Written by: Tyler Himes, Senior Brand Manager – James B. Beam Distilling Co.
Key Takeaways
- Kentucky’s historic sites cover more than two centuries, from pioneer forts and presidential birthplaces to Civil War battlefields and working distilleries.
- This guide groups eight must-see sites into three easy-to-drive itineraries that fit limited vacation time.
- James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Clermont acts as the living historic anchor between Louisville and Bardstown, founded in 1795 and still family-run.
- On the 75-minute Beam Made Bourbon Tour & Tasting, visitors fill and dump a real barrel, taste five bourbons grain-to-glass, and bottle their own Knob Creek.
- Reserve your spot on the Beam Made Bourbon Tour & Tasting to experience eight generations of bourbon-making firsthand.
The 8 Sites
- James B. Beam Distilling Co. — Clermont, KY. Jacob Beam sold his first barrel here in 1795, and today it remains the only working distillery in America where eight generations of one family have made bourbon continuously, using the same yeast strain Jim Beam personally safeguarded after Prohibition. Guests fill and dump a real barrel, taste five bourbons grain-to-glass, and bottle their own Knob Creek with a thumbprint wax seal on the flagship 75-minute Beam Made Bourbon Tour & Tasting ($30). The distillery opens Monday–Sunday, 9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. (closed Tuesdays in January and February; Sunday opens at 9:30 a.m.). Advance booking is strongly recommended. Active military visit free with valid ID, and veterans receive a discount.
- Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park — Hodgenville, KY. The National Park Service manages two units here. The Memorial Building houses the Symbolic Cabin associated with Lincoln’s birth, and the Boyhood Home at Knob Creek preserves the landscape of his earliest memories. The main unit sits at 2995 Lincoln Farm Road, Hodgenville, KY 42748; call 270-358-3137 for current hours.
- Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill — Harrodsburg, KY. As one of Kentucky’s designated National Historic Landmarks, Pleasant Hill preserves 34 original 19th-century Shaker buildings across 3,000 acres. Costumed interpreters demonstrate crafts and farming, and guests can stay overnight inside the historic structures. Check current hours directly with the site before visiting.
- My Old Kentucky Home State Park — Bardstown, KY. The 200-year-old Federal Hill mansion offers guided tours led by costumed interpreters, often paired with bourbon tastings and Southern cooking classes. Bardstown calls itself the Bourbon Capital of the World, and the park sits at the center of its historic district.
- Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site — Perryville, KY. This battlefield marks the bloodiest Civil War engagement fought on Kentucky soil. Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site encompasses 745 acres, with additional preserved lands in some funding contexts, and remains open year-round via an interpretive trail. A museum and an annual October re-enactment deepen the experience. The site sits on KY State Highway 1920 south of Perryville.
- Camp Nelson National Monument — Jessamine County, KY. Camp Nelson served as one of the nation’s largest Union supply depots and the third-largest recruitment and training center for U.S. Colored Troops, with more than 10,000 USCT soldiers passing through. The monument features 4 miles of trails, a restored home, an interpretive center, and ranger-led tours. Call (859) 881-5716 for current seasonal hours.
- Fort Boonesborough State Park — Richmond, KY. Cumberland Gap and Fort Boonesborough together preserve the legacy of Daniel Boone and Kentucky’s pioneer era. Fort Boonesborough, a National Historic Landmark, uses living-history interpreters to demonstrate frontier life inside a reconstructed fort. The address is 4375 Boonesborough Road, Richmond, KY 40475.
- Frazier History Museum — Louisville, KY. The Frazier serves as the official starting point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. It sits on Museum Row in downtown Louisville’s West Main District, the same corridor that functioned as a bourbon commerce hub before Prohibition. The museum pairs well with any Louisville-based itinerary as a first-morning orientation stop.
Historic Sites Near Louisville and Clermont
Louisville anchors the western end of Kentucky’s most visited historic corridor. The Frazier History Museum on West Main Street gives visitors a concise introduction to 19th-century bourbon history before they head south. Locust Grove, a National Historic Landmark in Louisville, preserves the Federal-period home of George Rogers Clark. Thirty minutes south on I-65, the James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Clermont offers the closest living historic site to Louisville, a working distillery founded in 1795 that has remained in the same family’s hands. About 80 percent of Kentucky Bourbon Trail visitors come from outside the state, and most base themselves in Louisville, which makes Beam a natural first stop on any southbound itinerary.
