Frankfort (Kentucky)

Frankfort is the capital of Kentucky. A small city of about 25,000 residents, it is in the Bluegrass Region about 50 miles (80 km) from the state's largest city of Louisville and 25 miles (40 km) from Lexington.

There are two cities in Germany with a similar name, Frankfurt and Frankfurt an der Oder

The Kentucky State Capitol

Understand

The historic core of Frankfort is hidden in the deep valley of the Kentucky River, completely invisible to travellers on Interstate 64. Author William Least Heat-Moon once wrote about the city, "If you're ever looking for the most hidden statehouse in America, look no farther than Frankfort." The river, whose main course runs from southeast to northwest, makes a rough S-curve through the city, dividing it into four major parts:

• Downtown — The historic business district, in the valley and north of the river (which flows east-west at this particular point). This region of Frankfort is characterized by charismatic old fashioned antebellum style buildings. shops, cafes, restaurants and museums.
• South Frankfort — Home to the State Capitol, in the valley and south of the river; mostly residential apart from the Capitol. The governor's mansion and capitol are surrounded by floral gardens and lawns.
• East Side and West Side (also "East Frankfort" and "West Frankfort") — The more modern areas on either side of the valley, with more shopping options.The "West side" of town has traditionally had the most concentration of modern stores, restaurants and hotels. However, companies have started to put more focus on the East side, with new shopping complexes, restaurants and attractions being completed monthly. The East side is also home to many traditional Mexican restaurants.

Get in

By car

I-64 connects Frankfort with Lexington to the east and Louisville to the west. US 60 (which connects to Versailles) parallels I-64 most of its route through Kentucky. US 127 South connects Frankfort with the Blue Grass Pkwy and Harrodsburg to the south. US 127 North, a winding road, is the shortest route to Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati. US 460 offers a short route to Georgetown (the Toyota plant) and I-75.

By plane

• Capital City Airport, US 60 West, [phone]. General Aviation.
• Blue Grass Airport, Man'O War Blvd. at Versailles Rd., Lexington, [phone], . Passenger jet service.
• Louisville International Airport, I-264 at Exit 11 (past I-65), Louisville, [phone], . Passenger jet service.

By train

There is no Amtrak service to Frankfort.

Get around

Car rental

• Budget Rent-A-Car,1070 Versailles Rd., [phone].
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car, 220 Versailles Rd., [phone].

Bus

• Frankfort Transit, [phone].

Taxi

• Blue Grass Cab, [phone].
• Capital City Cab, [phone].

See

Cemeteries

• 🌍 Daniel Boone's Grave at Frankfort Cemetery, 215 East Main St, ☎ [phone]. The gravesite of Daniel and Rebecca Boone in a setting overlooking the city of Frankfort. Other notables buried in the cemetery are Presley Neville O' Bannon, first American to raise the American flag on foreign soil and inspire "The Shores of Tripoli" in the Marine hymn; artist Paul Sawyier; Joel T. Hart; Theodore O'Hara, author of "Bivouac of the Dead"; professional wrestling valet Elizabeth Hulette, better known as Miss Elizabeth; Vice President Richard M. Johnson; and 17 Kentucky Governors.  
• Greenhill Cemetery, Corner of East Main & US 60, [phone]. Features the only monument in the state honoring Kentucky's African American Civil War Soldiers. It is one of only four monuments in the country dedicated to African American Civil War Soldiers. The 14-ft monument was erected by the Colored Women's Relief Corps in 1924.

Covered bridge

• Switzer Covered Bridge, KY 1261 Switzer off US 460 East. Built in 1855, this covered bridge is the only example of a Howe Trussed bridge in the state of Kentucky. It has been restored from major flood damage, which occurred in 1997. An area by the bridge offers a peaceful place to picnic.

Distillery

• 🌍 Buffalo Trace Distillery, 1001 Wilkinson Blvd, ☎ [phone]. Buffalo Trace Distillery is on an ancient buffalo crossing that became a pathway for westward moving explorers, pioneers and settlers. Distilling began here over two centuries ago, making it the oldest distilling site in the United States. The distillery boasts 12 of the largest fermenters in the industry, and a four-story still tower.  

