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When
visitors walk into the Old Talbott Tavern, there's a feeling about
the place. It's well kept, but the passage of time is evident in
a few creaking floorboards. There's an air about the place that
speaks of people who have come and gone, spending time in the pub
and retiring to their rooms before an early morning departure.
Travelers
used to arrive on horseback or in buggies; today they come in automobiles.
Tourists and locals mingle and lives intertwine in the "ordinary,"
a place to rest and receive nourishment before traveling on to their
final destination.
The
old stone reminder of Bardstown's beginnings still welcomes visitors
to the bustling downtown area. Since the late 1700s, the Old Talbott
Tavern on Court Square has provided shelter, food and drink to Kentucky
travelers.
Talbott
Tavern is said to be the oldest western stagecoach stop in America
as the westward expansion brought explorers from the east into Kentucky.
According
to legend, figures straight from the history books sought lodging
here during their travels; as a young boy Abraham Lincoln and his
family stayed here, Gen. George Rogers Clark, Daniel Boone, and
exiled French King Louis Phillipe and his entourage stayed here,
even painting murals on the upstairs walls. There are noticeable
bullet holes in the now faded paintings and Jesse James is said
to be responsible for them.
On March 7, 1998
an new chapter was written in the Old Talbott Tavern's history. The Tavern
suffered from a devastating fire. An early morning blaze destroyed the roof and
most of the second floor. The main floor suffered from smoke and water damage.
The well-known murals suffered from heavy damage and have not yet been
restored. The Tavern underwent a long period of rebuilding and finally
reopened her doors in November of 1999.
In the dining room fried chicken, country ham, Queen Marie salad,
and Chicken Phillipe are house specialties. For dessert, chess pie,
Camptown Race Pie and homemade fruit cobblers are still some of
the favorites.
The
Bourbon Bar offers light snacks, refreshing drinks and live entertainment
on the weekends.
Visitors will also find souvenirs, Kentucky cookbooks and other
interesting items in the gift shop. If travelers are seeking lodging
while in Bardstown, there are five rooms available at in the Old Talbott Tavern,
all decorated with period antiques.
Nearby,
the McLean House also provides rooms in the old brick building that
served as a hospital during the Civil War. The Georgian-style building
was built in 1812 and the southeast corner was designed to house
the Bardstown Post Office. The ground floor also housed other merchants,
while the upstairs was rented out to travelers. Today, six rooms
are available for overnight guests, complete with canopy beds, antique
furniture and footed bathtubs.
The
Tavern is available for weddings and large group parties.
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