Places to visit in Elizabethtown, KY.
Elizabethtown is a small town full of fun things to do. It’s a great place to take your family or friends for a vacation. Whether you’re staying in a hotel or a campground, there are plenty of attractions to enjoy.
Elizabethtown, Kentucky, is home to many great things to do. If you want to learn more about the city’s history or have a few hours to spend, you may tour the historic Hardin County History Museum or enjoy a day at Freeman Lake Park.
Freeman Lake Park
Freeman Lake Park is the largest city park in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. It’s not only home to a lake but also three historical structures. These include a one-room schoolhouse, a double log house, and a lighted tennis complex. This park is an excellent place for a picnic.
The lake is home to many fish species, including largemouth bass, crappies, channel catfish, and bluegill. Fishing is allowed in the lake with a fishing permit from the City of Elizabethtown. However, night fishing is not permitted.
Freeman Lake Park is home to the first handicap-accessible launch dock in Kentucky. You can rent a boat at the park office. Guests can also enjoy fishing off the pier. A small fee is required for private boats.
Historic State Theater Complex
The Historic State Theater Complex in Elizabethtown is excellent for enjoying the performing arts. It offers a variety of events, from comedy shows to classic movies and theatrical productions.
The theater is also available for weddings and other celebrations. In addition, it has a full-service banquet room perfect for corporate luncheons or black-tie affairs.
In addition to concerts and movie screenings, the theater also features meeting and rental spaces. This is a great way to bring your friends and family together for a special occasion.
The theatre is operated by HST, a nonprofit organization that promotes education in the arts. They do this through the renovation and restoration of historic buildings.
The State Theater was constructed in 1942. After decades of closure, it was finally restored. Now it serves as the area’s premier movie house.
Hardin County History Museum
The Hardin County History Museum is in Elizabethtown and features many historical artifacts and memorabilia. It is housed in a log cabin replica and displays Civil War relics. Visitors can take tours and attend special events. You can view memorabilia from early Indian residents to modern times.
The Hardin County Historical Society has published many publications detailing the area’s history. They describe the prominent people and events in the county from 1779 to 1969. These are available to order by mail or at society’s regular meetings. There are also several free tours of the area.
In addition to the various tours the Hardin County History Museum offers, visitors can participate in the town’s costumed walking tour. This one-hour tour takes visitors through four blocks of downtown Elizabethtown. Visitors will see several historic buildings during the tour, including the Confederate’s first KY Orphan Brigade General Ben Hardin Helm’s home.
Swope’s Cars of Yesteryear Museum
Swope’s Cars of Yesteryear Museum is a car museum in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. It is located at 1100 North Dixie Avenue. This museum features restored vintage cars and is open from 10 am to 4 pm.
The museum is located behind the Swope automobile dealerships. This museum features 33 cars on display at any one time. Those vehicles include a 1923 Packard Sport Touring Car, a 1939 Rolls-Royce Wraith 75 Sedanca, and a 1961 Metropolitan. These are among the classic cars displayed at the museum.
Shannon Avila runs the museum. She has driven a 1923 Packard, the darling of the Roaring ’20s style-setters. As the museum director, she always looks for new car stories to tell visitors. As a result, some of the cars in the collection have been in the hands of several different owners for over a century.
Brown-Pusey House
Brown-Pusey House, located in Elizabethtown, is a grand and historic mansion. Built in 1825, the house has a large and well-kept garden. Today, the mansion functions as a community center and genealogical library. The house is open to the public six days a week. In 1974, the house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Brown-Pusey House has a grand ballroom that can accommodate up to 65 guests. There is also a full kitchen available for all guests. Another nice feature of the Brown-Pusey House is its formal garden, with a wisteria-covered pergola. This is an excellent location for outdoor weddings, receptions, and other special events.
The Brown-Pusey House was a stately Georgian mansion built by John Y. Hill and Rebecca Davis Stone Hill in the early 19th century. The house was a boarding house, inn, and library during its heyday. When the Pusey family took over the mansion in 1922, they renovated it and used it as a community center.
Best Things to Do in Elizabethtown, Kentucky
Places to visit in Elizabethtown, KY:
- Freeman Lake Park
- Historic State Theater Complex
- Hardin County History Museum
- Swope’s Cars of Yesteryear Museum
- Brown-Pusey House