Government Buildings

• Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, 100 West Broadway St, ☎ [phone]. Short walk includes 167,000 square foot Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, plus two National Historic Register treasures---the 1830s Greek Revival Old State Capitol and the 1850s Old State Arsenal. 12,000 years of rich Kentucky history, inspiring architecture, exhibits and collections examining Kentucky's culture, politics and military history. The remolded exhibit "Hall of Governors" is also worth seeing. The museum is also home to state of the art archives that can be visited during normal business hours. 
• Executive Mansion, [phone]. Located across from the Capitol building and overlooking the Kentucky River is the Governor's mansion, constructed of native limestone, was modeled after the Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinette's summer villa. Tour includes the state dining room, ballroom, reception room and formal salon.
• Floral Clock, [phone]. Located on the West Lawn of the Capitol Grounds and planted with thousands of colorful flowering plants, the face of this clock is 34 feet in diameter.
• 🌍 Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Coffee Tree Rd., off the East-West Connector (KY 676). Overlooking the city, the names of all Kentuckians who died in Vietnam are etched in granite beneath the memorial sundial, with the point of the gnomon's shadow actually touching the veteran's name on the anniversary of his death. Recognized as one of the most original and unusual memorials in the nation.  
• 🌍 Old Governor's Mansion, 420 High St, ☎ [phone] (info), [phone] (schedule tours). Tours by appointment only. The oldest official executive residence in the U.S. still in use. The federal mansion was home to 33 Kentucky governors from 1798-1914. Seven U.S. presidents visited. Still the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor, but no holder of that office has lived in the mansion since 2003. (A 1992 change to the state constitution stripped the position of almost all of its constitutional duties, making it unnecessary for lieutenant governors to live in Frankfort.) (updated Dec 2017)
• Old State Capitol, Broadway and Lewis St., [phone]. This national landmark was Kentucky's seat of government from 1831 - 1910. Greek Revival structure includes a unique, self-supporting staircase held together by precision and pressure.
• Kentucky State Capitol, Capital Ave., [phone]. Completed in 1910, the Beaux Arts design features 70 columns, decorative murals and sculptures of Kentucky dignitaries. Also, the First Lady Doll Collection, changing history and culture exhibits are featured on the first floor.

Historic homes

• 🌍 Berry Mansion, 700 Louisville Rd, ☎ [phone]. Built in 1900, by George Franklin Berry, a prominent distiller, this Georgian Revival mansion is situated on a bluff overlooking the State Capitol. The most outstanding feature is an elaborate music room built in Gothic Revival style with pipes rising behind an intricately carved oak grill, with a massive cathedral organ. Wood carvers spent two years carving ornamentation for this one room.  
• 🌍 Liberty Hall Historic Site, 218 Wilkinson St, ☎ [phone]. Liberty Hall (1796) is the Federalist style mansion of Kentucky's first senator, John Brown. This architectural masterpiece from Kentucky's first decade is lavishly decorated with local antiques owned by four generations of Browns that lived in the house. The grounds contain the largest formal boxwood garden in Kentucky with nearly three acres of beautiful, perennial and annual borders.  
• Orlando Brown House, 218 Wilkinson St, ☎ [phone]. The Greek-Revival Orlando Brown House, built in 1835, is the residence designed by Kentucky's most famous architect Gideon Shryock. It is splendidly furnished with antiques owned by the three generations of the Brown family that lived there until 1954. 
• 🌍 Zeigler House, 509 Shelby St. Frank Lloyd Wright, recognized as the greatest American architect, designed his only house built in Kentucky for the Rev. Jesse R. Zeigler. The 1910 prairie-style house, now completely restored by Jane and Jim Brockman, has a lighted stained glass case surrounding the fireplace at the ceiling, the only one designed by Wright during his prairie period.  

Movies

• Franklin Square Cinema 6, Franklin Square Shopping Center, US 127 South, [phone].

Scenic views

• Scenic Overlook, Louisville Rd., US 60 West. Scenic overlook allows visitors a panoramic view of the city of Frankfort and the State Capitol, nestled in the Kentucky River valley.

Wildlife viewing

• Buckley Wildlife Sanctuary, 1305 Germany Rd, ☎ [phone]. Observe wildlife at a bio-diverse bird blind, hiking trails, and numerous events. Operated by the National Audubon Society, the fields, forests and wet areas are a haven for birds, mammals and wildflowers. Hiking trails meander about this 374 acre nature center nestled along the Kentucky River. 
• Salato Wildlife Education Center, 1 Sportsman's Ln, ☎ [phone]. An educational center with interactive and interpretive exhibits featuring native plants and animals. Scheduled wildlife education programs for children and adults are offered year round. 

