Visit Locust Grove
Welcome to Locust Grove, a National Historic Landmark and your gateway to early Kentucky beginnings.
General Information
We are located at 561 Blankenbaker Lane, Louisville, KY 40207.
The grounds of Locust Grove are open from sunrise to sunset, with the Visitors’ Center open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Our Tours
Locust Grove offers a Guided House Tour and Unfolding the Story: The Enslaved Community At Locust Grove. Tickets for a tour can be purchased upon arrival or in advance here.
Guided House Tour:
Offered Tuesday through Saturday beginning at 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. We recommend arriving at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time for an optional viewing of a 12-minute introductory film in the Visitors' Center.
During the Guided House Tour, a docent will guide you through the place where Louisville began, exploring the lives of the Croghan and Clark families, the enslaved community and Locust Grove’s famous visitors during early frontier Kentucky. The Guided House Tour is generally between 60 and 90 minutes long.
Unfolding The Story: The Enslaved Community At Locust Grove
Unfolding The Story transports guests back in time to learn about the lives and stories of the enslaved community at Locust Grove. The immersive program addresses life in early Kentucky through the perspective of two members of Locust Grove’s enslaved community. Unfolding The Story is not focused on reenacting the traumatic experiences of the enslaved women, men and children who lived and worked at Locust Grove – but rather telling their stories in a way that justly depicts them as full human beings.
Unfolding the Story takes place inside on both stories of the historic house, and in and around the other historic outbuildings on our grounds. The experience is about 90 minutes of walking and standing, with some seating available. Regularly scheduled performances are offered biweekly on Saturday from April through October. Performances occur at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
PLEASE NOTE: Unfolding The Story takes place inside and outside the building on Locust Grove and involves walking and standing, sometimes on uneven ground. Locust Grove is committed to making our tours accessible to all. If you have concerns about accessibility, please call us at 502.897.9845 to discuss accommodations.
Unfolding The Story is a part of the Unfiltered Truth Collection with Louisville Tourism.
Frequently Asked Questions
DIRECTIONS
Admission
House Tours
$12 for adults
$10 for seniors
$6 for children (6-18 years old)
Unfolding the Story:
$18 for adults
$12 for seniors (65+)
$10 for children (6-18 years old)
Visitor’s Center Only: $6 for adults, $3 for children (6-18 years old)
Discounts are offered for Military, AAA, AARP and other organizations. Contact us to see if your organization applies. For groups of 10 or more, ask us about group rates and schedule your visit in advance.
Holiday Closures
We are closed to the public throughout the month of January, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and the first Saturday in May for Kentucky Derby Day.
From I-65
Take I-71 North. Continue on I-71, passing the I-64 split, and exit at Zorn Avenue. Turn left onto Zorn, taking care as you cross the median. Make a right turn onto River road at the light (Chevron Station on the corner). Turn right onto Blankenbaker Lane, approximately 6 miles from downtown Louisville, at the traffic light. You will proceed gradually uphill as you travel away from the river, and will find the entrance to the Locust Grove parking lot on your left, immediately past Twin Hill (on the right).
From Downtown Louisville
Take either the I-71 to Zorn Avenue route described above, or if you are already close to the riverfront, just take River Road all the way out to Blankenbaker Lane.
From points along the Watterson Expressway (I-264)
Take the Watterson eastward to the Brownsboro Road (U. S. 42) exit. At the end of the ramp, turn left and proceed to the third traffic light. Turn right onto Blankenbaker Lane. Locust Grove will come into view within about 1-1/2 miles, just as you crest a small ridge. Make a right turn into the parking lot, just after passing the historic house.
2023 Calendar of Events
10/04/2023
Afternoon Lecture Series: Locust Grove and Historic Preservation’s Future: Making an Invisible History Visible with Charles Raith
Wednesday, 1:15pm - 3:00pm
Admission: $8/nonmembers; $6/Locust Grove members.
Schedule: Refreshments at 1:00 pm, lecture at 1:15 pm.
