Museums Library
Kentucky

Browse Museums

Ark Encounter
WILLIAMSTOWN, Kentucky

Church, Culture, History, Library, Nature Centers, Park, Specialized

Ark Encounter features a full-size Noah’s Ark, built according to the dimensions given in the Bible. Spanning 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high, this modern engineering marvel amazes visitors young and old.

Garrard County Historical Society
Lancaster, Kentucky

History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library

Our Research Room is staffed by volunteers. If you're visiting from out of town, an e-mail is advised to make sure someone is available to help you.

Hiestand House - Taylor County Museum
Campbellsville, Kentucky

History, Historic House, Library

Built originally in 1823; restored 1992.

Jackson Purchase Historical Society
Murray, Kentucky

History, Historical Society, Library, University

Regional historical society that encompasses Southwest Kentucky and Northwest Tennessee.

Kentucky Museum
Bowling Green, Kentucky

Art, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Library, Military, Specialized, University

Since 1939 we have been collecting the objects and papers that describe our state and our world from the perspective of Kentuckians and others. These materials, together with our exhibits, give glimpses into the extraordinary nature of daily life. Through their own words, Kentuckians tell their stories of President Abraham Lincoln, the liberation of a Nazi concentration camp, the swamps of Viet Nam, and slavery. See Kentucky through its postcards, sheet music and photographs. Discover folk customs and school traditions. Explore life in Kentucky during the Civil War and learn about a national food icon from Kentucky in our exhibit galleries.

McCreary County Museum
Stearns, Kentucky

General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library

Located in the heart of historic downtown Stearns, KY the McCreary County Museum is housed in the old Stearns Coal and Lumber Company Corporate headquarters that was built in 1907. The Museum was founded in 1988 and we invite everyone to come and explore two floors of local history.

The Ludlow Heritage Museum
Ludlow, Kentucky

Culture, General, History, Historical Society, Library

=A small community museum that explains the development of Ludlow from a scenic riverside estate of 1,000 acres to a thriving railroad town to the Cincinnati suburb it is today. The influx of Irish and German immigrants influenced much of its growth. Besides numerous displays and photographs, a genealogy/local history room is also available.

The National Quilt Museum
Paducah, Kentucky

Art, Culture, General, Library, Specialized

The National Quilt Museum is devoted to contemporary quilts and fiber art. Established in 1991, the museum is committed to the preservation and advancement of quilting. In an average year, quilters and art enthusiasts visit from all 50 states and over 40 countries around the world. Located in a 27,000 square foot facility in historic downtown Paducah, Kentucky, the museum’s three galleries feature exhibits of the finest quilt and fiber art in the world. The museum’s vibrant and breathtaking exhibits are rotated 10-12 times per year. Our primary gallery, with over 7,000 square feet of exhibit space, features quilts from the museum’s collection which includes over 600 works of art. Our two other galleries feature touring exhibits of unique and diverse quilts and fiber art.

Van Lear Historical Society, Inc. / The Coal Miners' Museum
Van Lear, Kentucky

Culture, General, History, Historical Society, Library

Our society maintains a large collection of mining and community artifacts. We are constantly adding more to our exhibits, so even if you were to come to our museum year after year, you should still see something new.

Also, we hold the Annual Van Lear Town Celebration, during the first Friday / Saturday weekend in August. This is a time for all of Van Lear's citizens and former citizens to celebrate our heritage. The Annual Celebration usually includes: a car show, free music shows, a parade, concessions, special exhibits and more.' Museum.History='The Van Lear Historical Society, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Behringer-Crawford Museum
Covington, Kentucky

Archaeology, Children's, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library, Natural History

Behringer-Crawford Museum in the historic Devou family home (c. 1848 - 1880) opened to the public in 1950. It was so named because it featured the natural history collections of West Covington native and world traveler, William Behringer, and in honor of the museum’s first curator and noted archeologist, Ellis Crawford.

Georgetown & Scott County Museum
Georgetown, Kentucky

Art, Culture, General, History, Historical Society, Library, Specialized

The area that comprises Georgetown and all of Scott County was primarily Indian hunting grounds prior to settlement. This was changed by the French and Indian war of 1754 -1763, and the defeat of Pontiac’s uprising in 1763-1764. These events led to a treaty in 1768 that gave England extensive rights to lands in the west. A short time later in 1774 John Floyd traveled down the Ohio river as a deputy surveyor of Colonel William Preston. Because of the 1768 treaty and the events that lead to the treaty, present day Kentucky was then a portion Fincastle County, Virginia and was to be surveyed by order of the King. It was on this surveying expedition that Floyd discovered the Big spring or Royal Spring. Floyd surveyed a thousand acres about the spring, and left soon after.

Historic RailPark & Train Museum
Bowling Green, Kentucky

History, Historic House, Library, Park, Specialized

Step back in time to the golden era of railroad passenger service as a Tour Guide takes you behind the scenes of a Railway Post Office Car, Dining Car, Sleeper Car and Office Car, with special occasion options to see the interior of a diesel locomotive, a rare WWII Unit Hospital car, a Caboose and a soon to arrive rare 3-section Segregation rail car.

Kentucky Historical Society
Frankfort, Kentucky

History, Library, Military

Founded in 1836, The Kentucky Historical Society serves to collect and preserve the artifacts, papers and other documentation of Kentucky's history. Its history campus is located in Frankfort, Ky. and includes the Society's headquarters, the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, and the Old State Capitol and Kentucky Military History Museum. The Kentucky Historical Society offers educational programs, genealogical research and a wide variety of special events. KHS constantly strives to let all Kentuckians and visitors to Kentucky know about our state's rich, vital and engaging history.

