Reviews

Katherine Vande Brake

Wonderful place to visit to understand Kentucky history and the family that hosted their cousin Stephen Foster at their “Kentucky Home.” Wood work in this mansion is so beautiful.

Thomas Maguire

My Wife and I visited the mansion for the Shadows on the Hill program for the third time this past weekend. As always the actors did a terrific job of providing a history of the property and the tragedies that have occurred there. We were also finally able to attend the program on 19th Century Funerary Customs. Our Guide Kit did a great job on this one as well and her depth of knowledge on the topic was very impressive.

Lynda C

I'm a Kentuckian, born and raised. I was in Bardstown for another event in August and after 66 years, I figured I might as well visit My Old Ky Home. I was not disappointed! The visitors center is well kept and offers a video of Stephen Foster which is VERY INFORMATIVE. The staff at the center were very nice and hospitable. I was pleased to learn that the history of slaves on the 'once plantation' was well represented. The tour of the 'home' was exceptional. It was truly like stepping back into that time. The tour guides, Jose and Richard, were exceptional! They were very well versed in facts and were eager to answer questions that my sister and I had. They made our whole visit well worth it. Thanks go out to Jose and Richard for doing such a great job! I TOTALLY recommend the visit for young and old (however if you are older, I think you appreciate it more).

H Halverson

Great historical tour at My old Kentucky Home. They have people who walk you through the first and second floor and explain the history of each item. It was informative and interesting. No photos or videos are allowed inside.

Lalo Perez

We recently visited My Old Kentucky Home State Park and took the guided tour of the historic home — an experience that was both beautiful and deeply moving. Our guide, Kit, was passionate and incredibly knowledgeable about the history of this exceptional place. She shared the story with grace, warmth, and genuine enthusiasm, especially when speaking about her hero, Rebecca Carnes Rowan, whose life she recounted with great care and admiration. The most unforgettable moment came when Kit sang “My Old Kentucky Home” in parts, explaining the meaning and history behind each verse as she went. As one of the professional actors in The Story of Stephen Foster, she sang with remarkable talent and emotion, bringing the song — and the history — to life in a way that touched us deeply. The grounds of the home, with their old and towering trees, offer a sense of peace while also carrying a somber weight — a quiet reminder of the difficult history of slavery connected to this place. This balance of beauty and historical truth made our visit even more meaningful.

Tom Helm

Great place. A Kentucky staple. Must see this. I would suggest you take the tour and learn the rich history of the house as well as the property. Really enjoyed this establishment. If you enjoy history, put My Old Kentucky Home on your list.

T

Really pretty grounds filled with so much history. The house tour was really interesting and neat to see all the furniture and hear the stories. We were rushed a bit upstairs but overall a nice tour.

Craig Helton

Staff were very helpful and informative! Loved learning the history of the Rowan family. Tour guides were simply amazing!

Genia S

Lovely park. This was my first visit to this historic park. Very nice outing with my daughter and grandson. Next time I'll have to take time to look around their beautiful gift shop.

Megan Ernst

Very enjoyable, interesting tour of the house. Our tour guide, Gary, was very well-spoken and knowledgeable. Since we visited in October, we also learned some fascinating facts about Victorian mourning traditions. Overall, a great stop and worth the time!