Stepping into Old Fort Harrod in Harrodsburg, Kentucky is like taking a step back into Colonial times. While not original, it’s a full scale replica of the original fort build in 1774 by James Harrod. When Fort Harrod was constructed, Kentucky was a dangerous frontier. This didn’t stop the pioneers from swarming into the settlement and soon the town of Harrodsburg, the oldest town in Kentucky, was formed. Today, the twenty-two acre park includes the reconstructed fort, the Mansion Museum, the Pioneer Cemetery and the Lincoln Marriage Temple.
Provided with a self-guided tour map, we began to work our way around the village, where workers dressed in period costume demonstrated how to make crafts exactly as they did in the Colonial Period. We stopped in the cabin where we learned the fascinating history of the use of rag dolls in the Wilderness. Because the fort was located on sacred Native American hunting ground, it sometimes came under attack. Men were often away from home, hunting or working, leaving the women and children alone. If the settlers were attacked, they would hide as best they could. To keep the young children quite and keep from being discovered, they would pull out the doll and allow the children to play. When the threat was over the doll was taken away and placed back in safe keeping so it did not lose its novelty.
The fort also describes the life of the Native Americans surrounding the fort with an encampment outside of the fort showing a typical dwelling for the summer and one for the winter. We also received a fascinating explanation of how the nursery rhyme “Rock A Bye Baby” was written. The Native Americans were also fearful of attack from settlers and the military. They placed their babies on cradle boards and hung them from trees. The babies learned no one would respond to their cries and soon stopped, helping keep the people safe from discovery. The writer saw the babies tied to the boards and gently being rocked to sleep by the breezes and a rhyme was born.
A short walk down the hill from the fort is the Lincoln Marriage Temple, the cabin where Abraham Lincoln’s parents were married. The cabin is located inside a lovely brick building and once inside, you can see his parents’ signatures on the wall of the cabin.
Across from the cabin is the Mansion Museum, dedicated to Civil War history. We could not take pictures inside the mansion, but the downstairs includes the Blue Room, dedicated to the Union and the Gray Room, dedicated to the South. Upstairs includes family memorabilia, different weapons used in the Civil War and more. The tour is self guided, but workers are available to answer questions.
When you have finished visiting Old Fort Harrod, take a few minutes to stroll through the Harrodsburg Historic District and visit their Arts Council. Local artists bring works of art, jewelry and other hand made items for sale and the cost is very reasonable. I snagged a hand crafted beaded bracelet for only seven dollars. You can learn more by visiting http://www.harrodsburgky.com/.
Pingback: Pleasant Hill Shaker Village Harrodsburg Kentucky
This is a cute place. I love the Lincoln Marriage Temple. Great history.
That’s definitely a place that I’d love to take my kids to! Lots of great history there
What a cute area. We haven’t been to KY before but it’s not too far. We need to plan a trip!
What a great place to visit. These were always my favorite trips as a kid and I know my boys are still a little young to get it, but I can’t wait till they are a bit older. I know they are going to love history.
I have never visited Kentucky before but if I do I will be sure to check out Harrod State Park, I would like to see the handcrafts, especially the jewelry, thanks for sharing!
I have always loved historic places like this. It’s so amazing to me to be able to see back in time through places that tell a story of the past. I would love to visit Kentucky.
What an amazing place to visit. I love visiting historic parks.
I would love to spend the day at Old Fort Harrod . I am sure there is a ton to learn while you are there.
Now, this is a place my kids and I would really enjoy. And, it is only a few hours drive for us.
Wow what a fantastic looking place to explore. It looks so different. x
Looks like a great place to visit with the family. How neat that you can see where Lincoln’s parents were married and that their signatures are on the wall.
I am always so fascinated to visit places like this just to see how far we’ve come in such a short time. It’s so interesting to see how people lived not so long ago!
I’ll be honest, as a West coast city gal, this is exactly how I picture Kentucky. I would love to experience a place with such a rich history and a true story to tell.
Places like this are so fun to visit. We have something like this in my area, and I remember visiting as a kid. If I’m ever close I’ll for sure stop by!
Im so excited to see this because it’s only an hour from my house. It looks like fun!
It is so nice to visit historical places like this. It makes your mind travel to the time when life was simpler. I love the place’s quiet ambiance too.
This looks like an amazing place to visit. I like to bring my kids to historical sites because they learn so much from it.
I think it’s a great place to take kids! When we drive through KY next summer, I am going to see about stopping in with my family!
Historic sites that teach kids about the way we lived even as recently as 200 years ago are valuable to show them how much progress can happen so quickly!
So that’s where the song came from! It’s not as cheery of a lullaby as it first sounds. I can’t wait to visit and find out other interesting tidbits.
What a fascinating place to visit. I love knowing the background of Rock a Bye Baby even though it’s sad as most nursery rhyme sources are!
Wow, what a great review for Fort Harrod. I enjoy visiting historical sites, so will add Kentucky to my replay list and visit as soon as possible.
What a beautiful and quaint place to visit. It would be a place I could see myself enjoying some time.
I love visiting places like this! I feel connected to the past when I get to see things like this.
I didn’t realize the fort was this beautiful. I would definitely love to check this out when I go to Kentucky next.
This looks like a great place to visit. It would be really neat to walk around the village. .
Sometimes those little state parks provide such interesting things to look at and learn. Nice!
That looks like such an interesting place. i love seeing historical settings like this. I just think it’s amazing to see how things were far back in our history.
This place looks amazing! I will be adding this on my list of places to visit with my family!
That looks like a quaint place. I have yet to visit KY.
Same here, but it;s on my list of places that I really want to visit.
I have yet to visit KY as well.
That is so interesting. Living next to Plymouth (First Thanksgiving Plymouth), we have lots of sites like that and there are still a few tribes that live like this today.