Driving Through Time: Exploring Kentucky’s Lincoln Heritage Scenic Highway

Travelers craving a meaningful road trip through American history will find the Lincoln Heritage Scenic Highway a drive worth remembering. Stretching 71 miles through central Kentucky’s rolling knobs and small towns, this route offers a compelling journey into the early years of Abraham Lincoln, the bourbon industry’s roots, Civil War history, and centuries-old religious traditions. It’s a corridor alive with stories, where fields and historic buildings echo with a past that shaped the nation.

From Hodgenville: Where Lincoln’s Legacy Begins

The highway begins just south of Hodgenville, Kentucky, a peaceful town surrounded by farmland and forest. Here, visitors encounter the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, featuring a neoclassical memorial building that stands at the site where the 16th president was born. Inside, a symbolic log cabin honors his frontier upbringing. Outside, the Sinking Spring — once the family’s water source — still flows gently through the limestone.

Just north in town, the Lincoln Museum brings the president’s life into vivid focus with detailed dioramas, artifacts, and wax figures. On the courthouse square, bronze statues of Lincoln as both a man and a boy reflect his journey from Kentucky roots to national leadership. Every October, Lincoln Days transforms Hodgenville with pioneer games, a parade, and live performances. June brings the LaRue County Fair, one of the oldest in the state, filled with rides, food, livestock competitions, and the unmistakable energy of summer in rural Kentucky.

Before leaving Hodgenville, stop at Lincoln’s Boyhood Home at Knob Creek, where fields and woodlands offer a quiet place to reflect. Trails and picnic areas invite travelers to pause and absorb the land that shaped Lincoln’s early experiences.

Bardstown: Spirit and Story

Continuing northeast, the byway winds toward Bardstown, a city that wears many titles: the Bourbon Capital of the World and one of the most beautiful small towns in America. Bardstown blends history and hospitality, where white-columned churches and restored buildings line its walkable downtown.

Bourbon lovers can explore the Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center, offering tours and tastings that share the family-owned distillery’s rich story. A bit farther off the byway, Maker’s Mark Distillery welcomes visitors to dip their own bottles in its signature red wax, stroll through beautifully landscaped grounds, and admire glass installations by artist Dale Chihuly.

The town is steeped in history beyond bourbon. The Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History and Bardstown Historical Museum offer a look at local life from the pre-colonial era through Prohibition. Nearby, Spalding Hall houses rare artifacts and memorabilia that connect Kentucky to Lincoln, Native American heritage, and cultural icons.

The Civil War Museum of the Western Theater provides one of the country’s most comprehensive views of the war’s western campaigns. Across the lawn, visitors can explore the Women’s Civil War Museum, living history exhibits, and period buildings in the Old Bardstown Village.

Those drawn to Kentucky music and folklore should make time for My Old Kentucky Home State Park, featuring the Federal Hill Mansion that inspired Stephen Foster’s iconic song. Enjoy hand-made crafts, a round of golf, or a night under the stars at one of the park’s campsites.

Springfield: Lincoln Roots and Frontier Spirit

Traveling east along US Highway 150, the road enters Springfield, where two important Lincoln attractions await. Lincoln Homestead State Park highlights the president’s family with preserved and replicated buildings, including the blacksmith shop where his father trained. The open grounds feature walking trails, pioneer fences, and a covered bridge that give a strong sense of frontier life.

In the center of town, the Lincoln Legacy Museum resides in an 1816 courthouse, where documents, exhibits, and sculpture help trace Lincoln’s family journey in Kentucky. The museum offers a focused and personal perspective on the family’s place in the state’s early history.

Perryville: Battlefields and Remembrance

Before reaching the byway’s end, the route passes through Perryville, home to one of the most powerful Civil War sites in the region. The Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site preserves the location of Kentucky’s largest and most consequential battle. On October 8, 1862, more than 7,600 soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing during a desperate struggle between Union and Confederate forces.

Visitors can take self-guided driving or walking tours along trails that mirror troop movements. Over 40 interpretive signs offer insights into strategies, personal stories, and battlefield geography. The Perryville Battlefield Museum contains artifacts, uniforms, weapons, and an emotional short film that captures the conflict’s intensity. Each October, the Battle Commemoration Weekend features reenactments, memorial services, and living history events.

Danville: Where Kentucky Became a State

The byway concludes in Danville, where a new story begins — Kentucky’s founding as the 15th state in the Union. At Constitution Square State Historic Site, travelers can explore log structures that replicate the original courthouse, post office, and jailhouse. This is where Kentucky’s first constitution was debated and signed in 1792.

A short drive from the square, the Danville National Cemetery offers a quiet and solemn end to the journey. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is a resting place for soldiers, many of whom fell during the Civil War.

Plan Your Adventure

The Lincoln Heritage Scenic Highway is best explored in spring, summer, or fall. Each season brings its own rhythm to the towns and countryside, from blooming dogwoods to autumn harvests. Along the way, visitors find fuel stations, local eateries, museums, and markets in towns like Bardstown, Springfield, and Danville.

This highway delivers more than just roadside scenery. It’s a path through the foundational stories of the United States — stories shaped by struggle, belief, family, and pride. Whether walking the fields where soldiers fought, standing before statues of Lincoln, or sipping bourbon crafted by generations, travelers connect with Kentucky in a way that feels deeply grounded and unmistakably American.