33rd Annual Christmas Tea Room

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Harrodsburg Historical Society

LXCL:The Harrodsburg Historical Society is dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich history of Mercer County. Through educational programs and community events, we engage the public in historical storytelling and foster a deeper appreciation for local heritage.

Step into the shadows of early America for an unforgettable evening of folklore, mystery, and the supernatural. Ghosts, Haunts &amp; Haints: An Evening of Early American Supernatural Folklore is an immersive theatrical experience bringing some of America&rsquo;s most enduring legends to life&mdash;from the eerie tale of Sleepy Hollow and the terrifying Bell Witch to the mysterious Leeds Devil and Harrodsburg&rsquo;s own Dancing Lady. Join us inside historic Morgan Row as storytellers and performers transport you into a world where history, legend, and the unexplained meet. October 9 &amp; 10 | 8:00 PM Morgan Row &bull; 220 S. Chiles Street, HarrodsburgCocktails will be available from Logan Vineyards.Come for the stories. Stay for the spirits.&nbsp;🎃 By registering, you support the Harrodsburg Historical Society&rsquo;s mission of preserving Mercer County&#39;s past for our future&mdash;from research services and historic preservation to exhibits that keep these voices from fading away. 👻

October Event: Ghosts, Haunts & Haints

The Harrodsburg Historical Society&rsquo;s beloved Tasting Party is back&mdash;reimagined! Join us Saturday, September 12, from 12:00&ndash;2:00 PM at Morgan Row for an afternoon celebrating the recipes, dishes, and stories that have brought Mercer County families together for generations. Bring a treasured family recipe&mdash;and, if you&rsquo;re able, prepare the dish for everyone to sample! Bringing a dish is encouraged but not required. Recipes submitted by August 23 will be considered for inclusion in our special 2026 Heritage Recipe Collection. Register your recipe <a fr-original-style="" href="https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/Y1N4yqv8Kg" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">here</a>, or drop it off at The Harrodsburg Historical Society during our normal business hours by August 23. Free and open to everyone. Donations will be accepted to support our upcoming Christmas Tea Room. Share a recipe. Share a dish. Share a story.

September Program: A Taste of Mercer County - Recipes and Stories from Our Tables

Saturday, August 22, 2026 | 1:00 PM Join the Harrodsburg Historical Society for a special guided tour of the remarkable Warwick Compound, the former estate of renowned architectural historian, preservationist, and author Clay Lancaster.&nbsp; Nestled among the rolling hills overlooking the Kentucky River near Salvisa, Warwick is a one-of-a-kind historic property where Kentucky&#39;s architectural heritage meets the timeless beauty of Japanese-inspired design. During this exclusive tour, participants will explore Lancaster&#39;s extraordinary estate, including its historic buildings, thoughtfully designed gardens, and breathtaking landscape. Learn about Lancaster&#39;s passion for historic preservation, his influence on Kentucky architecture, and the vision that made Warwick one of the Commonwealth&#39;s most unique cultural treasures. The Warwick Foundation continues to preserve Lancaster&#39;s legacy through education, preservation, and cultural programming. Location Warwick Compound 1563 Oregon Road Salvisa, KY 40372 Event Information<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Tour begins promptly at 1:00 PM.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Please arrive by 12:45 PM to allow time for parking and check-in.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Carpooling is encouraged, as parking at the estate is limited.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Rain Date: In the event of inclement weather, the tour will be rescheduled. A new date will be announced.</li></ul>Accessibility NoticePlease note that the Warwick Compound is a historic estate featuring uneven terrain, grassy paths, hills, and natural walkways. The property is not handicap accessible, and guests should be prepared for moderate walking over uneven ground. Comfortable walking shoes are strongly recommended. Don&#39;t miss this rare opportunity to experience one of Kentucky&#39;s hidden architectural treasures and discover the remarkable legacy of Clay Lancaster through an unforgettable tour of his historic estate.

