Group Tour Itineraries

Downtown Maysville Walking Tour:

Must be booked at least one week in advance

• ·         Groups of 12 or more - $15.00 per person.
• ·         Groups of 6 to 11 - $20.00 per person
• ·         Groups of 1 to   5 - $30.00 per person
• ·         (Tour Guide tips not included) includes tour guide and admission to Museum Center.
• ·         Tour takes approximately 2 & ½ hours.

Welcome to Maysville … which was originally called Limestone until 1787 when the Virginia General Assembly established Limestone as a town in 1787 and changed the name to Maysville.   The area was attractive to settlers because of the landing at Limestone Creek, the Buffalo Trace (forming a roadway forty feet wide into the interior of Kentucky) and rich cane lands.  Frontiersman Simon Kenton found Limestone Creek and the canebrakes for which he had searched in 1775. In 1784, Kenton helped erect the first permanent structure in what would become Maysville. By 1830, Maysville had become a thriving river port  and on January 13, 1833 Maysville was incorporated as a city.  After petitioning the Kentucky Legislature three time, Maysville became the county seat in 1848.

• Simon Kenton Bridge – 1932 suspension bridge.
• Maysville Floodwall Murals - Depicting early history of area.
• Maysville High School – Site of 1784 blockhouse, first permanent building in Maysville (now Maysville High School apartments)
• St. Patrick’s Church – Dedicated in 1910 in Gothic Style, its two large stained glass windows represent St. Boniface and St. Patrick, patron saints of Germany & Ireland.  Rectory built in 1901 in Colonial Revival Style 
• Russell Theater – Spanish Style atmospheric theater built in 1929; Rosemary Clooney’s movie premier “The Stars are Singing” in 1953.
• Third Street Row houses – c. 1840’s in Federal Style, enhanced with French influenced grillwork, “eyebrow” windows, later additions of Mansard roofs.
• Mason County Courthouse – Built in 1844 in Greek Revival Style, domed tower clock
• First Presbyterian Church - Built in 1850; architecture represents the first period of Gothic Revival.
• Cox Row – Built in 1886 in the Queen Anne Style,  the 7 row houses are named for days of the week beginning with Sunday.
• Church of the Nativity - Built in 1848 in Tudor Gothic style with deep chancel, steep roof pitch, massive tower with belfry and wooden doors with heavy iron strap hinges.
• The Kentucky Gateway Museum Center - Built in 1881 as a public library, contains exhibits on history of the county and genealogical reference materials.
• Pioneer Graveyard - Oldest cemetery in town, contains graves of Maysville’s first mayor Charles E. Wolfe, Jacob Boone, one of Maysville’s first trustees and cousin of Daniel Boone, and Peter Grant, uncle of President Ulysses S. Grant.
• The Lee House - Originally named the Washington Hotel, was built circa 1798. Famous guests include Henry Clay, the Marquis de Lafayette and Andrew Jackson. Original guest register on display at Museum Center.

The Freedom Trail Underground Railroad Tour:

• Must be booked at least one week in advance

• ·       Groups of 12 or more $20.00 per person
• ·       Groups of 6 to 11 $32.00
• ·       Groups of 1 to   5 $45.00
• ·       (Tour Guide tips not included) includes tour guide fee and admission fees. 
• ·       Tour takes approximately 5 hours, including 1-hour lunch break. (Lunch not included in fee)

Early Settlers ventured to this area in the late 1700’s and brought with them the opinion that slavery was wrong – many who settled across the river in Ripley, Ohio freed their slaves upon arrival. 

This area’s history continues to inspire and intrigue historians, residents and visitors. Tour the Freedom Trail, picture the past, with abolitionist and slaves running through alleys, and up the hills toward beacons of freedom.  And think about the dangers for those who believed that enslaving humans was wrong – great Americans who put their convictions in motion and had the courage to say no to slavery.

(Example Tour)

10:00 a.m. – Arrive at Old Washington, KY Visitors Center; proceed to Harriet Beecher Stowe Slavery to Freedom Museum and Old Washington Courthouse Lawn. See the home and hear the story of where Stowe stayed during a visit in 1833; stand on courthouse lawn where she witnessed a slave auction which left such an impression upon her, she incorporated it into her novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”.  Period furniture, displays showing slave life and Civil War documents featured.

10:45 a.m. – Board bus to drive to downtown Maysville.

11:00a.m. --  The National Underground Railroad Museum in downtown Maysville. Slave artifacts, photos and memorabilia serve as a testament to the struggle of the men and women who crossed the Ohio River to freedom. 

12:00 p.m. – Lunch

1:15p.m. Board bus for drive to Ripley, Ohio

1:30 p.m. – Rankin House, safe house and refuge to thousands of slaves as they made their way to freedom. Revel in the spectacular view of the Ohio River Valley from this National Historic Landmark; view the famous “stairway to freedom” leading from the river to Liberty Hill. Video available (optional).

