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Jeffersontown Historical Museum facts for kids

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Jeffersontown Historical Museum
Jeffersontown, KY Library Main Entrance, January 2023.jpg
Entrance to the museum facility
Established 1972
Location 10635 Watterson Trail
Jeffersontown, Kentucky 40299-3750
Type History
Public transit access TARC (Route 40)
Nearest parking On site (no charge)

The Jeffersontown Historical Museum is a cool place in Jeffersontown, Kentucky, where you can learn all about the city's past. It shows how Jeffersontown grew from a small farming town with a central square into the busy city it is today.

Exploring Jeffersontown's Past

The Jeffersontown Historical Museum helps visitors discover the rich history of this Kentucky city. It's a great spot to see how life has changed over many years.

How the Museum Started

The museum first opened in 1972. It began as a small collection of old items in a room at City Hall. A group called the Jeffersontown and Southeastern Jefferson County Historical Society was formed the next year. This group helped take care of the museum and find more cool things to show.

The first museum closed in 1982. The items were then stored safely in the basement of City Hall.

The Museum Reopens and Grows

In 1996, the museum opened its doors again. This time, it was inside the Jeffersontown Library building. The City of Jeffersontown took charge of running it.

The museum quickly became very popular. Because of this, it was updated in 1997 and again in 2000. These updates helped make space for new and exciting exhibits. In 2011, the city council asked the museum to start putting its collection online. This way, even more people could see the historical items from home!

What You Can See at the Museum

The museum has many interesting things on display. You can see old photographs, special fabrics, rare books, and even costumes. These items once belonged to people who lived in Jeffersontown, from the very first families to people living there today.

Jeffersontown Museum Woodworking Tools
Woodworking tools used to build log cabins
Jeffersontown Historical Museum Desks
School desks at the Jeffersontown Historical Museum

Amazing Doll Collection

One of the museum's most special collections is its "Dolls of the World." A former resident donated this huge collection. It has over 1,250 dolls! Many of these dolls are hundreds of years old. It's one of the biggest doll collections in the Midwestern United States.

Other Cool Artifacts

You can also find other items from Jeffersontown's past. There's an old enamel sign from the city's former passenger train station. You can also see copies of The Jeffersonian, which was a local newspaper.

Jeffersontown Museum Cash Register
Cash register and replica store front

Changing Exhibits

The museum also has a special exhibit that changes every six months or so. This means there's always something new to see! Past changing exhibits have included collections of wedding dresses, items related to The Beatles, and even old Archie Comics memorabilia.

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