Do

Art

• Josephine Sculpture Park, 3355 Lawrenceburg Rd (1/2 mi. east of Stewart Home School), ☎ [phone]. open dawn until dusk. Josephine Sculpture Park is free and open every day from dawn until dusk. Experience our rotating exhibit of large outdoor sculptures and community artworks in the beauty of Kentucky's native, rural landscape. Enjoy the art and the outdoors on foot or on bike through artist-led or self guided tours. free. 

Golf

• Juniper Hill Park, 800 Louisville Rd, ☎ [phone]. 18-hole golf course. 
• Duckers Lake Golf Course, 421 Duckers Rd, ☎ [phone]. 18-hole championship golf course. 
• Lakeview Park, US 460, Steadmantown Rd. & Georgetown Rd., [phone]. 9-hole, Par 3 family golf course.

Horseback riding

• A Little Bit of Heaven, US 127 North, [phone]. Guided trail rides and horse rentals for all levels. Picnic sites, hayrides, indoor classroom and restroom facilities. Cold drinks and snacks available. Various lesson packages for children and adults. 8 miles north of Frankfort. Come have fun.

Water activities

• Canoe Kentucky, 7323 Peaks Mill Rd, ☎ [phone]. Or (800) K-CANOE-1. 8 miles north of Frankfort, Canoe Kentucky provides a network of water adventures: canoeing, kayaking, duckies, tubing, fishing, swimming, camping, hiking and caving. Canoe Kentucky's environmental/educational training division offers kayak and canoe classes with certified instructors. Guided or self-guided canoe trips and raft rentals available over mild whitewater Class I and II, depending on the stream. 

Live music

• 🌍 Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe, 235 W. Broadway, ☎ [phone]. M-W 6AM-9PM; Th-Sa 6AM-11PM; Su 8AM-7PM. Live music from nationally acclaimed artists, organic coffee drinks, homemade soups, sandwiches, a wide selection of imports and micro-brews, local bourbon, handcrafted cocktails and a good wine list. 

Learn

• Kentucky State University, East Main St., [phone], . KSU is a small, unique liberal studies university founded in 1886. Founded for the state's African American community during the era of legalized segregation, KSU has long been integrated, but retains much of its historic African American character. Hume and Jackson Halls are on the National Register. Jackson Hall contains a public art gallery which features exhibits by KSU students and the Center of Excellence for the Study of Kentucky African Americans. Blazer Library contains over 350,000 volumes, has a special African-American collection, and is open to the public. KSU has facilities available for meetings and conferences. Athletic events, concerts, art exhibits, theater productions and public lectures are available to the public.

Buy

• Completely Kentucky, 237 Broadway, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. Completely Kentucky is proud to offer the work from over 450 of Kentucky's best artisans. Large selection of Kentucky arts and crafts and Kentucky gourmet foods. 
• Jessie's Art Gallery, 39 Fountain Place, ☎ [phone]. Jessie's feature collectible reproductions of original oil paintings by American artists. You will find signed and numbered limited edition prints and canvases, along with a large collection of the most popular open edition prints available. 
• Irish Sea Celtic Shop, 333 West Broadway, ☎ [phone]. .The Irish Sea Celtic Shop is Frankfort's home for Celtic Gifts from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. Offers many products that reflect this unique heritage, including a selection of Celtic china, food items, jewelry, silk & wool scarves, hats, sweaters, baby clothes, and music CDs and tapes — plus Scottish clan badges, kilt pins, etc. 
• Rebecca Ruth Candy Tours & Museum, 116 East Second St, ☎ [phone]. Store: M-Sa 10AM-6PM & Su noon-6PM. Guided tours: M-Sa 10AM-noon & 1PM-5:30PM. Rebecca Ruth Candy is world-famous as the originators of bourbon candy. This business was co-founded in 1919 by two ladies, Rebecca and Ruth, at a time when few women ventured into business. Today Ruth Booe's grandson is owner and operator of this unique confectionery landmark. Factory tour highlights include free samples, an antique cooking furnace with hand stirred copper kettles and a 15-foot marble slab named "Edna's Table". Rebecca Ruth makes over 100 varieties of confections and mail orders candy worldwide. Guided tours: $4.00 per person. Children 5 & under are free. (updated Apr 2014)
• The Gift Box/ Candleberry's Tearoom & Cafe, 1500 Louisville Road (US 60West), ☎ [phone]. 10AM-5PM. A gift shop full of unique and one of a kind gifts. Browse the two floors for that very special gift for any occasion. Adjacent tearoom/cafe open for lunch M-Sa 11AM to 2PM. 

