Explore Oldham County, Kentucky
Tour Description
Oldham county was formed in 1824, and named in honor of Revelotionary War soldier
Lt. Col. William Oldham.
Westport was chosen as the county seat in 1823 because of its proximity to the Ohio River and was a bustling river city in the early 1800s. However, by 1838, the courthouse was moved to LaGrange,
and it has been the county seat since then.
When the Louisville and Frankfort Railroad Company introduced rail lines in the area in the 1850s, many new towns and communities to sprung up.
Eventually the railroad ceased operating as a form of public transportation, but trains still rumble along Main Street through the downtown area daily.
Oldham County has an interesting and diverse history. We hope you will enjoy exploring Oldham County.
Locations for Tour
Oldham County
Historical marker #1251 in La Grange tells the history of Oldham County. It became a county in 1824, having been formed from parts of Henry, Jefferson, and Shelby Counties, making it the 74th Kentucky County.
The naming of the county is credited to…
CSA Cemetery
Historical Marker #182 commemorates the CSA Cemetery in Pewee Valley, which was established in May 1871.
In 1904 the Directors of the Pewee Valley Cemetery assigned 11,275 square feet of space to the Commonwealth of Kentucky for use by the Kentucky…
Funk Seminary
Historical Marker #957 in LaGrange tells of the huge contribution made to education when William M. Funk, son of a farmer and Methodist campground owner of German descent, died in Sept. 1841 at age 27. His will stated, “I wish the sum of $10,000…
James & Amanda Mount Home / J.C. Barnett Library and Archive
Historical Marker #2536 relates the history of the James and Amanda Malvina Railey Mount Home, which now serves as the J.C. Barnett Library and Archives in LaGrange.The Mounts were a leading family in antebellum Oldham County and Amanda and James…
LaGrange Training School
Historical Marker #2418 in LaGrange tells the history of the LaGrange Training School and Rosenwald Schools.
Prior to 1913, the only funds for black education were those remaining after the collection of taxes in the African American community. The…
Pewee Valley
Historical Marker #208 commemorates the town of Pewee Valley. Originally given as a land grant of 4,000 acres to Ora Norborn Beall in 1784, the area that came to be known as Pewee Valley was formerly known as “Smith’s Station.”
Michael and Rosanna…
Richard James Oglesby
Historical Marker #2470 in Brownsboro commemorates Richard James Oglesby, for whom Oldham County was named.
Oglesby was born in 1824 in Floydsburg. His father, Col. Jacob Oglesby, was elected Deputy Sheriff in Oldham County. Oglesby represented his…
Westport
Historical Marker #909 tells the history of the tiny town of Westport, Kentucky, which has a history that dates far back to when it was first known as Liberty. Native Americans once inhabited the area before the town began as a land grant bestowed…
Westport Courthouse
Historical marker #2594 tells the history behind the Westport, Kentucky courthouse. Westport was the site of the first courthouse in the county from 1828-1838, before the courthouse was moved permanently to La Grange. What is now the Westport…
Woodland Farm
Historical Marker #2156 in Goshen tells the history of Woodland Farm, originally known as Clifton, and the home that was built by Thomas T. Barbour, early settler of Oldham County, in 1813. It was part of a string of large land tracts settled by…