Step Back In Time At Old Fort Harrod State Park
The Harrodsburg Herald/Robert Moore
Will Harpring Eschbacher enjoyed showing off his new pioneer hat at the Old Fort Harrod gift shop.
April Ellis
Herald Staff
Looking for an affordable stay-cation close to home? Why not Old Fort Harrod State Park offers visitors the chance to experience Kentucky history firsthand while spending a relaxing day in one of Harrodsburg’s most treasured landmarks.
According to Executive Director Autumn Morrison, the park provides much more than a traditional museum visit.
“The experience is a living history museum,” Morrison said. “It is unique to Fort Harrod and is often described as stepping back in time.”
Located in the heart of downtown, Old Fort Harrod preserves the site of Kentucky’s first permanent settlement and allows visitors to explore the stories of the pioneers who helped shape the Commonwealth.
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Old Fort Harrod State Park offers events throughout the summer along with living history exhibits where interpreters show what pioneer life was like. Visitors can learn even more at the Mansion Museum and the Lincoln Marriage Temple.
One of the park’s most popular attractions is the reconstructed fort, where interpreters demonstrate what daily life was like on the Kentucky frontier. The Mansion Museum also draws visitors with exhibits that tell the story of the region’s earliest settlers.
“Our interpreters start with how James Harrod and many brave men traveled to Kentucky and how we became a separate state from Virginia,” Morrison said.
Educational opportunities are a major part of the park’s mission. School groups, families and individual visitors can learn about frontier survival, daily routines and the responsibilities that settlers faced.
“Our interpreters educate students and adults about the daily life settlers endured during the years at Fort Harrod,” Morrison said. “They explain the history, daily rituals and routines, as well as the jobs that were necessary for survival on the frontier. Children get to learn what their role would have been at a very early age.”
While the fort often receives the most attention, Morrison said the park’s museum is one of its hidden gems.
“Our museum houses a wonderful display of 17th-century artifacts, including musical instruments and weapons,” she said.
Another significant attraction is the Lincoln Marriage Temple, which houses the original cabin where Abraham Lincoln’s parents, Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks, were married. The temple was constructed around the cabin to help preserve the historic structure and is part of the Kentucky Lincoln Heritage Trail.
Visitors can also enjoy the park’s grounds for recreation and relaxation. Picnic areas, grills and a playground provide opportunities for families to spend the day outdoors, and Morrison said new cornhole and horseshoe facilities will soon be available.
“I think people often forget that they can relax in the playground part of the park or out by the Osage tree or anywhere else on our beautifully maintained grounds,” she said.
The 17th Annual Fort Harrod Settlement and Raid happens Saturday, June 20, and Sunday, June 21, at Old Fort Harrod State Park. (File image.)
Throughout the year, the park hosts a variety of special events and programs. The 17th Annual Fort Harrod Settlement and Raid happens Saturday, June 20, and Sunday, June 21. Other popular events include the Native Dawn Flute Festival, 14th Annual Pioneer Days Festival, which starts Thursday, Aug. 13, and the Kentucky Heritage Jazz Festival, which brings three days of jazz to the park starting Friday, Oct. 2. Morrison noted that the outdoor drama “James Harrod: The Battle for Kentucky” will not be performed this season but is expected to return in 2027.
Magician and banjo player Dave Cottrell appeared at for the Picnic in the Park at Old Fort Harrod. (File image).
Each Friday at noon under the Osage Orange tree is free family friendly entertainment with Picnic in the Park, which runs until the end of July.
The park continues to attract visitors looking for affordable family entertainment.
“Old Fort Harrod doesn’t seem to follow trends of raising prices,” Morrison said. “Our pricing is affordable, and children under 6 are free.”
The park also works closely with local organizations and community partners. Old Fort Harrod hosts events for local groups, partners with the Kiwanis Club for the annual Easter Egg Hunt and is exploring future collaborations with the Mercer County Humane Society and Animal Shelter.
For visitors planning their first trip, Morrison recommends checking the park’s website, parks.ky.gov/explore/old-fort-harrod-state-park, for current operating hours and special events. She also encourages guests to spend time exploring the rest of Harrodsburg while they are in town.
“We love to support our community and local businesses,” Morrison said. “I will always suggest shopping on Main Street and visiting other attractions such as Perryville Battlefield and Shaker Village.”
Looking ahead, Morrison said park staff are continually working to improve the visitor experience. Guests can follow the park’s Facebook page for information on special demonstrations and hands-on programs, which may include doll making, candle dipping, basket weaving and mud oven cooking.
Most importantly, Morrison hopes every visitor leaves with a deeper appreciation for Kentucky’s beginnings.
“Visitors should leave with the knowledge of how Kentucky was founded and what life was like on the frontier,” she said.
Old Fort Harrod State Park is located at 100 South College Street. The park is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors ages 55 and older, and $5 for children ages 6-12. Children under age 6 are admitted free.
For more information, call 859-734-3314 or visit their Facebook page @fortharrod.statepark.
