orlando Brown House. The site also includes four acres of lawns and gardens. This means visitors can explore both named historic buildings and green spaces. Leslie Morris Park on Fort Hill offers a different historical focus, with two Civil War earthwork fortifications. Here, the focus is on fortifications rather than historic homes. Anyone interested in Frankfort’s history can distinguish between these two themes: the homes at Liberty Hall Historic Site and the earthwork fortifications at Leslie Morris Park. These different forms make the historical highlights tangible without reducing them to a single theme.

An Architectural Detail

The Old State Capitol adds a specific architectural feature to the range of historic sites: it has a unique, self-supporting stone staircase. Here, the focus is not on an entire house but on the construction of a single architectural element. For travelers interested in architecture, the staircase offers a specific point of interest. Compared with the historic homes at Liberty Hall Historic Site, the focus shifts from the building to an individual staircase.

Wildlife at Salato Wildlife Education Center

Salato Wildlife Education Center in Frankfort showcases more than 40 native species, including black bears, bald eagles, bobcats and elk. These examples illustrate the number of species: mammals and birds are both represented. Travelers who want to focus on something other than historic homes and buildings will find wildlife and its presentation here as a distinct theme. This places cultural history, architecture and native species alongside one another as different areas of interest.

The River and Guided Experiences

The Kentucky River features in two different ways: Kentucky River Tours offers historic river tours departing from the Frankfort Boat Club, and a walking trail offers a scenic view of the river. Tour times may change, so check the schedule before booking. When planning, a historic river tour and a walking trail with river views are two distinct options.

A guided walking tour is also offered in downtown Frankfort’s historic district and lasts 45 to 60 minutes. Dates and booking requirements may change; check both before your visit. The stated duration makes it easy to plan for this walking tour. At Buffalo Trace Distillery, a tour offers an introduction to the history and science of bourbon. Guided experiences range from a historic river cruise and a walking tour of the historic district to an introduction to bourbon history and science. Depending on whether you’re interested in the river, city history or bourbon, different tour themes take center stage.

For the broader travel overview: Franklin.