This talk seeks to show how Locust Grove, as a product of the preservation movement in 19th and 20th century America, could embrace new trends in the movement in the 21st century. We’ll examine some of the antecedents for Locust Grove’s restoration as part of the evolution of the preservation movement up to the present day to better understand and explore how Locust Grove might respond to the challenges of new, critical thinking about treatment standards and practices.
Charles Raith began his professional career in 1977 when, fresh out of the University of Cincinnati’s architectural school, he was hired by Sam Thomas to be the project manager for the renovation of the old Jefferson County Courthouse. In that position, he also assisted Sam in the reconstruction of Locust Grove’s icehouse. Ever since, in private practice and public service, historic preservation has been a personal and professional passion. He has worked on numerous condition assessments and preservation plans for historic buildings, sites and campuses, including several projects at Locust Grove.
10/17/2023
Sunset Yoga at Locust Grove (Partnered with Studio Hustle in St. Matthews)
Tuesday, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Registration is required | Donation-based admission
Experience the breathtaking beauty of nature and immerse yourself in its calming sounds during sunset yoga at Locust Grove. Let the serene outdoor environment soothe your mind and guide you throughout this one-hour class. This donation-based class, brought to you in partnership with Ami McMullen and Studio Hustle in St. Matthews, is open to everyone in the community and suitable for all skill levels. Click here to register and choose the donation amount that suits you best.
10/24/2023
Frankenstein performed by Kentucky Shakespeare
Tuesday, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Admission: $22/nonmembers | $17/Locust Grove Members
Schedule: Doors open at 6:00 p.m. | Performance begins at 7 p.m.
Step into the eerie ambiance of Gothic literature with Kentucky Shakespeare and immerse yourself as they resurrect the classic tale of Frankenstein in a chilling staged reading performance beneath Locust Grove's open-air pavilion. Penned by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley during the Croghan's occupancy at Locust Grove, this event is the perfect start to the Halloween weekend. Refreshments will be available for purchase from Crowler Catering. Remember to dress warmly if the night takes a chilly turn. Prepaid reservations are required. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the spine-tingling performance begins at 7:00 p.m.
10/28/2023 - 10/29/2023
18th Century Market Fair
Admission: $10/adults, $5/children 12 and under
Experience the 18th century with all five senses! You are invited to join Locust Grove and partner organization the Northwest Territory Alliance (NWTA) as we bring the spirit of the past alive with the Market Fair. You can participate in 18th-century style entertainment, purchase replicas of 18th-century military and household items, and enjoy food and drink as our founders did. See the sheep and horses and meet and converse with early Americans. The NWTA will present mock battles for our country’s independence. A full schedule and list of vendors may be found here: https://locustgrove.org/18th-century-market-fair/
Sponsored by Delta Dental | Society of Colonial Wars in the Commonwealth of Kentucky | General Society of Colonial Wars
10/28/2023 - 10/29/2023
18th Century Market Fair
Admission: $10/adults, $5/children 12 and under
Experience the 18th century with all five senses! You are invited to join Locust Grove and partner organization the Northwest Territory Alliance (NWTA) as we bring the spirit of the past alive with the Market Fair. You can participate in 18th-century style entertainment, purchase replicas of 18th-century military and household items, and enjoy food and drink as our founders did. See the sheep and horses and meet and converse with early Americans. The NWTA will present mock battles for our country’s independence. A full schedule and list of vendors may be found here: https://locustgrove.org/18th-century-market-fair/
Sponsored by Delta Dental | Society of Colonial Wars in the Commonwealth of Kentucky | General Society of Colonial Wars
11/01/2023
Afternoon Lecture Series: Charting the Path Ahead – Locust Grove’s Future and Evolving Landscape
Wednesday, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Admission: $8/nonmembers; $6/Locust Grove members.
Schedule: Refreshments at 1:00 pm, lecture at 1:15 pm.
Join us for an insightful afternoon lecture as Locust Grove's staff share their exciting plans for the future. Discover the vision for Locust Grove and gain a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape that has shaped this historic site over the years. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of Locust Grove's journey forward.
11/08/2023
Louisville Coalition on the History of Enslavement: Riverside Book Discussion
Wednesday, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: Riverside: The Farnsley-Moremen Landing
Join the Louisville Coalition on the History of Enslavement at the last of our 4 part series of book discussions! We will discuss Sleeping with the Ancestors: How I Followed the Footprints of Slavery by Joseph McGill and Herb Frazier.
