Historical evidence is all around us; in architecture, in walking DNA, in institutions, and buried in the ground. Local leaders, both looking back in time and forward to educational realities, wisely establish history museums so we and our children gain perspective on our journey as a people. This month's day trip features Elizabethtown's Hardin County Historical Museum.
Hardin was recognized as a county on February 20, 1793 and, 16 years later, on February 12, a notable resident was born: Abraham Lincoln. Hardin is Kentucky's fourth largest county in both area and population. It has a wealth of historical stories from pioneers, presidents, railroads, African-Americans, and the Civil War. The Historical Museum was established in August 2003, in a two-story, brick building which has been listed on the Register of National Historic Places. Originally built in 1931 as the Elizabethtown Post Office, it became the Hardin County Public Library from 1965 until 2002.
The museum has high ceilings and is well-lit with both electrical lights and tall windows. Inside, there is a small gift shop and meeting rooms upstairs. The museum is staffed entirely by volunteers; often retired teachers. Others include student teachers from Western Kentucky University, who help by planning programs for the 150-200 school children who visit each month.
Two volunteers, Mary Jo and James "Jim" Jones, accompanied by museum board member Susan Evans McCrobie, were present during my tour. Susan explained that the museum building is owned by Hardin County, but the city of Elizabethtown and the county contribute funds to the facility. Private and grant funding also help to meet the museum's operating costs.
Visitors can watch a few introductory videos which provide an overview of the pioneers and Kentucky history before delving into the museum's other exhibits. One shows a variety of wooden looms and spinning wheels. Susan pointed out that different spinning wheels are used for flax versus wool. She also showed how the wool winder has a top square that pops up when the winder is full, matching the "Pop Goes the Weasel" song.
In one corner of the museum I saw a pioneer cabin, relocated from an historic farm off Younger's Creek. Susan mentioned an upcoming exhibit on silver mining that will explore the legend of Long John Silver and Jonathan Swift in Hardin County. There are numerous exhibits of notable Hardin County sons and daughters, including Gen. Ben Hardin Helm, Gov. John LaRue Helm, Emilie Todd Helm, and Carl Brashear. Two rooms are devoted to Abraham Lincoln and his family.
I found interesting trivia and tidbits all over the museum. I learned that Gen. George Custer and his wife lived in Elizabethtown. Mary Jo reported that his wife Libby was not fond of their three-year stay in the area. Businessman Kenneth Tabb stopped by to regale us with Civil War history, telling how a local girl stood on a carriage stone to see Confederate Gen. John Hunt Morgan ride up. The girl was scooped up to talk to him, and he reportedly told her how pretty she was before setting her back down and riding on to more mayhem.
During the Civil War, Hardin County had four forts, over 16,000 Union troops, and played host to a number of interesting battles and skirmishes. In a display case, there is a tiny Bible, which belonged to a Union soldier killed in the battle at Elizabethtown. There are Civil War training manuals, rifles, bayonets, and canon shells. One of Gen. Morgan's artillery rounds is still embedded in a nearby building, opposite the old courthouse.
One rascally resident of Elizabethtown, Philip Arnold, was responsible for the Great Diamond Fraud of 1872. An exhibit shows some of the actual diamonds he placed in the ground out west to coax investors, who he then tricked out of millions of dollars. There are exhibits of quilts, a walk-in general store stocked with sundries and staples, period clothing, and a section of iron fence from 1870. Another exhibit features the contributions from African Americans, including artist Bob Thompson. It was a bit sobering to come face to face with a pair of mounted and framed slave shackles.
The Hardin County History Museum and gift shop are open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m, and also for special hours by appointment. Admission is free, although donations are happily accepted. I enjoyed walking through history that connected to both local people and events of national significance. They also have an annual tour and dinner program featuring the "Ride with Morgan." In addition, there are downtown walking tours on Thursday evenings, June through September. For more information on the tours, contact the Elizabethtown-Hardin County Chamber of Commerce, (270) 765-4334, or email etownchamber@kvnet.org.
There is more to see in Hardin County, but I saved other sights for another day trip! Travel safely on your winter wanderings.
To get there
From Lexington, take Versailles Road past Man o' War to the Bluegrass Parkway. Drive west on the Parkway for 71miles and take Interstate 65 north (toward Louisville). Take the first exit off I-65, and turn left at the light. Next drive west on US 62, (Mulberry St.), passing five traffic lights. The Historical Museum is on the right at the corner of US 62 and US 31 W (the sixth traffic light.) The museum is located at 201 West Dixie Avenue, Elizabethtown, KY, 42701. Parking is available off Mulberry Street. You can call them at (270) 763-8339, or visit www.hardinkyhistory.org.