Maysville's Old Washington Historic District
Old Washington Visitors Center
The Paxton House is the newly renovated location of the Washington Visitors Center. The Maysville-Mason County Convention and Visitors Bureau in conjunction with the Elizabeth Wallingford Foundation renovated the building to turn of the 19th Century periord. Costumed guides conduct various tours from the center, which also has a small gift and book shop.
The visitors center hours are:
Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; with tours 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Sunday 12 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Call for more information: 606-759-7411
The visitors center will be open through Frontier Christmas Festival in December.
Old Washington Tours
Old Washington Tour
Tour takes approximately 1 & ½ hours.
*Points of interest include: Old Washington Cane Brake Visitor Center, Simon Kenton Shrine, Harriet Beecher Stowe Museum, Albert Sidney Johnston House, Paxton Inn and Mefford’s Fort. Adults, $10; children, ages 6-12 years, $4.
Underground Railroad Tour
Tour takes 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Points of interest include: Paxton Inn (with hidden stairway to hide runaway slaves), Harrite Beecher Stowe Slavery to Freedom Museum, Albert Sidney Johnston Home, Courthouse front lawn where slave auctions were held. Adults, $6, children; ages 6-12 years,$4.
Log Cabin Learning Tour
Tour takes approximately 2 hours.
*Educational tour coordinates with curriculum for elementary and middle school children.
Visit authentic log cabins, explore early bartering system at pioneer general store, explore daily life of pioneer children and more. Adults, $3; children, $2; teachers & bus drivers, free.
Underground Railroad Driving Tour
*Guided driving tour of Mason County's significant Underground Railroad and African American Heritage sites. Travel to Ohio via the Augusta Ferry to visit the Rev. John Rankin House in Ripley, Ohio. Tour takes approximately 4 hours. Group minimum 25 people
Old Washington Annual Events
Chocolate Festival
April 18, 2009. Features parade, pageant, fudge contest, rides, games, chocolate and more. Sponsored by Historic Washington Shopkeepers.
400 Mile Sale
First weekend in June. The 400 Mile Sale followes US 68 from Washington to Paducah. Residents and shopkeepers of Old Washington have yard and sidewalk sales along Old Main Street just 2 blocks off US 68. For more information, visit our website at www.trailsRus.com and call today (270) 781-6858 to order a free map and brochure.
31st Annual Simon Kenton Festival
September 15-16th. Demonstrations of frontier life, pioneer reenactors, arts & crafts. Kenton descendants gather for reunion.
40th Annual Frontier Christmas Festival
First weekend of December. Scenic 1780s pioneer village with seven museums, strolling costumed carolers, dulcimer, banjo and fiddle playing; learn the art of candle making, period craft demonstrations.
Old Washington Museums & Historic Sites
Harriet Beecher Stowe Slavery to Freedom Museum: Offers slavery artifacts, Civil War memoribillia, period furnishings and chronicles the life of Harriet Beecher Stowe, including her visit to Washington, Kentucky in 1833, which was the inspiration for the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Saturday, 12 p.m.-4 pm. All other days guided tours offered at the Washington Visitors Center, see above. Adults, $3; children ages 6-12 years, $1. For information or group tours contact: 606-759-4860.
Simon Kenton Shrine: One of the original 119 log cabins. This museum honors the famous explorer who settled the area and spent 14 years of his life here. Example of a Frontier General Store such as Simon had at one time.
Presbyterian Church: Gothic Revival structure, sanctuary of pressed tin coverings on wall and ceiling. The cornerstone from the former church, built in 1844, was incorporated into the foundation.
The Albert Sidney Johnston House: C 1797, the 1803 birthplace and childhood home of this famous Confederate general. His death at Shiloh on April 6, 1862, is said to have been the military turning point of the Civil War.
The Carriage Museum: Here are high quality, hand crafted, horse drawn carriages, buggies and other vehicles on display in The Carriage Museum, is located on Old Main Street behind the Carousel Shop. This museum is privately owned and all proceeds go to the Alzheimer's Fund.
Paxton Inn: Since before 1810, built by prominent Washington lawyer and abolitionist, James a. Paxton, it was the favorite meeting place for lawyers and citizens to discuss politics and other key issues of the day. It was a station on the Underground Railroad.
Old Church Museum 1848: The Methodist Episcopal Church South - This was the second church used by the congregation first formed in 1786. Prior to the Civil War, strong sentiments split the Methodists into M. E. Church North and M. E. Church South.
Mefford's Station: C 1787 was built using planks from the flatboat that carried his family down the Ohio River from Pittsburgh. It is the only known flatboat house still in existence built in part from a flatboat.
Old Washington Shops
This historic district is known for shops featuring antiques, collectibles and crafts. For details on all Old Washinton has to offer in shopping and services, click here.