When visitors walk into the Old Talbott Tavern, there's a feeling about the place. It's well kept, but the passage of time is evident in a few creaking floorboards. There's an air about the place that speaks of people who have come and gone, spending time in the pub and retiring to their rooms before an early morning departure.
Travelers used to arrive on horseback or in buggies; today they come in automobiles. Tourists and locals mingle and lives intertwine in the "ordinary," a place to rest and receive nourishment before traveling on to their final destination.
The old stone reminder of Bardstown's beginnings still welcomes visitors to the bustling downtown area. Since the late 1700s, the Old Talbott Tavern on Court Square has provided shelter, food and drink to Kentucky travelers.
Talbott Tavern is said to be the oldest western stagecoach stop in America as the westward expansion brought explorers from the east into Kentucky.
According to legend, figures straight from the history books sought lodging here during their travels; as a young boy Abraham Lincoln and his family stayed here, Gen. George Rogers Clark, Daniel Boone, and exiled French King Louis Phillipe and his entourage stayed here, even painting murals on the upstairs walls. There are noticeable bullet holes in the now faded paintings and Jesse James is said to be responsible for them.
On March 7, 1998 an new chapter was written in the Old Talbott Tavern's history. The Tavern suffered from a devastating fire. An early morning blaze destroyed the roof and most of the second floor. The main floor suffered from smoke and water damage. The well-known murals suffered from heavy damage and have not yet been restored. The Tavern underwent a long period of rebuilding and finally reopened her doors in November of 1999.
In the dining room fried chicken, country ham, Queen Marie salad, and Chicken Phillipe are house specialties. For dessert, chess pie, Camptown Race Pie and homemade fruit cobblers are still some of the favorites.
The Bourbon Bar offers light snacks, refreshing drinks and live entertainment on the weekends. Visitors will also find souvenirs, Kentucky cookbooks and other interesting items in the gift shop. If travelers are seeking lodging while in Bardstown, there are five rooms available at in the Old Talbott Tavern, all decorated with period antiques.
Nearby, the McLean House also provides rooms in the old brick building that served as a hospital during the Civil War. The Georgian-style building was built in 1812 and the southeast corner was designed to house the Bardstown Post Office. The ground floor also housed other merchants, while the upstairs was rented out to travelers. Today, six rooms are available for overnight guests, complete with canopy beds, antique furniture and footed bathtubs.
The Tavern is available for weddings and large group parties
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