The Bluegrass is a place that takes great pride in its history, and there’s nothing we love more than perusing old photos that capture certain moments in time. Today, we’re taking it back to the 1940s in Kentucky. Known as the War Years, the ’40s was a decade of big cultural changes and historic significance in the U.S. Here are 10 candid photos that show what life was like in Kentucky in the 1940s, and we hope you enjoy this trip back in time as much as we did putting it together!

Kentucky looks a lot different today than it did in the 1940s.
Russell Lee - U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons
While some landmarks are immediately recognizable, like the historic Wigwam Village in Cave City, the landscape of the Bluegrass has changed a lot in the last 80 years.
Marion Post Wolcott /Wikimedia Commons
Eight decades ago, the Bluegrass State was decidedly more rural than it is today; even our largest cities feel small and quaint by comparison. This is a gas station in Louisville, circa 1940, though it looks more like one of our small-town filling stations today!
Jandoli, Liz, transmitter/Wikimedia Commons
It goes without saying, but hospitals have completely transformed in the last century. Here's an operating room in the U.S. Coal & Coke Company-owned hospital circa 1940.
Russell Lee - U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons
Religion has always played an important role in Kentucky culture. Here, families hold hands as they file into a rural Baptist church for Sunday services.
Russell Lee - U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons

Related Stories

This Photographer Captured The Most Iconic Photos Of Rural Kentucky, And Her Story Is Fascinating

This Photographer Captured The Most Iconic Photos Of Rural Kentucky, And Her Story Is Fascinating

 The Legendary Hotel In Louisville, Kentucky, That Inspired The Great Gatsby

The Legendary Hotel In Louisville, Kentucky, That Inspired The Great Gatsby

 Ogle The Most Extensive Collection Of American Whiskeys In The World At Kentucky's Watch Hill Proper Restaurant

Ogle The Most Extensive Collection Of American Whiskeys In The World At Kentucky's Watch Hill Proper Restaurant
Education, too, has long been a priority for Kentucky families, even in the most rural areas.
Russell Lee - U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons
Here's a photo of some mining children going to school in Harlan County in the 1940s.
Russell Lee - U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons
Though for many during this era, education was a luxury that farming families simply couldn't afford.
Marion Post Wolcott /Wikimedia Commons
In the most remote areas, the land was the classroom, with children assisting in chores and the business of simply surviving.
Marion Post Wolcott/Wikimedia Commons
Marion Post Wolcott famously photographed rural America during this time. Here she is, seen photographing a Kentucky family in the 1940s. It's a rare snapshot of the woman behind the camera!
Marie Turner/Wikimedia Commons

It’s always fun to take a look back. And while so much has changed, the key values we hold near and dear her in the Bluegrass – like family and faith, for example — remain as steadfast as ever.

In the mood for another throwback? Check out these amazing snapshots of Kentucky from the early 1900s!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore Kentucky