My Old Kentucky Home State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids My Old Kentucky Home State Park |
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Federal Hill Mansion
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| Type | Kentucky state park |
| Location | Bardstown, Kentucky, United States |
| Area | 235 acres (95 ha) |
| Elevation | 643 ft (196 m) |
| Established | June 19, 1936 |
| Administered by | Kentucky Department of Parks |
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My Old Kentucky Home
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| 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 state park located in Bardstown, Kentucky, United States. The main attraction here is Federal Hill, a historic home that was once part of a large farm.
This home belonged to United States Senator John Rowan starting in 1795. During his family's time there, it was a popular spot for important people. Local politicians and famous visitors would often gather at Federal Hill.
The farm is most famous because of its connection to the song "My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night". This popular song was written by Stephen Foster. He was a cousin of the Rowan family and may have visited Federal Hill sometimes. The song became very famous across the United States.
Because of the song's popularity, the state of Kentucky bought Federal Hill. It was made a historic site and renamed "My Old Kentucky Home" on July 4, 1923. Stephen Foster's song became the official state song of Kentucky in 1928. The Federal Hill mansion was even shown on a U.S. postage stamp in 1992. It also appears on the back of the Kentucky state quarter that came out in 2001.
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Exploring Federal Hill Mansion
Federal Hill, also known as "My Old Kentucky Home," is a large, historic house. It was designed for Judge John Rowan and his wife Ann Lytle. The original farm around the mansion was about 1,200 acres.
The mansion was built in two main parts. The back section was finished in 1795. The larger, main part of the house was completed in 1818. This main section has five wide bays and three stories.
When Judge Rowan lived there, Federal Hill was a center for important legal, political, and social events. Famous guests included Marquis de Lafayette, Andrew Jackson, and Henry Clay. Stephen Foster, the songwriter, was said to have visited sometimes.
In 1839, a fire damaged the third floor and roof of the house. After Judge Rowan passed away, his son, John Rowan Jr., lived at Federal Hill. Later, his widow, Rebecca Carnes Rowan, lived there until 1897. Their daughter, Madge (Rowan) Frost, then owned the house.
In 1922, a group called the "My Old Kentucky Home Commission" bought Federal Hill from Madge Rowan Frost. They fixed up the property and gave it to Kentucky to become a state park. The park officially opened on July 4, 1923.
Mansion's Design and Features
Federal Hill is built in the Federal Style, which was popular in the early 1800s. The house sits on a strong foundation made of local limestone. It has a lower level, called an English basement, and two and a half stories above.
The outside walls are mostly made of bricks that were created right on the property. These bricks are laid in a special pattern called Flemish bond. Inside, the mansion has a center-hall layout. The ceilings are high, and the floors are made of ash wood.
The main rooms, like the dining room, parlor, and library, are on the ground floor. Upstairs, there are three bedrooms. All the rooms have beautiful mantels and windowsills. These were carefully carved by a skilled craftsman.
Around the mansion, you can still see some original farm buildings. There's a springhouse and the oldest part of the residence at the back. This older section includes four rooms, the kitchen, and a smokehouse. The smokehouse is part of the building, which is unusual. This back section was where the family first lived while the main house was being built.
To the east of the house is the family's burial ground. Behind the house, there is a modern flower garden. There is also a burial ground for enslaved people to the southwest of the mansion.
My Old Kentucky Home State Park Activities
This property started as a State Historic Site. In 1936, it became part of the Division of State Parks. This change allowed for more activities around the historic mansion.
Today, tours at the park teach visitors about Stephen Foster's life. They also share stories about the lives of enslaved people at Federal Hill. You can learn about Kentucky traditions and what daily life was like on a farm in the 1800s. About 85% of the furniture inside the mansion once belonged to the Rowan family. Their family coin silver is also on display.
The mansion has been carefully restored several times, including in 1977 and 2006. The 2006 renovation cost almost $1 million. It used new floor coverings, fancy wallpapers, and window treatments. These changes helped the mansion look like it did when John Rowan Jr. lived there.
Tour guides at the park dress in old-fashioned costumes. Since 2015, tours include guides singing "My Old Kentucky Home." Many of these guides also perform in The Stephen Foster Story. This musical is usually performed at the park from May to August each year.
Throughout the year, the park hosts many special events. During the holiday season, special Christmas candlelight tours are offered. The mansion is decorated for the holidays and lit by candlelight.
A new visitors center was added to the park in the 1990s. It has space for conferences and weddings, a gift shop, and a kitchen. The gift shop sells items about the park and Kentucky. You can find books by Kentucky authors and Kentucky Derby items there.
The park also has the Kenny Rapier Golf Course. This is an 18-hole golf course named after a former Kentucky Commissioner of Parks. It also has a fully equipped pro shop. If you like camping, there's a 39-site campground open from mid-March to mid-November.
Kentucky State Quarter Features
On June 1, 1992, a 29-cent stamp was released to honor the park. The Federal Hill mansion was also chosen as one of the symbols for the Kentucky State Quarter. To the right of 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 ceremony to show the quarter was held at the park. The governor at the time, Paul E. Patton, said the mansion and a thoroughbred horse were: "...the two most visible, beloved symbols in Kentucky."
The Stephen Foster Story and Other Shows
The park has an amphitheater where the long-running musical, The Stephen Foster Story, is performed. This show takes place during the summer. It is the longest-running outdoor play in Kentucky, having started in 1959. It was written by Paul Green.
During the show, actors dance in old-fashioned costumes. They perform many of Foster's songs while telling the story of his life. Matinee (afternoon) shows are held in an indoor theater with air conditioning.
In recent years, the amphitheater has added new musicals to its schedule. In 2008, they performed The Civil War to celebrate Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday. In 2009, they staged Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Other musicals have included The Wizard of Oz and All Shook Up. The amphitheater also hosts a summer concert series.
See also