Eat

Downtown

• East Side Diner, 859 E Main St, ☎ [phone]. 
• Gibby's, 212 W. Broadway, [phone].
• Jim's Seafood, 950 Wilkinson Blvd, ☎ [phone]. 
• 🌍 Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe, 235 W Broadway, ☎ [phone]. M-W 6AM-9PM; Th-Sa 6AM-11PM; Su 8AM-7PM. Home-style soups, sandwiches, breakfast and desserts available all day, along with a wide selection of organic coffees and, wine, local bourbon, handcrafted cocktails, micro-brew beers. 
• Linney's Pizza, 717 E Main St, ☎ [phone]. 
• Marshall's Backstretch Diner, 232 W. Main St, ☎ [phone]. 
• Melanie's On Main, 238 W. Main St, ☎ [phone]. 
• Oasis, 334 St. Clair St, ☎ [phone]. 
• Serafini, 243 W Broadway, [phone].
• The Dragon Pub, 103 West Main St, ☎ [phone]. 
• The Cheesery Deli, 34 Fountain Place, ☎ [phone]. 
• The Terrace, 405 Wilkinson Blvd (Capital Plaza), ☎ [phone]. 

South Frankfort

• Capital Annex Cafeteria, Capital Annex Bldg., [phone]. M-F, 7AM-2:15PM.
• Cliffside Diner, Old Lawrenceburg Rd., [phone].
• Rick's White Light Diner, 114 Bridge St, ☎ [phone]. 

East Side

• Arandas Mexican, 193 Versailles Rd, ☎ [phone]. 
• Brando's Restaurant, 3710 Georgetown Rd, ☎ [phone]. 
• China King Buffet, 268 Versailles Rd, ☎ [phone]. 
• China Wok, Eastwood Shopping Ctr., [phone].
• Garcia's, Brighton Park.
• LaFiesta Grande, 314 Versailles Rd, ☎ [phone]. 
• Linney's Pizza & Pasta, 717 E Main St, ☎ [phone]. 
• Office Pub and Deli, 614 Comanche Trail, [phone].
• Pizza Inn, 302 Versailles Rd, ☎ [phone]. 
• Rose's Pub, 150 Elkhorn Ct, ☎ [phone]. 

West Side

• Adelia's Bakery & Cafe, 1140 US 127 South, [phone].
• Brando's Restaurant, 1227 US 127 South, [phone].
• Candleberry Tearoom & Cafe, 1502 Louisville Rd, ☎ [phone]. 
• Casa Fiesta, 801 Louisville Rd, ☎ [phone]. 
• Johnny Carino's Italian, 1303 US 127 South, [phone].
• Miss Ramey's Tea Room, 76C Michael Davenport Blvd., [phone].
• My Guadalajara, 1232 US 127 South, ☎ [phone]. 
• New China, 1309 US 127 South, Ste 8, [phone].
• Super Buffet, 1055 US 127 South, [phone].
• Thai Smile, 19 Century Plaza, [phone].

Drink

Coffeehouses

• 🌍 Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe, 235 W Broadway St, ☎ [phone]. M-W 6AM-9PM; Th-Sa 6AM-11PM; Su 8AM-7PM. The Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe offers weekly live music by top regional and national musicians. Performances are typically of the bluegrass, folk, singer/songwriter, and Americana genres. Homemade soups, sandwiches, breakfast and desserts available all day, along with a wide selection of organic coffees and, wine, handcrafted cocktails, micro-brew beers. 
• Starbucks, 1303 US 127 South, ☎ [phone]. 

Pubs

• Bottom & Grill, 338 Saint Clair St, ☎ [phone]. 
• Brick Alley, 325 Saint Clair St, ☎ [phone]. 
• Cave Lounge, 100 Workhouse Aly, [phone].
• Cooter Brown's, 6 Century Plz S, [phone].
• Doo Wop Shop, 505 Eastwood Shopping Ctr, [phone].
• Downtown Bar, 331 Saint Clair St, ☎ [phone]. 
• Jim's Tavern, 638 Holmes St, ☎ [phone]. 
• Office Pub & Deli, 614 Comanche Trl., [phone].
• Parleys Tavern, 1410 Versailles Rd, ☎ [phone]. 
• Saylor's Restaurant & Lounge, 900 Louisville Rd, ☎ [phone]. 
• Scottzo's Pub, 765 Holmes St, ☎ [phone]. 
• The Dragon Pub, 103 W Main St, ☎ [phone]. 

