My Old Kentucky Home State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids My Old Kentucky Home State Park |
|
|---|---|
Federal Hill Mansion
|
|
 My Old Kentucky Home State Park
Location in Kentucky
|
|
| Location | Bardstown, Nelson, Kentucky, United States |
| Elevation | 643 ft (196 m) |
| Established | 1936 |
| Governing body | Kentucky Department of Parks |
| Website | My Old Kentucky Home State Park |
|
My Old Kentucky Home
|
|
| Location | Bardstown, Kentucky |
| Area | 235 acres (0.95 km2) |
| Built | 1795 |
| Architect | John Rowan |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000354 |
| Added to NRHP | March 11, 1971 |
My Old Kentucky Home State Park is a special place in Bardstown, Kentucky. It's built around a historic farm called Federal Hill. This farm was owned by a very important person, John Rowan, who was a U.S. Senator back in 1795.
The farm became famous because of its connection to a well-known American song. This song is called "My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night". It was written by Stephen Foster, who was a cousin of the Rowan family. He was likely inspired by a book about freedom and by the sights he saw at Federal Hill.
Because the song became so popular, the state of Kentucky bought Federal Hill. They made it a historic site on July 4, 1923. It was then renamed "My Old Kentucky Home." In 1928, Stephen Foster's song became the official state song of Kentucky. The mansion was even featured on a U.S. postage stamp in 1992. You can also see it on the back of the Kentucky state quarter that came out in 2001.
Contents
Discovering Federal Hill Mansion
Federal Hill is a large, historic house. It is often called "My Old Kentucky Home." Judge John Rowan and his wife Ann Lytle planned and built this mansion. The original farm was huge, covering about 1,200 acres.
The mansion was built in two main parts. The back part was finished in 1795. The larger, main part was completed in 1818. People who were forced to work built the house. When Judge Rowan lived there, Federal Hill was a busy place. It hosted many important legal, political, and social events. Famous visitors included Marquis de Lafayette, Stephen Foster, Andrew Jackson, and Henry Clay.
In 1839, a fire damaged the top floor and roof of the house. A carpenter named Alexander Moore fixed the damage. He had also worked on the house's design when it was first built. After Judge Rowan passed away, his son, John Rowan, Jr., lived at Federal Hill. His wife, Rebecca, lived there until 1897. Their daughter, Madge, then inherited the house.
The images of Federal Hill and the anti-slavery book Uncle Tom's Cabin inspired Stephen Foster's song. His brother said Stephen visited Federal Hill sometimes. In 1922, a group bought Federal Hill from Madge Rowan Frost. They fixed up the property and gave it to the state of Kentucky. It officially became a state park on July 4, 1923.
The Mansion's Design
Federal Hill is built in the Federal Style. This style was popular in the early 1800s. The mansion sits on a strong limestone foundation. It has a basement and two and a half stories. The outside walls are made of bricks that were made right there on the farm.
Inside, the house has a central hallway. The ceilings are very tall, about 13 feet high. The floors are made of ash wood. The main rooms, like the dining room, parlor, and library, are on the first floor. Upstairs, there are three bedrooms. All the rooms have beautiful fireplaces and windowsills. These were carved by a skilled craftsman.
Around the mansion, you can still see some old farm buildings. There's an original springhouse. The oldest part of the house, the back section, has four rooms. It also includes the kitchen and a smokehouse. This back part was where the family first lived while the main house was being built. Near the house, there is a family burial ground and a pretty flower garden.
Exploring the State Park
My Old Kentucky Home started as a historic site. In 1936, it became a state park. This was done to add more fun activities around the historic mansion. Today, when you visit, you can learn about Stephen Foster's life. You'll also learn about the people who worked there and daily life in the 1800s. Most of the furniture inside the mansion belonged to the Rowan family.
The mansion has been carefully restored several times. The latest big renovation was in 2006. It cost almost $1 million. New floors, wallpapers, and window decorations were added. These changes made the mansion look like it did when John Rowan Jr. lived there. Tour guides dress in old-fashioned clothes. They even sing "My Old Kentucky Home" during the tours! Many guides also perform in The Stephen Foster Story musical.
The park hosts many events all year. During the Christmas season, you can take special candlelight tours. The mansion is decorated beautifully for the holidays.
A new visitors center was built in the 1990s. It has space for meetings and weddings. There's also a gift shop where you can find books by Kentucky authors. You can also buy items related to the Kentucky Derby. The park also has an 18-hole golf course called the Kenny Rapier Golf Course. It's named after a former Kentucky Parks Commissioner. If you like camping, there's a campground open from mid-March to mid-November.
Kentucky State Quarter
On June 1, 1992, a special 29-cent stamp was released. It honored My Old Kentucky Home State Park. The Federal Hill mansion was also chosen to be on the back of the Kentucky State Quarter. Next to the mansion on the coin, it says "My Old Kentucky Home."
Kentucky's quarter was the 15th state quarter to be released. It came out on October 18, 2001. This showed that Kentucky was the 15th state to join the United States. The official event to show the quarter happened at the park. The governor at the time, Paul E. Patton, said the mansion and the horse on the coin were "the two most visible, beloved symbols in Kentucky."
The Stephen Foster Story and Other Shows
The park has an outdoor amphitheater. This is where the musical The Stephen Foster Story is performed every summer. It's the longest-running outdoor play in Kentucky. It started in 1959 and was written by Paul Green. During the show, actors sing many of Foster's songs. They dance in old-fashioned costumes and tell the story of Foster's life.
The amphitheater also puts on other musicals now. In 2008, they performed The Civil War. In 2009, they staged Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Other shows have included The Wizard of Oz and All Shook Up. The amphitheater also hosts summer concerts.
