Let's Learn About Etown!

History buffs will find Etown to be an absolute gold mine of information. Between the history museum, the Charles W. Logsdon Historic Downtown Elizabethtown Walking Tour, storied homes and more, there’s something for every learner in the group. 

Historic Figures

If you're curious about Etown and want to learn our history with familiar and new faces alike, you need to check out the Historic Downtown Walking Tour. The Walking Tour takes place on Thursday nights from June 5-September 4, and you don’t want to miss it (added bonus, it's completely free)! Here, you’ll learn about folks who have paved the way in Elizabethtown and take a step back in time, hearing stories about the way Etown used to be. Group of people listening to one of the characters on the Historic Downtown Walking Tour

Etown is also home to a few spots on the KY Black Trailblazers Trail, a first-of-its-kind, immersive experience that tells the stories of several influential Black Kentuckians. This experiences uses Augmented Reality to provide a unique insight into the stories and experiences of these Kentucky legacies. 

Two women are standing and holding a phone in front of the Kentucky Black Trailblazers plaque for The First Black Baptist Church located in downtown Elizabethtown.

Historic Homes

Did you know that Etown has connections to the Lincoln family? Well, we do! Located at Freeman Lake, you’ll find multiple historic homes and buildings connected to Lincoln and his family. The Sarah Bush-Johnston Log Cabin tells the story of Lincoln’s stepmother, who was born right here in Elizabethtown. Situated just across the way is the Lincoln Heritage House, which was restored by the community after a fire in 2009. These buildings give insight on the early days of Lincoln's family in a way that you won't see in your textbooks. Also located at Freeman Lake is the Summit-One Room Schoolhouse. Once described as the "finest school in the county" it has also been restored and is open for tours on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month. 

A historic two-story log cabin surrounded by lush green trees, with a small group of visitors, including adults and children, walking towards it on a grassy yard, enclosed by a wooden fence.Located downtown, you’ll find the David May House, which has seen many iterations over the years after it housed the Kentucky State Senator. It has been a tea shop, an attorney's office, and now, the David May House is home to Elizabethtown Tourism, where we love to see visitors and share the story of David May. Right across from the David May House is the Brown Pusey House, which is home to the Cunningham Garden and a genealogy library. Also located downtown is the House on Helm, a home built by Benjamin Helm in the 1800s, restored in 2021 that now serves as a beautiful event and wedding venue. 

Other Unique History 

Beyond the people & the homes, Etown has even more history to offer! The Hardin County History Museum and Swope’s Cars of Yesteryear are free ways to take a step back in time and learn about various aspects of times before.

the white interior of a red classic car with the car hood openWhether you want to know more about where you came from, who came before you, cars, or anything in between, Etown is a historical gem waiting to be explored. Don’t forget to show us what you learned at #touretown! We can’t wait to see you!