Sleep

Bed & Breakfast

• 🌍 The Meeting House, 519 Ann St, ☎ [phone]. Enter a circa 1849-Civil War Home with the charm and history of yesteryear. Located in the heart of the Historic District, you'll enjoy your stay in a home rich in the history of Frankfort's political forefathers. 

Hotels

• 🌍 America's Best Value Inn of Frankfort, 1225 U.S. 127 South, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. 46 rooms. Featuring in-room coffeemakers, in-room safes, cable television with HBO, and interior-corridors with enhanced- security electronic key entry. Free pastries and coffee, free local calls, non-smoking rooms, copy and fax machines. 
• 🌍 Best Western Parkside Inn, 80 Chenault Road, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. 
• 🌍 Bluegrass Inn, 635 Versailles Road, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. U.S. 60. 61 rooms. Cable TV with HBO, complimentary continental breakfast, outdoor pool, senior citizen discounts, rooms with refrigerators, non-smoking rooms. 
• 🌍 Capital Plaza Hotel, 405 Wilkinson Blvd, ☎ [phone]. 189 rooms. Located Downtown, adjacent to Frankfort Convention Center. Within walking distance of KY History Center, Historic Distirict, downtown shops and restaurants. 7 executive suites. Interior corridors. Meeting and banquet facilities for 500. Covered parking. Restaurant and bar on site. Hot Breakfast Buffet. Indoor pool, sauna, exercise room and game room. 
• 🌍 Days Inn Motel, 1051 US 127 South, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. 122 rooms, outdoor pool, continental breakfast, non-smoking rooms. 
• 🌍 Fairfield Inn & Suites Frankfort, 40 Chenault Drive, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. 
• 🌍 Hampton Inn, 1310 US 127 South (I-64 at Exit 53B), ☎ [phone], toll-free: +1-800-HAMPTON (4267866). 123 rooms. Interior corridors. Meeting facilities for up to 80 people. Outdoor pool and exercise room. Handicap accessible. Complimentary Continental Breakfast. 
• 🌍 Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 1000 Vandalay Drive (I-64 at Exit 53B), ☎ [phone], toll-free: +1-888-HOLIDAY (4654329), e-mail: [e-mail]. 67 rooms, 3 jacuzzi suites, indoor heated swimming pool, 24 hour guest laundry, fitness center, business center, and meeting room. 
• 🌍 University Lodge, 711 East Main St, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. 50 rooms. cable TV with HBO, senior citizens discount. 

Campgrounds

• 🌍 Elkhorn Campground, 165 Scruggs Lane, ☎ [phone]. US 460 East. At the forks of Elkhorn Creek, campground offers electric, water and full hookups. Tent and trailer sites, camp store, swimming pool, showers, dump station, fishing, miniature golf, LP gas, laundry, playground and pavilion. 
• 🌍 Still Waters Campground, Marina & Canoe Trails, 249 Strohmeier Road, ☎ [phone]. US 127 North. Located on the Kentucky River, at the mouth of Elkhorn Creek. RV & tent areas have water/electric at all sites and sewer to most RV sites. Two primitive camping areas. Camp store, concessions, dump station, and bathhouse. Boat ramps, bait, canoeing and kayaking on the Kentucky River and Elkhorn Creek. Fishing, skiing, hiking, and old fashioned recreation. 
• Kentucky River Campground, Steele Branch Rd. off US 127 North (6 miles north of Frankfort), [phone]. Features electric and water hookups, primitive camping, and bathhouse, 25-ft barbecue pit, two shelter houses, cable TV, RV supplies, propane gas, sewer hookups to all campsites, Kentucky River boat ramp, fishing, playground and laundry facilities.
• Lakeside Arena Campground, 1385 Duncan-Millville Rd., ☎ [phone]. Campground shares facility with Lakeside Arena. 

Connect

Go next

Routes through Frankfort

Louisville ← Shelbyville ←	W  E	→ Midway → Lexington
Louisville ← Shelbyville ←	W  E	→ Jct W E → Lexington → Charleston
Cincinnati ← Florence ←	N  S	→ Lawrenceburg → Crossville
END ←	W  E	→ Jct → Paris → Mount Sterling