Mason County: History and Heritage

Explore Mason County through its many facets of history: Maysville’s historic buildings, museums, and murals sit alongside guided visits to Old Washington, bourbon history, and opportunities to spend time outdoors. Maysville’s history as a stop on the Underground Railroad is an important focus of heritage tourism. The city’s buildings also tell of its importance as a center of commerce, education, and culture in the 19th century.

Historic Sites and Museums

Built in 1848, the Old Church Museum contains religious artifacts. It is one of two surviving buildings with stepped gables in Washington. Mefford’s Station was founded in 1787. After George Mefford selected the site, he dismantled his flatboat and used its timbers to build a house. A cabin that belonged to Mefford’s Station was moved to Washington in 1969; Washington is now part of Maysville.

Since March 1, 1878, the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center has collected, preserved, and shared the history of Kentucky and the Ohio River Valley. The Calvert Exhibits Gallery offers 2,000 square feet for changing exhibitions. The KSB Miniatures Collection offers a different perspective on collecting: its 3,300-square-foot gallery displays more than 120 furnished miniature houses, room boxes, and vignettes. The varied formats make a museum visit more than a single historical narrative.

Pioneer Graveyard is directly behind the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center. A narrow path between the museum and Phillips’ Folly leads to the cemetery, where burials date back at least to 1800. This makes it possible to connect a museum visit with a look at an early chapter of local history.

Murals, Theater, and Remembrance

At Limestone Landing, the Maysville Floodwall Murals tell the city’s story from the 18th through the 20th century. A mural completed in September 2007 honors Rosemary Clooney, who was from Maysville. The murals offer a different emphasis from the museum exhibitions: they present history as public art along the floodwall.

The Russell Theatre is one of the few surviving atmospheric theaters in the United States. Another glimpse into history takes visitors back to 1833: Stowe visited a Georgian-style brick house named for Colonel Marshall Key. She was then taken to the nearby courthouse to watch a slave auction. For travelers interested in the history of slavery and its remembrance, Maysville’s role in heritage tourism is also an important part of the local landscape.

Bourbon History, Old Washington, and Scenic Views

The Bourbon History Galleries at the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center cover the Whiskey Tax Act uprising of 1791, the heyday of bourbon production in Mason County, Prohibition, and the revival of Old Pogue Master’s Select. The grounds of the Old Pogue Distillery include the Pogue family home, built in 1845, and a modern facility for producing distilled spirits. The Pogue family produces small-batch rye and bourbon whiskey using the same combinations of ingredients and methods found in their ancestors’ recipes. Visits to the grounds are by appointment.

The distillery is located on a southern ridge in the Ohio River Valley. From there, views extend east toward the Simon Kenton Bridge and the Ohio River. In Old Washington, meanwhile, Beaten Biscuit is part of the regional food culture: it is presented there as a traditional Kentucky way to eat county ham. Together, these experiences offer insight into bourbon production, regional cuisine, and the landscape, without making them all part of the same experience.

On a tour of Old Washington, costumed guides accompany visitors along stone-paved walkways. The route passes authentic frontier-era log cabins and houses from the early 19th century. Tours are offered during the season; outside the season, they are available by appointment. Check available dates before your visit.

Outdoor Activities and Hotel Planning

Maysville-Mason County Recreation Park brings together several ways to spend time outdoors, including a 15-acre fishing lake, a paved, one-mile path for walking and running, and abundant wildlife. The park also has a swimming pool that is open seasonally. Check the pool’s opening dates before your visit. The path offers a specific opportunity to get active, while the lake and wildlife provide a different focus.

Base your search on your travel itinerary and check the location details for each hotel when booking.

Discover more destinations: Maysville, Fayette, Mercer County, Floyd County, Hancock County, Breckinridge, Graves County, Letcher.

For the broader travel overview: Kentucky.