If you’re planning a visit to Shepherdsville, Kentucky, you’re in luck. This home rule-class city is the county seat of Bullitt County, and is located just south of Louisville. Its population was 14,201 at the time of the 2020 U.S. Census. Visitors can enjoy the Jim Beam American Stillhouse, the Bernheim Arboretum, and the Pine Creek Barrens Nature Preserve.
The Jim Beam American Stillhouse
The James B. Beam Distilling Company is a family-run business that has been around for eight generations. Set on a site filled with whiskey history, the James B. Beam American Stillhouse offers a unique view of the distilling process. In addition to tours of the distillery, visitors can taste a selection of Beam whiskey.
This distillery celebrates its 225th anniversary this year, and will produce over 16 million barrels of bourbon. To mark the occasion, the distillery is building a craft distillery called the Fred B. Noe Craft Distillery, which will be operational by the end of 2021. Additionally, the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest recently broke ground on a 10-acre natural playground called Playcosystem. When complete, it will be open to the public in fall 2020.
The Jim Beam American Stillhouse is located 20 miles outside of Louisville and offers visitors an educational and sensory experience. The museum features a two-story interactive display, gift shop, and tasting room. It is also home to a picturesque grounds. Guests can sample Jim Beam bourbon, pick up a souvenir or even buy a limited-edition bottle of Jim Beam.
Visitors can take a self-guided tour or take a guided tour of the Jim Beam distillery. The tours take visitors through each step of the whiskey-making process. From the limestone water well that provides the necessary water to the yeast, the whiskey-making process is detailed and informative. Visitors will also learn about Beam family history.
The Jim Beam Distillery is the oldest manufacturer in Kentucky. It is located 12 miles south of the Ohio River, making it accessible to travelers traveling Interstate 65. The area is also home to the Berheim Forest, a nationally recognized forest. It is a valuable resource for locals and visitors traveling Interstate 65.
The Bullitt County History Museum opened in 2004. It features two exhibit rooms, a salt kettle display, and genealogical research materials. The museum is located in the front portion of the century-old courthouse. Approximately 80,000 people live in the area.
The Bernheim Arboretum
The Bernheim Arboretum is an educational institution and museum that welcomes everyone. Its unique, interactive installations invite visitors to explore the world around them through art, science, and geometry. The museum offers memberships, which include discounts in the store and educational programs. Admission is free on weekdays, but it’s $5 or $10 on weekends and holidays. Non-members must pay the full price for admission.
The Bernheim Arboretum is a beautiful, 240-acre landscaped with over 1,900 plant species. The collection includes over 185 cultivars of American holly, crab apples, dwarf conifers, oaks, and ginkgoes. Other features include a quiet garden, a garden pavilion, and a shade and sun trail. The Arboretum is home to ongoing research projects. Results from these studies are shared with horticulturists and nurserymen in Kentucky and across the country.
The Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest hosts an active Artist in Residence program and supports site-specific sculpture. The program aims to inspire artists to work with nature while encouraging public interaction with the art. The arboretum also welcomes all types of art.
Visitors can view sculptures and other works of art throughout the arboretum. There is a sculpture by Paul Fields on site, which was completed on site. Fields was a world-renowned sculptor who specialized in stone abstract sculpture. He helped spawn a number of Kentucky sculptors. The sculpture was dedicated to Fields’ mother. It’s located along the Lake Nevin Loop Trail.
The Bernheim Arboretum is free to visit. There are no admission fees, but the arboretum encourages visitors to leave a $10 donation at the gate. There is parking available near the giants, and signs point visitors in the right direction. In case there is no available space, overflow parking is available nearby.
The Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest has executive-level positions, including HR leader and brand manager. However, the company’s profile is still incomplete. You can claim it on Zippia by updating it.
The Bullitt County History Museum
The Bullitt County History Museum in Shepherdsburg, Kentucky, is home to many artifacts from the early history of the area. Its collections feature the work of internationally renowned textile artist Alma Wallace Lesch, who founded and exhibited textile art. Lesch, who was born in Bullitt County, made her living from creating assemblages made from fabric and found objects. She was a founding member of the Kentucky Guild of Arts and Crafts and one of only five American artists to have their fiber art work included in the first World Crafts Exhibition.
The Bullitt County History Museum is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed on weekends. The museum’s Genealogical Society meets the third Saturday of each month, at 10 a.m., but you must make an appointment to visit.
The Bullitt County Clerk of Court maintains the original marriage and divorce records for the area. In addition to this, microfilmed records for Caldwell, Henry, Hickman, Russell, and Trimble counties are also available. Visit the Kentucky Probate Records FAQ for more information on using these records. Among other things, probate records may contain information about the deceased’s date of death, his or her spouse, parents, siblings, and a host of other details. The records may also include naturalizations, adoptions, and guardianships.
The L & N railroad passes through Shepherdsville. During the Civil War, the Union army protected the L & N Railroad, which became a vital supply line for Federal troops in Tennessee after Nashville was captured by the Confederates. As a result, the Confederate army made efforts to disrupt this supply line by all means possible. By December 1862, the Union army had constructed six earthworks between Elizabethtown and Shepherdsville to ensure that the railroad could supply Federal troops to the region. These stockades were manned by infantry, but they proved to be insufficient against artillery and other types of weapons.
The Pine Creek Barrens Nature Preserve
If you want to take a nature walk and explore the area, you can start at Shepherdsville Nature Preserve. The 2.5-mile-long trail offers stunning scenery and water features. The preserve is located in the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area and is accessible via Forest Service Road 176.
The area is considered one of the most important limestone/dolomite barrens complexes in Kentucky. It serves as a tranquil refuge from the hustle and bustle of nearby cities. A three-mile nature trail is available for hiking or bicycling. The area is threatened by invasive species such as cedar and hardwood tree encroachment, but you can still enjoy a peaceful and relaxing walk.