List of the oldest buildings in Kentucky

This article lists the oldest extant buildings in Kentucky, including extant buildings and structures constructed prior to and during the United States rule over Kentucky. Only buildings built prior to 1840 are suitable for inclusion on this list, or the building must be the oldest of its type.

In order to qualify for the list, a structure must:

  • be a recognizable building (defined as any human-made structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or continuous occupancy);
  • incorporate features of building work from the claimed date to at least 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in height and/or be a listed building.

This consciously excludes ruins of limited height, roads and statues. Bridges may be included if they otherwise fulfill the above criteria. Dates for many of the oldest structures have been arrived at by radiocarbon dating or dendrochronology and should be considered approximate. If the exact year of initial construction is estimated, it will be shown as a range of dates.

List of oldest buildings

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Building Image Location First built Use Notes
Old Talbott Tavern   Bardstown, Kentucky 1779 Hotel "Oldest western stagecoach stop still in operation."
Adam Rankin House   Lexington, Kentucky 1784 Residence Oldest house in Lexington, although moved from its original foundation.[1] Oldest part was built as a log house and then later covered with clapboards. It was the home to a Presbyterian minister, Rev. Adam Rankin.
John Andrew Miller House Scott County, Kentucky 1785 Residence Stone home of pioneer John Andrew Miller. Served as a community shelter from Native American attacks
Israel Grant Cabin Scott County, Kentucky ca. 1787 Residence Early log cabin[2]
William Whitley House State Historic Site   Crab Orchard, Kentucky 1787–1794 Residence Oldest brick house in Kentucky
Millspring   Georgetown, Kentucky 1789 Residence Back ell is the oldest part of the house, constructed by Rev. Elijah Craig
Jacob Eversole Cabin Perry County, Kentucky ca. 1789–1804 Residence Oldest house in eastern Kentucky
Zachary Taylor House   Louisville, Kentucky 1790 Residence Childhood home of President Zachary Taylor
Cane Ridge Meeting House   Cane Ridge, Kentucky 1791 Church Likely oldest church building in Kentucky
Historic Locust Grove   Louisville, Kentucky 1792 Residence Visited by explorers Lewis and Clark and President Zachary Taylor
Old Providence Church   Winchester, Kentucky 1793 Church Oldest stone church in Kentucky
Abraham Barton House   Lexington, Kentucky 1795 Residence Constructed for Kentucky politician Peyton Short, later owned by Confederate soldier Henry Brainerd McClellan
Daniel Boone Cabin Carlisle, Kentucky 1795 Residence Last Kentucky cabin of Daniel Boone
Richard Masterson House   Carrollton, Kentucky ca. 1795 Residence Early Methodist services were held in house as well. Oldest two story brick building in state.[3]
White Hall   Richmond, Kentucky 1799 Residence Home of Green Clay and Cassius Marcellus Clay
Bates Log House Lexington, Kentucky ca. 1800 Residence Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982
Oldest House Bell County, Kentucky 1800 Residence Oldest house in Bell County.[4]
Henry Clay's Law Office   Lexington, Kentucky 1803 Office Building where Henry Clay ran his law services
Waggoner/Langdon/Colyer House   Pulaski County, Kentucky 1805 Residence Pulaski 1805 log house is one of oldest extant log houses in Pulaski County[5]
Ashland   Lexington, Kentucky 1811 Residence Home of Kentucky politician Henry Clay
Cane Springs Primitive Baptist Church College Hill, Kentucky ca. 1812–13 Church Built during the Great Awakening, oldest church building in Madison County
J. B. Knight House   Hopkinsville, Kentucky ca. 1815–1820 Residence The Knight House is the oldest standing structure and residence in Hopkinsville and Christian County Kentucky.
Squire Earick House   Louisville, Kentucky 1815 Residence Oldest woodframe house in Louisville[6]
Carneal House Covington, Kentucky 1815 Residence Oldest building in Covington
Elijah Herndon House California, Kentucky 1818 Residence Home of Elijah Herndon, a Kentucky slaveowner
Cleveland-Rogers House Lexington, Kentucky 1819 Residence Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980
Chenault House Richmond, Kentucky 1830 Residence Estate built by William Chenault in 1830, known for derby parties in the 20th century[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Soper, Kim (2021-08-13). "Check out the Adam Rankin House, The Oldest House in Lexington And Where the Famous Burrows Mustard Was Born". ExploreLexingtonKY.com (blog). United Real Estate. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  2. ^ "Historic log cabin is discovered during deconstruction of Scott County home". Spectrum News 1. 24 April 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  3. ^ Highsmith, Carol M. (2020-07-11). The Masterson House in Carrollton, Kentucky, is one of the oldest (some say the oldest) surviving two-story brick buildings along the Ohio River from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Cairo, Illinois, where the Ohio meets the mighty Mississippi River. Library of Congress (image). Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  4. ^ Friends of Boone Trace, Inc. "Oldest House". ExploreKYHistory. Kentucky Historical Society. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  5. ^ "1805 Pulaski County log house Dendroarchaeology". Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  6. ^ Robinson, Kurt. "Louisville to Portland Turnpike". ExploreKYHistory. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  7. ^ "Chenault House". npgallery.nps.gov. National Park Service. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
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