The Tiny Kentucky Town That Is Beautifully Frozen In Time
By Andrea Limke|Published February 25, 2018
×
Andrea Limke
Author
A Cincinnati native who has lived in Kentucky for over 10 years, Andrea's heart belongs both in the Queen City and the Bluegrass State. After earning an education degree and working in that field for a number of years, Andrea began to pursue her passion for writing over 6 years ago. Since then she has written for a number of print and online publications, as well as published a children's book.
If you want to step back in time, there are many places throughout Kentucky that you can visit to experience just that. In a state with so much history, the evidence and remnants of a vibrant past remain in our big cities and small towns. Some areas of the state have moved on more than others, while many towns have beautifully preserved their place in history. The tiny town of Stanford, located right in the center of Kentucky, has maintained much of its historic charm with a lovely Main Street and many buildings and places from the past that are beautifully frozen in time.
As one of the oldest towns in Kentucky, Stanford was founded in 1775 and has managed to keep that history alive today. The Main Street area and surrounding streets have always had that small town charm, making you feel as if you've stepped back in time when you visit.
The photo above allows you to really see what the town was like around the year 1900. This shows many people gathered outside of the historic St. Asaph Hotel in downtown Stanford.
Advertisement
Although you may not (often) see horses strolling down Main Street anymore, you will find the occasional tractor parked alongside the road. The beautifully maintained buildings decorate the town and you'll find local restaurants, antique shops, and other small businesses throughout downtown.
One popular restaurant that serves true farm-to-table recipes, as you can tell from the photo below, is The Bluebird. You'll fall in love with this eatery that appears as a historic cafe on the outside and a modern restaurant filled with southern charm on the inside.
Another beloved destination in Stanford is Coleman's Drug Store, an old-fashioned soda fountain, and deli, as well as a full-service pharmacy. The store opened in 1916 and has been an important part of the community for generations.
Also in the town of Stanford, you can see where the L&N Railroad once stopped in town and learn about its history at the beautifully restored L&N Depot & Museum.
And visible from the Depot is Baughman Mill, an incredible building that was completed in 1881 and is currently being restored. Both the Mill and Train Museum stand as important pieces of history that remain for us to experience today.
Advertisement
Lincoln County and Stanford are in the heart of Kentucky and also have managed to maintain the heart of our state's history.
To visit one of the oldest settlements in the Bluegrass State is to step into a town that is beautifully frozen in time and it will hopefully remain that way for the future generations of Kentuckians.
Stanford is a quaint town that is filled with history and that simple style of life that most of us crave. It’s a wonderful city to visit to get a sense of the true heart of Kentucky. Have you spent time in Stanford? What other towns in Kentucky take you back in time? Let us know in the comments!
For more information on all you can experience in Stanford and Lincoln County, visit their website here.
And if you’d like to learn more about other train towns in Kentucky that are filled with history, check out our previous article here.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
