Information
Landmark: Lexington History MuseumCity: Lexington
Country: USA Kentucky
Continent: North America
Lexington History Museum, Lexington, USA Kentucky, North America
Overview
Once called the Lexington History Museum, LexHistory is a nonprofit that works to preserve and share the city’s past-from Civil War letters to the scent of old bourbon warehouses.The museum, first opened in 1998, welcomed visitors again in 2023 at 210 North Broadway, inside the historic Thomas Hunt Morgan House with its tall brick walls and creaking wooden floors.You can reach this spot through the building’s auditorium, and inside it hums with the museum’s daily work and changing exhibits.Mission and VisionLexHistory strives to be Lexington’s leading voice on its past, offering locals and visitors easy-to-use resources that bring the city’s history to life, from cobblestone streets to century-old photographs.The museum tells a wide range of Lexington’s history-from the crack of muskets in the American Revolution to events shaping the city today-making sure every story is kept alive and shared.The museum offers a mix of rotating and permanent exhibitions that bring Lexington’s history to life, including *Queer, Here & Everywhere*, a traveling show from the Faulkner Morgan Archive on view August 7–September 13, 2025.Step inside and trace Lexington’s LGBTQ story, from the glitter and music of early drag shows to the hard-won Fairness Ordinance passed in 1999.At Munroe Tavern, *In the Footsteps of the American Revolutionary War* pairs Steven Edson’s photographs with historic artifacts-a soldier’s worn brass button, for instance-inviting visitors to see familiar places through the lens of the Revolution.Swept Up in Revolution opens April 12, 2025, at Buckman Tavern, inviting you to step into the charged streets and tense meeting rooms of the American Revolution.In the windows of the CVS at 1735 Massachusetts Avenue, an exhibit traces the rise of the academy movement in post-Revolutionary America, zeroing in on how Lexington Academy took shape and ran in the early 1800s.Moving House is a free exhibit at CVS Pharmacy marking 50 years since the Hancock-Clarke House was moved, capturing the grit, care, and history behind saving old buildings-right down to the creak of its original wooden stairs.Educational OutreachLexHistory runs a variety of programs-school and group tours that wind past centuries-old artifacts, lively activities for families and kids, and engaging public lectures.These projects invite the community to take part and spark a richer connection to local history, from old photographs to stories passed down over kitchen tables.The museum works closely with groups like the Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation, hosting unique talks-including one soon on Lord Byron’s Romantic move to Lexington, where candlelight once flickered across his desk.The museum welcomes visitors on Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 4 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10, while little ones under five can step inside for free.We offer special rates for seniors, military members, and groups-like a tour bus full of friends ready for an afternoon out.You can find a few free parking spots tucked behind the museum.The Lexington History Museum plays a vital role in keeping the city’s many stories alive, from horse racing triumphs to the scent of old tobacco warehouses.LexHistory brings the city’s past to life through lively exhibitions, hands-on workshops, and neighborhood events, giving visitors a full picture of its history and making sure those stories-like the rumble of streetcars or the scent of fresh-baked rolls from old markets-keep sparking imaginations for years to come.