Laurel County History Museum & Genealogy Center, Inc.
London, Kentucky

Culture, History, Historic House, Library

Laurel County History Museum & Genealogy Center is dedicated to historic preservation and history education of Laurel County through research, education and exhibits; promoting and inspiring our youth to continue this project long after those of us that have started it are gone.

The Lincoln Museum
Hodgenville, Kentucky

Culture, History, Historic House, Library

The Lincoln Museum in Hodgenville is Kentucky's official Lincoln Museum. The Lincoln Museum's exhibits are historically accurate dioramas depicting scenes from the life of Abraham Lincoln. In addition to the main exhibits, the second level of the museum features a variety of exhibits, including: rare newspaper clippings, campaign posters and Lincoln memorabilia. A Lincoln art gallery on the second floor is filled with paintings, drawings and other artworks related to the Lincoln era.

The Ludlow Heritage Society
Ludlow, Kentucky

Culture, General, History, Historical Society, Library

A small community museum that explains the development of Ludlow from a scenic riverside estate of 1,000 acres to a thriving railroad town to the Cincinnati suburb it is today. The influx of Irish and German immigrants influenced much of its growth. Besides numerous displays and photographs, a genealogy/local history room is also available.

The Speed Art Museum
Louisville, Kentucky

Art, Children's, Culture, History, Library

Since completing a major $12 million renovation and expansion in 1997, the Speed has brought major exhibitions of photography, painting, design, and sculpture to the region to help fulfill its ambitious mission: bringing great art and people together.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

February 5 - 7, 2025

Milledgeville, Georgia

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

Wednesday, February 5 - Friday, February 7, 2025

Ina Dillard Russell Library Georgia College & State University

Milledgeville, Georgia

Hosted by: Georgia Association of Museums

The Whole Story Is The Meanin

“For the fiction writer himself the whole story is the meaning, because it is an experience, not an abstraction.”― Flannery O'Connor, Mystery and Manners: Occasional Pros

Join us in Milledgeville, Georgia, for the annual Georgia Association of Museums conference as we explore the profound wisdom of Milledgeville author Flannery O'Connor’s words. In a world where narratives intersect and perspectives diverge, this theme invites proposals that delve into the essence of storytelling within museums and cultural institutions. Our work in the museum field requires us to look at stories from as many angles and perspectives as possible so that we might do our best to tell the “whole story.

Through thought-provoking discussions, interactive workshops, and engaging presentations, we will uncover the layers of meaning embedded within every artifact, exhibition, and historical account. Just as O’Connor masterfully crafted narratives that resonate with universal truths, museums hold the power to illuminate the whole story behind many objects, artworks, and cultural phenomena

We will examine how museums can embrace inclusivity, diversity, and authenticity in their storytelling practices. By acknowledging multiple perspectives and amplifying marginalized voices, we can enrich our understanding of the past and present, fostering empathy and connection within our communities.

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

February 17 - 19, 2025

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

Monday, February 17 - Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Hosted by: Small Museum Association

The annual SMA conference attracts more than 300 museum professionals, board members, and volunteers from a wide variety of small museums. They attend sessions on topics ranging from collections and education to staffing and board issues.

We offer a large Museum Resource Hall and plenty of informal networking opportunities for you to talk with (and get ideas from!) other small museum professionals and volunteers

Theme for 2025: Make It Happen!!!

Is there an exhibit, program, or fundraiser that you've been talking about doing for years? Do you feel stuck because of procrastination, lack of board support, or insufficient funds? It's time to take action

At SMA 2025, small museum professionals will share their tips and tricks of how they made it happen!

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

Tuesday, February 18 - Saturday, February 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

Hosted by: California Association of Museums

CAM is hard at work planning for the 2025 conference, set to take place from February 18–22, 2025 in San Francisco. We look forward to highlighting best practices and innovative ideas from California's museum community

The California Association of Museums is excited to continue offering in-person programming for 2025. We will not be requiring proof of COVID vaccination/s, but highly encourage vaccination and boosters. For the health and safety of our colleagues, masks are also encouraged (but not required). Capacity and spaces will be thoughtfully considered in the planning of this event.

For more information, please email programs@calmuseums.org.

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

March 15 - 18, 2025

Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

Saturday, March 15 - Tuesday, March 18, 2025

The Inn at Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

Hosted by: Virginia Association of Museums

2025 Conference Theme: Looking Back to the Future For the past several years, many museums have been deeply involved in planning programs and events to observe the 250th birthday of the United States of America. While this is certainly an occasion to celebrate, this anniversary also forces us as a society to reckon with ongoing inequities and challenges within the US that go back to its inception. As museums ask their audiences to look to the past to understand the present and shape a better future, perhaps now is a good moment in time for Virginia’s museum community to take pause and look back at its own history. We are excited to see you in Blacksburg in March 2025 as we take a moment in our hectic schedules to take pause and visit our diverse pasts. Let’s uncover and share our histories to build a more resilient Virginia museum community.

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

September 10 - 13, 2025

Cincinnati, Ohio

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

Wednesday, September 10 - Saturday, September 13, 2025

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

Hosted by: American Association for State and Local History

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email info@aaslh.org.

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RECENT UPDATES

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Museum Associations

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