Department of Parks
Living History Encampment Will Recreate Frontier Life at William Whitley House

STANFORD, Ky. –The William Whitley House State Historic Site will present on Saturday May 17 a living history encampment that recreates life on Kentucky’s 18th century frontier.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors will be able to experience life as it was when William and Esther Whitley labored to make the house near Stanford, Ky. known as Sportsman’s Hill a permanent home for their family. Interactive tours will include vignettes performed by interpreters portraying Col. Whitley, his militia and their families.

In the encampment, visitors will encounter settlers who will tell about life on the frontier. Touring the encampment is free to the public. Tours of the house museum will be held every hour on the hour. The admission charge for museum tours is $5 for adults, $3 for children. There are discounts for seniors and AAA members.

The William Whitley House stands today as a monument to pioneer ingenuity and resourcefulness. It was the first brick home and circular racetrack built west of the Allegheny Mountains, completed in 1794 by Whitley and his wife. Dubbed the "Guardian of Wilderness Road," the house was a gathering spot for early Kentuckians, including George Rogers Clark and Daniel Boone.

The site is located off US Hwy. 150 10 miles east of Stanford. From I-75, exit at Mt. Vernon and go west on US 150 for 22 miles. The park also includes two picnic shelters and a gift shop.

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The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 53 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. Each year, Kentucky parks draw 7 million visitors and contribute $317 million to the economy. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov.