Explore Garrard County, Kentucky

Curated by Ashlee Chilton

Garrard County, created on December 17, 1796,

was the twenty-fifth county formed in Kentucky. Named for James Garrard, an early governor, it was formed from three surrounding counties, Lincoln, Mercer, and Madison.


Garrard County was settled primarily because of its proximity to the Wilderness Trail. It is bordered by Paint Lick Creek on the east, Dix River and Herrington Lake on the west, and the Kentucky River on the north; the land is mostly rolling hills with the Palisades of the Kentucky River in the north and the Knobs region on the southeast.


Garrard County is the birthplace of suffragette Carry Nation, folk singer Bradley Kincaid, and author Eugenia Potts,.as well as the home of statesmen such as Governor William Owsley, Robert P. Letcher, George Robertson, Samuel McKee, Simon Anderson, and James H. Letcher.


We hope you will enjoy exploring Garrard County and its rich history.

Home of Governor Bradley

Historical Marker #699 denotes the gothic revival-style house that was built in the 1850s by Allen A. Burton, a Lancaster Attorney and Lincoln’s minister to Columbia. The marker is no longer on the property on which the house of William Bradley…

CSA Starts Retreat

Historical Marker #704 is installed on US 27 at Bryantsville. The plaque both marks the location of a Confederate supply depot that was moved from Lexington in September 1862 and to note the retreat of Confederate soldiers under the command of…

Home of Statesman

Historical Marker #714 indicates the house (added to the original log cabin from 1798) in which several congressmen and other important gentleman were said to have lived. Those men included Governor William Owsley, Robert P. Letcher, George…

Garrard County, 1797

Historical Marker #1240 describes the founding of Garrard County, the twenty-fifth county formed in the state. Named for James Garrard, an early governor for Kentucky, it was formed from three surrounding counties, Lincoln, Mercer, and…

James Thompson, 1750-1825

Historical Marker #1371 is located at the Fork of Dix River Baptist Church cemetery and marks the burial site of Revolutionary War veteran, James Thompson. Before Kentucky separated from Virginia and became a state in 1792, Thompson was appointed by…

Fort Paint Lick

Historical Marker #1525 marks the site of the settlement and fort named Paint Lick built by Lieutenant Colonel William Miller. The fort’s lands are now bordered by highways 52 and 21 through the small town. Colonel William Miller was born in…

Forks of Dix River Baptist Church

Historical Marker # 1617 is placed at the present Baptist church that was built in 1850, the foundation of which was built from stones of the previous church erected in 1823. Located on Highway 27, about seven miles from Lancaster, the church was…

Birthplace of Carry A. Nation

Historical Marker # 1733 is located about four miles from the prohibition advocate’s birthplace on Carry Nation Road in Lancaster, Kentucky. Nation was born in Garrard County on November 25, 1846 as Carry Amelia Moore. She and her family moved from…

First Presbyterian Church

Historical Marker #1942 is erected on the present site of the First Presbyterian Church in Lancaster, Kentucky. Built in 1879, the church was first formed in 1816 with only twenty two members. William O. Bradley, the first Republican Governor of…

Bradley Kincaid (1895-1989)

Historical Marker # 2026 is located on highway KY 52 at mile point 11 in Garrard County in commemoration of folk singer Bradley Kincaid. The “Kentucky Mountain Boy” recorded over two hundred songs and published thirteen songbooks during his lifetime…

Buford-Salter House

Historical Marker #2273 is located on the lawn of the house that was built by Thomas Buford around 1820. Buford was the son of William Buford, the founder of the county seat of Garrard County, Lancaster. William donated the land for the town, which…

First Baptist Church

Historical Marker #2327 is erected on the present day grounds of the First Baptist Church in Garrard County. Organized in 1851, the current church was built in 1871 and was the first Baptist church for the slaves in the county. Pre-dating…