Bardstown: Kentucky’s Walkable Bourbon Town
Bardstown consistently earns recognition as Kentucky’s most concentrated historic town. Its courthouse square dates to the late 18th century, and the Old Talbott Tavern on Court Square claims to be the world’s oldest bourbon bar, with reported visits from Daniel Boone, Jesse James, and Abraham Lincoln. The Oscar Getz Museum of Bourbon History displays more than 1,500 rare bottles in the historic Spalding Hall. The town’s preserved architecture, cobblestone streets, and dense cluster of distilleries, including Heaven Hill, Barton 1792, Willett, and Bardstown Bourbon Company, create the most walkable historic district in bourbon country. Beam in Clermont sits 20 minutes north, directly on the route from Louisville, so many visitors stop there first before arriving in Bardstown.
Civil War Sites in Central Kentucky
Kentucky has 53 sites on the Civil War Trust’s Civil War Discovery Trail. The state’s Civil War geography carries unusual significance, with the decisive Battle of Richmond, the bloody Battle of Perryville, and Camp Nelson all located here, including one of the nation’s largest African American recruitment and training centers. Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site and Camp Nelson National Monument are the two most visitor-ready Civil War sites in central Kentucky. Perryville’s preserved battlefield lets visitors walk the actual combat terrain year-round, and Camp Nelson’s 4 miles of trails and ranger-led tours bring the USCT recruitment story to life through guided interpretation. Both sites sit within a reasonable drive of Bardstown and can anchor a two-day itinerary that also includes Beam.
Must-See Historic Sites Across Kentucky
Kentucky welcomed more than 81 million visitors in 2025, its fourth consecutive record year, generating over $14.6 billion in total economic impact. The sites that draw the most repeat visits combine authentic history with hands-on access. The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace in Hodgenville, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Perryville Battlefield, and Camp Nelson showcase the state’s presidential, religious, and military heritage. The James B. Beam Distilling Co. adds a different layer, as a place where history continues every day. As Fred Noe has said, “Bourbon and Kentucky have always been one and the same”, and at Beam that statement becomes literal. The distillery holds a 4.7-star rating from more than 1,400 independent reviews, and Tourism Secretary Lindy Casebier notes that travelers increasingly crave authenticity and hands-on experiences, including “to taste bourbon from the source.”
Three Ready-to-Drive Itineraries
Itinerary 1: Louisville–Clermont Day Trip (Anchored by Beam)
This itinerary fits anyone based in Louisville with a single free day, including Derby visitors, convention attendees, and bachelorette groups traveling up from Nashville.
- Morning (9:00–9:30 a.m.): Start at the Frazier History Museum on West Main Street in Louisville for a 45-minute orientation to Kentucky bourbon history and the Bourbon District’s 19th-century roots. (~0 miles from Louisville hotels)
- Mid-morning (drive ~30 minutes south on I-65): Arrive at James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Clermont by 10:30 a.m. Book the 75-minute Beam Made Bourbon Tour & Tasting in advance to fill a barrel, dump a barrel, taste five bourbons grain-to-glass, and bottle your own Knob Creek with a thumbprint wax seal.
- Afternoon: Have lunch at The Kitchen Table on the Beam campus, which serves Kentucky classics and sourdough pizza made with the bourbon’s own yeast strain, along with a full cocktail bar. Browse the American Outpost gift shop for rare and distillery-exclusive bottles, with no lottery and no timed drops.
- Return: Drive back to Louisville by 3:00–4:00 p.m. (~30 minutes north on I-65).
Responsible enjoyment reminder: Designate a non-drinking driver or arrange transportation before the day begins. All tastings are 21+ with valid ID. Please enjoy responsibly.
Itinerary 2: Bardstown Loop (Beam + My Old Kentucky Home + Heaven Hill)
Travel writers often suggest treating Bardstown as a loop out of Louisville rather than an overnight, since Louisville offers stronger hotel and dining options.
- Late morning: Drive south from Louisville (~25 minutes on I-65) to James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Clermont. Book the Beam Made Bourbon Tour & Tasting for 10:30 or 11:00 a.m., then stay for lunch at The Kitchen Table.
- Early afternoon (~20 minutes southeast to Bardstown): Visit My Old Kentucky Home State Park for a guided tour of the 200-year-old Federal Hill mansion with costumed interpreters.
- Mid-afternoon: Head to the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience in Bardstown, where tours begin in the 1935 Distillery Theater and cover Elijah Craig’s legacy, Prohibition history, and working rickhouses.
- Evening: Return to Louisville (~50 minutes northwest on US-31E/I-65).
Responsible enjoyment reminder: Plan for a designated driver or rideshare for the return leg. Tastings at all sites are 21+ with valid ID. Please enjoy responsibly.