Tour of The Historic Warwick Compound

Join us for an evening in the garden 🌿 with nationally recognized garden designer Jon Carloftis. Learn how historic landscapes can be restored and refreshed while honoring their original character. Presented in memory of Bonnie Tanner.&nbsp; Your registration supports the Harrodsburg Historical Society&rsquo;s work to preserve Mercer County&rsquo;s heritage&mdash;from our homes and gardens to the stories they hold. Thank you for helping us keep local history alive 💛

Historic Garden Restorations with Jon Carloftis

You&rsquo;re Invited!Join the Harrodsburg Historical Society for a special evening celebrating the opening of our new&nbsp;Kentucky Quilt Collection. Enjoy wine and hors d&rsquo;oeuvres as you explore this beautiful new gallery, followed by a presentation from the&nbsp;Kentucky Humanities Speaker&rsquo;s Bureau: &ldquo;Quilt Art: Examining the Narrative in Kentucky Quilts&rdquo; with Dr. Pearlie Johnson Tuesday, June 9 at 6:00 PM221 S. Chiles Street - Harrodsburg, KY Celebrate the artistry, history, and stories stitched into Kentucky&rsquo;s quilting tradition&mdash;we look forward to welcoming you! This event is free and open to the public! This program is funded in part by Kentucky Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities.&nbsp; Must be 21+ to consume alcohol with valid ID.

Kentucky Quilt Collection Gallery Opening with Special Guest - Dr. Pearlie Johnson

Join us for a Kentucky Chautauqua Performance! During his 33 years on the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice John Marshall Harlan became known for his powerful dissents in major civil rights cases, most notably in Plessy v. Ferguson, where he rejected segregation and declared that the Constitution was &ldquo;color-blind&rdquo;.&nbsp; Born in Boyle County to a prominent slaveholding family and once a slaveholder himself, Harlan&rsquo;s views evolved after he fought for the Union in the Civil War, following his education at Centre College and Transylvania. Though critics often pointed to contradictions in his political evolution, Harlan defended his right to change his views and remained steadfast in his postwar commitment to equal rights for all citizens. Your registration supports the Harrodsburg Historical Society&rsquo;s mission to preserve Mercer County&rsquo;s history and share it with our community. Join us for an evening of live storytelling, history, and conversation. 📜 This program is funded in part by Kentucky Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Justice John Marshall Harlan: The Great Dissenter 1833-1911

Join us for a musical evening! Kentucky has been justly celebrated for its contributions to country and bluegrass styles, but a diverse and vibrant range of earlier musical traditions made the hills and hollers echo with song and dance long before these popular styles came into being following World War II. Ron Pen will explore Kentucky&rsquo;s musical past through a talk illustrated by a PowerPoint presentation. A live musical performance of ballads, old time fiddle and banjo dance tunes, dulcimer songs, and shape note hymnody will animate the history and context. Your registration supports the Harrodsburg Historical Society&rsquo;s mission to preserve Mercer County&rsquo;s history and share it with our community. Join us for an evening of live music, history, and conversation. 📜 This program is funded in part by Kentucky Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Echoes of the Hills: Kentucky's Traditional Music with Dr. Ron Pen

Step into the story of Mary Todd Lincoln as Kentucky Chautauqua brings this Kentucky-born First Lady to life. Hear her experiences in her own words, from childhood in a prominent Lexington family to the White House during the Civil War. 🎭 Your registration supports the Harrodsburg Historical Society&rsquo;s mission to preserve Mercer County&rsquo;s history and share it with our community. Join us for an evening of live storytelling, history, and conversation. 📜

Kentucky Chautauqua Presents: Mary Todd Lincoln

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1756218872/wysiwyg/zwpmi29ik7oiie7magig.jpg" style="width: 179px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; position: relative; max-width: 100%; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 179px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">🎉 Excitement is in the air! Get ready to be part of something extraordinary at the Harrodsburg Historical Society! Join us at Harrodsburg Historical Society on October 14, 2025 at 7:00 PM for a special Kentucky Humanities Kentucky Chautauqua&copy; presentation featuring Colonel Charles Young: Bridge Builder portrayed by Michael Jones. You won&rsquo;t want to miss this chance to see history come to life!&nbsp;This event is free and open to the public!&nbsp;Reserve your seats today! This program was funded in part by Kentucky Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Harrodsburg Historical Society

Harrodsburg Historical Society

Past events

Past events

October Event: Ghosts, Haunts & Haints

September Program: A Taste of Mercer County - Recipes and Stories from Our Tables

Tour of The Historic Warwick Compound

Historic Garden Restorations with Jon Carloftis

Kentucky Quilt Collection Gallery Opening with Special Guest - Dr. Pearlie Johnson

Justice John Marshall Harlan: The Great Dissenter 1833-1911

Echoes of the Hills: Kentucky's Traditional Music with Dr. Ron Pen

Kentucky Chautauqua Presents: Mary Todd Lincoln

Chautauqua Speaker: Breaking Barriers - Colonel Charles Young

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