Old Talbott Tavern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Talbott Tavern
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The Tavern in 2020
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | Bardstown, Kentucky |
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| Built | 1779 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000822 |
| Added to NRHP | October 30, 1973 |
The Old Talbott Tavern, also known as the Old Stone Tavern, is a super old and historic building in Bardstown, Kentucky. It was built in 1779! You can find it in the Bardstown Historic District, right across from the historic Nelson County Courthouse. This special place was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 30, 1973.
People say the tavern has never closed its doors since it first opened in 1779. That's a really long time! It's also rumored that some guests have never truly "checked out." Each room in the tavern is named after a famous person who is said to still visit that room as a ghost. The Old Talbott Tavern is probably the oldest building still standing and being used in Kentucky.
Contents
A Look Back: The Tavern's History
The Old Talbott Tavern was built in 1779. This was even before the town of Salem (which later became Bardstown) officially started. This makes it the "oldest western stagecoach stop" that is still open today. A stagecoach stop was like a hotel and rest stop for travelers using horse-drawn coaches.
Early Days and Famous Visitors
An old map of Bardstown shows that the land was first bought by a man named Hynes. The tavern was once called the Hynes Hotel. It was in a perfect spot near the end of the stagecoach road. This road used to go all the way east to Philadelphia and Virginia.
Many important people visited the tavern. George Rogers Clark, a hero from the American Revolutionary War, used it as a base. Daniel Boone, a famous explorer, also stayed here. Even Louis-Philippe, who later became a king of France, stayed at the tavern on October 17, 1797. Someone with him painted cool murals, which were found again in the 20th century. Sadly, these murals were damaged in a fire in 1998.
Presidents and Other Well-Known Guests
In the 1800s, several future presidents visited the tavern. These included Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison, and Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln's parents stayed at the tavern before their family moved to Indiana.
Other famous people who visited were Henry Clay, a well-known politician. John Fitch, who helped invent steamboats, also stopped by. The famous bird artist John James Audubon and songwriter Stephen Foster were guests too. Even the well-known outlaw Jesse James visited the tavern.
Changes Over Time
George Talbott bought the tavern in 1886. The tavern has had many names over the years. Some of them were Hynes House, Bardstown Hotel, and Shady Bower Hotel. From 1885 to 1968, its official name was the Talbott Tavern.
In 1926, Queen Marie of Romania had lunch at the tavern. Later, during World War II, General George S. Patton also visited this historic spot.
Fire and Reopening
On March 7, 1998, a fire caused a lot of damage to the tavern. The roof and the second floor were badly hurt. The special Louis-Philippe murals were also damaged and have not been fixed since. The repairs after the fire were finished quickly. The Old Talbott Tavern reopened its doors on November 8, 1999.
The Tavern Today
Today, the Old Talbott Tavern is still a busy place. It works as both a restaurant and a five-room bed and breakfast. A writer for Travel and Leisure magazine said it has a "slightly spooky charm."
The tavern has been shown on TV shows like those on Food Network and Travel Channel. It was even once ranked as the 13th most haunted inn in the United States!
Haunted Tales
The most famous ghost at the inn is believed to be the outlaw Jesse James. People say he still visits the inn sometimes. If you go there, you might see a painting with bullet holes. It's believed that Jesse James himself put those holes there! There are also stories of a mysterious woman who continues to haunt the hotel.
The Old Talbott Tavern is located right next to the historic Nelson County Jail.
How It Was Built
The original part of the tavern is the eastern section. It was built with very thick stone walls, about two feet wide! It also has strong, heavy ceiling timbers. There were two separate fireplaces for cooking food.
At first, there were only two guest rooms on the second floor. One was for men and one was for women. Back then, individual rooms for guests were not common until the early 1800s. The brick section on the western side of the building was added about 100 years later.