In this enlightening personal account, one man tells the story of his groundbreaking project to sleep overnight in former slave dwellings that still stand across the country—revealing the fascinating history behind these sites and shedding light on larger issues of race in America.
Joseph McGill Jr., a historic preservationist and Civil War reenactor, founded the Slave Dwelling Project in 2010 based on an idea that was sparked and first developed in 1999. Since founding the project, McGill has been touring the country, spending the night in former slave dwellings—throughout the South, but also the North and the West, where people are often surprised to learn that such structures exist. Sleeping with the Ancestors focuses on all of the key sites McGill has visited in his ongoing project and digs deeper into the actual history of each location, using McGill’s own experience and conversations with the community to enhance those original stories. Altogether, McGill and coauthor Herb Frazier give readers an important unexpected emersion into the history of slavery, and especially the obscured and ignored aspects of that history.
11/30/2023 - 12/03/2023
Winter Book Sale
MEMBER PREVIEW: November 30
GENERAL SALE: December 1-3
Discover a world of literary wonders at the Locust Grove Book Sale! Explore a vast selection of used, antiquarian, and new books across various genres, including travel, science, cookbooks, fiction, history, literature, children's, and more. With prices starting at just $1 for paperbacks and $2 for hardcovers, you're bound to find a new treasure for your bookshelf. Don't miss the special section featuring finer books individually priced. Your purchases directly contribute to supporting Locust Grove's educational and preservation programs.
11/30/2023 - 12/03/2023
Winter Book Sale
MEMBER PREVIEW: November 30
GENERAL SALE: December 1-3
Discover a world of literary wonders at the Locust Grove Book Sale! Explore a vast selection of used, antiquarian, and new books across various genres, including travel, science, cookbooks, fiction, history, literature, children's, and more. With prices starting at just $1 for paperbacks and $2 for hardcovers, you're bound to find a new treasure for your bookshelf. Don't miss the special section featuring finer books individually priced. Your purchases directly contribute to supporting Locust Grove's educational and preservation programs.
11/30/2023 - 12/03/2023
Winter Book Sale
MEMBER PREVIEW: November 30
GENERAL SALE: December 1-3
Discover a world of literary wonders at the Locust Grove Book Sale! Explore a vast selection of used, antiquarian, and new books across various genres, including travel, science, cookbooks, fiction, history, literature, children's, and more. With prices starting at just $1 for paperbacks and $2 for hardcovers, you're bound to find a new treasure for your bookshelf. Don't miss the special section featuring finer books individually priced. Your purchases directly contribute to supporting Locust Grove's educational and preservation programs.
11/30/2023 - 12/03/2023
Winter Book Sale
MEMBER PREVIEW: November 30
GENERAL SALE: December 1-3
Discover a world of literary wonders at the Locust Grove Book Sale! Explore a vast selection of used, antiquarian, and new books across various genres, including travel, science, cookbooks, fiction, history, literature, children's, and more. With prices starting at just $1 for paperbacks and $2 for hardcovers, you're bound to find a new treasure for your bookshelf. Don't miss the special section featuring finer books individually priced. Your purchases directly contribute to supporting Locust Grove's educational and preservation programs.
12/02/2023
Christmas on the Farm
Saturday, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Admission $10 adult | $5 children under 18 | Free children 6 and under Embrace the season's warmth at Locust Grove’s Christmas on the Farm! It’s never too late to find that perfect gift at the Museum Store Holiday Sale or your next great read to cozy up to at the Winter Book Sale. Enjoy musical talent from the students at Lincoln Elementary in the morning and caroling from the Pride of Kentucky Chorus in the afternoon, bringing the holiday cheer all day long! You’ll encounter life in early Kentucky during the winter when you step back in time, engage with history through First-Person Interpretation, and learn about historic crafts with hands-on demonstrations. Join us for a day that will offer an excellent opportunity to celebrate the holidays, connect with the community, and explore the rich heritage of Locust Grove. Site admission includes entrance and stationed tour of the Historic House.