2:30 p.m. –  John P. Parker House, home of the ex-slave, abolitionist and inventor.  By day Parker worked in his own foundry and by night helped slaves escape from Kentucky. A National Historic Landmark.  Video available (optional). Drive along Front Street to hear stories and view homes that were part of the Underground Railroad Movement.

3:30 p.m. -- Board bus and depart for home

Covered Bridge Tour:

Must be booked at least one week in advance

·         $55.00 Fee for Step-On Guide Services only.

·          (Tour Guide tips not included) Tour takes approximately 5 hours.

With only 13 Covered Bridges left in Kentucky, we can boast 8 bridges in our five county area of Northern Kentucky.

The most famous and widely photographed bridge is Fleming County’s Goddard White Bridge. Built in the 1820’s, it is the only surviving example of Ithiel Town Lattice design in Kentucky.  Construction of the other seven Covered Bridges range from 1835 to 1874; designs include Smith truss construction, Burr truss design, King post with laminated arch design and a multiple King post design.

Visit Blue Licks Battlefield State Park Resort.  General Daniel Boone and the Kentucky Militia were ambushed here in 1782 in Kentucky’s last battle of the Revolutionary War.

Throughout history the salt springs at Blue Licks attracted pre-historic mastodons, buffalo and formed a center of Indian life.

(Example Tour)

10:00 a.m. – Arrive in Old Washington to meet Step-on Guide at Old Washington Visitor Center.

10:15 a.m. – Depart Old Washington and travel to Goddard-White Covered Bridge and Ringo Mill’s Covered Bridge in Fleming County.

11:45 a.m. – Arrive at Blue Licks Battlefield State Park Resort Pioneer Museum and gift shop. 

1:00 p.m. – Lunch at Blue Licks Resort Lodge dining room.

2:30 p.m. – Depart for Old Washington; upon arrival, guests can browse the many antique and craft shops. Guided tours available at the Old Washington Visitor Center.

4:00 p.m. – Board motor coach for trip home.

Educational Tours:

Must be booked at least one week in advance

Log Cabin Learning Program 

$2.00 per student includes admission fees and tour guide.  (Tour Guide tips not included) Tour takes approximately 2 hours, 25 people (or less) per guide.

Chaperones $3.00 per person. Teachers & bus drivers receive complimentary admission.

Upon arrival at old Washington Visitor Center a tour guide in Period Costume will greet the guests.

• Step inside original 1780’s Cane Brake Log Cabin; view 7-minute video about settlement of Mason County and frontiersman Simon Kenton.  Learn features of log cabin construction.
• Visit Simon Kenton Shrine, an example of pioneer general store.
• While strolling down flagstone sidewalks to Harriet Beecher Stowe Museum and Paxton Inn, learn architectural features of original early 1800’s brick structures.
• Visit Mefford’s Fort, built c. 1790’s.  George Mefford, his wife and 13 children lived in this log cabin, whose floors are constructed from planks of flatboat that carried the family down the Ohio River to Mason County.  Learn about candle dipping, the origins of childhood song “Pop Goes the Weasel” and pioneer family life.
• Log Cabin Workbook & Log Cabin Chocolate Candy. 

Old Washington Pioneer Village Guided Walking Tours:

Groups of 10 or more must be booked at least 24 hours in advance

Historic Tour – $10.00 adults   $4.00 children 6 – 12 yrs; price includes admission fees & costumed guide. (Tour Guide tips not included) Tour takes approximately 1½ -2 hours.

• ·         1787 Mefford’s Fort
• ·         1790 Simon Kenton Shrine
• ·         1790 Cane Brakes
• ·         1794 Courthouse Lawn
• ·         1795 Indian Fort or Smoke House
• ·         1795 Row Houses
• ·         1797 Albert Sidney Johnston House
• ·         1799 Stone House
• ·         1800 Federal Hill
• ·         1802 Benjamin Bayless House
• ·         1805 Murphy-Lashbrook House
• ·         1807 Marshall Key House
• ·         1809 Washington Branch Bank
• ·         1810 Paxton House
• ·         1810 Paxton Inn
• ·         1812 Pillsberry School for Boys
• ·         1829 Taylors Corner
• ·         1848 Old Church Museum
• ·         1870 Presbyterian Church

Personal Small Group Tours – Depending on the type of tour you request prices will vary.  A tour guide will be provided. 

All tours must be booked in advance

Old Washington tours only – A minimum of 24 hours notice is required

All other tours – A minimum of one week’s notice is required

Maysville – Mason County Tourism prides itself on accommodating to our visitors needs.  If you would like a tour created just for your group, please contact us at: 606-564-9419

Our Tour guides go through a vigorous training session on the history of Maysville, Kentucky. To show your appreciation for their outstanding attention given to your tour, please tip them accordingly.

(Tipping is not mandatory)

For more information please call: 606-564-9419

Or

duffgiffen@maysvilleky.net

suziepratt@maysvilleky.net

Tours & prices are subject to change without advance notice

To Plan Your Kentucky Vacation visit www.kentuckytourism.com