Itinerary 3: Two-Day Shaker-to-Lincoln Route
This route works well for travelers with two days who want to combine bourbon heritage with Kentucky’s presidential and pioneer history.
- Day 1 — Morning: Start at James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Clermont (~30 minutes south of Louisville). Take the Beam Made Bourbon Tour & Tasting, then stay for lunch at The Kitchen Table.
- Day 1 — Afternoon (~45 minutes southeast): Continue to Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill in Harrodsburg to explore 34 original 19th-century buildings, meet costumed interpreters, and consider optional overnight lodging in a historic structure.
- Day 2 — Morning (~45 minutes southwest from Harrodsburg): Visit Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site and walk the interpretive trail through the site of Kentucky’s bloodiest Civil War engagement, then tour the on-site museum.
- Day 2 — Afternoon (~35 minutes south from Perryville): Finish at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park in Hodgenville, where you can see the Memorial Building, the Symbolic Cabin, and the Boyhood Home at Knob Creek. Call 270-358-3137 for current hours before visiting.
- Return to Louisville (~1 hour north): Drive via US-31E through Bardstown and consider an optional stop in the historic district.
Responsible enjoyment reminder: If Day 1 includes tastings at Beam, arrange lodging at Shaker Village or nearby before driving. All tastings are 21+ with valid ID. Please enjoy responsibly.
Secure your tour time at beamdistilling.com before finalizing your two-day route.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I book the Beam Made Bourbon Tour?
Advance booking is strongly recommended, particularly on weekends and during high-demand periods such as Derby season, SEC football weekends in September and October, and the holiday months. Popular tour times sell out. Tours depart promptly, so plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled time, since guests cannot join a tour already in progress. Book at beamdistilling.com.
Do visitors need to be 21 to take a tour at James B. Beam Distilling Co.?
All bourbon tastings are for guests 21 and older with a valid government-issued ID, consistent with Drink Smart® responsible-enjoyment standards. Families are welcome on the grounds, and children may accompany adults on select tours, but the tasting portions remain strictly 21+. Active military visit free with valid ID, and veterans receive a discounted rate. Select the appropriate category when booking online.
Is the distillery accessible for guests with mobility needs, and is parking available?
Many public areas of the James B. Beam Distilling Co. campus, including the American Outpost gift shop, The Kitchen Table restaurant, and portions of the tour route, are ADA accessible. Leashed pets are welcome in many outdoor areas but not in production spaces, and service animals are welcome under ADA guidelines. Parking is available on-site at 568 Happy Hollow Rd., Clermont, KY 40110, approximately 30 minutes south of Louisville just off I-65. For specific accessibility questions, contact the distillery directly before your visit.
Is there food available at the distillery, and do I need a reservation for the restaurant?
The Kitchen Table operates as a full-service restaurant and cocktail bar on the Beam campus, open for lunch and dinner. The menu features Kentucky-inspired classics, including burgers, barbecue, fried chicken, and a signature sourdough pizza made with the same yeast strain used in the bourbon, baked in an Italian pizza oven. Walk-ins are welcome, though reservations help during peak periods. The monthly Supper Club offers a paired four-course dinner experience for guests seeking a more elevated evening, turning a tour stop into a full day out.
Can I find rare or allocated bourbon bottles at the distillery without entering a lottery?
The American Outpost gift shop at James B. Beam Distilling Co. keeps hard-to-find and distillery-exclusive bottles on the shelf and available until they sell, with no timed drops and no lottery. Distillery-only expressions include Lineage, a Fred and Freddie Noe collaboration with liquids up to roughly 20 years old, the Distiller’s Share experimental series, a throwback bottled-in-bond version of Basil Hayden made exclusively for the distillery, and a distillery-exclusive pin bottle. A three-tier Tasting Bar (Vault, Legacy, and Heritage) lets any guest choose two pours from across the full range, including archived products no longer sold elsewhere. Guests who bottle their own Knob Creek on the tour pick it up here, and bottle engraving is available for $10.
Kentucky’s Living History Starts Here
Kentucky’s historic sites trace the full arc of American history, including pioneer settlement, presidential origins, Civil War sacrifice, and the bourbon craft that has shaped the state’s identity for more than 230 years. Most travelers have time for only two or three stops. The James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Clermont belongs on every list, since it sits directly off I-65 between Louisville and Bardstown, has been run by the same family since 1795, and offers the only site on this list where you can fill a barrel, bottle your own whiskey, and meet the master distillers who made it. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail welcomed 2.7 million visitors in 2025, and 95 percent reported highly approving of their distillery experience. Make your visit count.
This article is promotional content of James B. Beam Distilling Co. Please practice responsible drinking.
