What Bardstown is known for

The Bardstown Region is known for the cities inside of it, which include Louisville, Bardstown, Frankfort, and Lexington. Activities to do inside Louisville include the Lousiville Slugger Museum and Factory, the Kentucky Derby Museum, Muhammad Ali Center, Kentucky Kingdom, and Louisville Zoo. The Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory is a place that produces baseball bats. They have several signed baseball bats on display, along with outfits and gloves. People have the opportunity to see how bats are created while at the factory. The Kentucky Derby Museum has several displays on the history of the Kentucky Derby, along with other displays about famous people who saw or participated in the derby. The Muhammad Ali Center is a place where people can learn about Muhammad Ali and his accomplishments. The Kentucky Kingdom is an amusement park with various rides and roller coasters. Within the Kentucky Kingdom is a small water park with a wave pool. 

The Louisville Zoo is home to many animals, including lions, meerkats, elephants, giraffes, monkeys, gorillas, polar bears, and many types of lizards and snakes. The zoo also has a large portion dedicated to light displays. The displays are designed to look like many different plants and animals.[4] Things to do in Bardstown itself include the Willett Distilling Company, Old Bardstown Village Civil War Museum, the Basilica of St Joseph Proto-Cathedral, and the Historic Cobblestone Path. The Willett Distilling Company is a place that provides meals and drinks to its customers. Old Bardstown Village Civil War Museum has many historical buildings inside of it. The museum features information about what Bardstown was used as during the war, along with displays of soldier uniforms and weapons. The Basilica of St Joseph Proto-Cathedral is a historical building that is still used. The building can be toured by the visitors who come during visiting hours. The Historic Cobblestone Path is a path that goes past different historical sites and monuments. While on the path, it is possible that people will see animals such as deer in the surrounding forests.[3]

Geography

The Bardstown Region is located in the states of Kentucky and Indiana. It wraps around the cities of Scottsburg, Winchester, and Richmond in an oval shape. Within the region are several cities, including Louisville, Bardstown, Lexington, and Frankfort. The general topography of the area is mostly green with many fields. The Ohio River runs directly through the Bardstown Region, passing through Louisville in the process. Weather in the region has an average high of around 77 degrees Fahrenheit from the middle of June to the beginning of September. The average low temperature is around 37 degrees from December to March. The chance of rain is relatively even throughout the year but decreases slightly in August and rises in December. The chance of snow is highest in February and March. The most popular months to visit the region are in June and July. However, because of the weather, the best time to visit the area is from the middle of April to the beginning of June.[5] 

Animals that inhabit the Bardstown Region are common throughout the states. Examples of these animals are raccoons, squirrels, opossums, skunks, rats, mice, moles, groundhogs, armadillos, beavers, foxes, coyotes, bats, snakes, and various types of birds. Other common animals are deer and rabbits.[6] Shrubs in Kentucky and the region include red chokeberries, spicebushes, farkleberries, and the Carolina rose. Other plants include crested irises, asters, blazing stars, ironweed, and butterfly weed. Types of trees in the area that are common are the red maple, hickory, oak, and river birch.[7]

History

Bardstown was first established in 1780 by European Americans. Bardstown is the second oldest town in Kentucky. It was named the county seat in 1784 for the newly created Nelson County, which was originally in Virginia but is now in Kentucky. The year 1788 is when the town was officially established. Then, in 1838 it was incorporated by the state assembly. Bardstown was also the first center of Catholicism in the area, which is west of the Appalachian Mountains. It became a center of Catholicism because of the migration of people during the Revolutionary War to the area, along with the immigration that took place many years ago. The Old Talbott Tavern was built in the town in 1779 and is part of the town's history. Several people have passed through the tavern, including Daniel Boone and Abraham Lincoln. There also bullet holes in the local tavern that are believed to be shot by Jesse James. Bardstown is also home to the site of My Old Kentucky Home State Park, which is named after the song that Stephen Foster wrote. 

Multiple distilleries operate near Bardstown, and the town is considered to be the "Bourbon Capital of the World."[1] The city of Louisville was first founded in 1778 by a man named Col. George Rogers Clark on Corn Island. In 1780 the Virginia General Assembly approved the town charter of Louisville. The inhabitants built forts to protect themselves from Indian raids but ended up leaving the city in the late 1780s. Later, after Lewis and Clark did their expedition across America, the town was repopulated. Soon after it was populated, Louisville became a major shipping port. Enslaved African Americans worked there during the time in a variety of trades. During the Civil War, Louisville acted as a major stronghold for the Union forces. By the end of the war, Louisville hadn't been attacked, though battles took place nearby. Later, in 1875, the first Kentucky Derby was held at the Louisville Jockey Club track. In March of 1890, the town was devastated by a tornado. The damage from the tornado cost the city roughly $2.5 million. During World War I, Louisville was selected to be the site of Camp Zachary Taylor, which was one of the country's largest training camps. Also in Louisville was the 84th Infantry Division, which was part of Camp Zachary Taylor. In 1921 the camp was closed.[2]