Downtown Maysville Historic & Entertainment District - Lewis and Clark Trail Experience

Information

M-F 8:30am to 4:30pm Seasonally Sat & Sun 11am-5pm

606-563-2596 Ext 101

$2-$10

Pet Friendly

lat: 38.6411854 long: -83.744365

The Downtown Maysville Historic & Entertainment District offers up its vibrant history while embracing its boundless future. Through architecture, significant sites, attractions, parks, shopping, dining, and local watering holes, Maysville is a small town that lives big. We boast multiple theaters, museums, historic and playful murals, and the 3rd oldest registered bourbon distillery in KY, just to name a few specifics.

Our legendary character shows on every corner and we further that story through guided and self-guided tours from our Maysville-Mason County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau. Located in the gorgeous Cox Building, this downtown location offers us prime accessibility for our visitors and community.

Visit the restored 1889 Washington Opera House, run by Maysville Players since 1964. The Russell Theater harkens back to the 1920s and was the premier location for Rosemary Clooney’s “The Stars are Singing” in 1953. Maysville is also home to the Ohio River Valley Artist Guild. Must-see museums include The Kentucky Gateway Museum and the Kathleen Savage Browning Museum. For history buffs, check out Old Pogue, Old Washington, and Historic Downtown Maysville districts.

Nearby Attractions

Distance Unit:

Studio 15

Studio 15

Maysville, KY 41056, USA
Distance: 0.00 Away

Galleries and Venues

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M’s Eatery

M’s Eatery

M's Eatery, East 2nd Street, Maysville, KY, USA
Distance: 0.28 Away

Food and Drinks

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Maysville River Park Campground & Marina

Maysville River Park Campground & Marina

Maysville River Park, Main Street, Maysville, KY, USA
Distance: 0.67 Away

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Early Dawn Designs

Early Dawn Designs

Early Dawn Designs, East Third Street, Maysville, KY, USA
Distance: 1.01 Away

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Babz Bistro

Babz Bistro

Babz Bistro, East Third Street, Maysville, KY, USA
Distance: 1.03 Away

Food and Drinks

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Bradley’s Boutique and Haberdashery

Bradley’s Boutique and Haberdashery

Bradley’s Boutique & Haberdashery, East 2nd Street, Maysville, KY, USA
Distance: 1.12 Away

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French Quarter Inn

French Quarter Inn

French Quarter Inn, East Mcdonald Parkway, Maysville, KY, USA
Distance: 1.12 Away

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Russell Theatre

Russell Theatre

Russell Theatre, East Third Street, Maysville, KY, USA
Distance: 1.16 Away

Galleries and Venues

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The Chameleon

The Chameleon

128 Market St, Maysville, KY 41056, USA
Distance: 1.16 Away

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Crowe Bar

Crowe Bar

Crowe Bar, Market Street, Maysville, KY, USA
Distance: 1.17 Away

Food and Drinks Bars

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Delite’s

Delite’s

Delite's, Market Street, Maysville, KY, USA
Distance: 1.17 Away

Food and Drinks

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College Café and Bakery

College Café and Bakery

The College Café, Maysville, KY 41056
Distance: 1.18 Away

Food and Drinks Bakeries

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Instagram Feed

Check out our YouTube Channel! We have some great

Check out our YouTube Channel!

We have some great content being posted there every Saturday - you’ll see videos related to personal stories and adventures on the trail, special reports on various trail locations, and much more!

Be sure to subscribe and share with friends as well!

https://www.youtube.com/@lewisandclarktrailalliance

Our new APP is now available! Check it out if you

Our new APP is now available! Check it out if you haven’t yet to bring the adventure and magic of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail on your mobile device. Scan the QR code here or find it on your app store.

Site of the Week: Pompey’s Pillar National Monum

Site of the Week: Pompey’s Pillar National Monument

William Clark christened the rock formation “Pompey’s Tower” on July 25, 1806, as he and his party descended the Yellowstone River. Clark gave the huge monolith the nickname that he himself had fondly bestowed upon Sacagawea’s young son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. Nicholas Biddle, as he edited the journals upon Lewis and Clark’s return, changed the name to “Pompey’s Pillar.”

Pompey’s Pillar is known for being the only site with visible physical evidence of Lewis and Clark’s journey: Clark carved his name and the date onto the rock’s face. Now covered by a clear panel, the signature is protected from the elements while still being visible to visitors willing to climb up the steps to see it. Visitors can continue up the steps to the top of the rock where they can enjoy a 360-degree view of the landscape surrounding the site. There is also a highly informative and very well-designed visitor’s center at the base of Pompey’s Pillar, along with several outdoor educational structures and hiking trails.

Photos credited to Cait Clark.

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #pompeyspillar #Montana #pompeyspillarnationalmonument

Check out our YouTube Channel! We have some great

Check out our YouTube Channel!

We have some great content being posted there every Saturday - you’ll see videos related to personal stories and adventures on the trail, special reports on various trail locations, and much more!

Be sure to subscribe and share with friends as well!

https://www.youtube.com/@lewisandclarktrailalliance

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Here’s a summary of a recent video you can find there:

“The phrase "Point of Departure" originates from Captain Meriwether Lewis himself. On May 14, 1804, he wrote in his journal: "The mouth of the River Dubois is to be considered as the point of departure." That spring day, as the Lewis and Clark Expedition set out from what is now Wood River Creek, they embarked on a journey that would reshape the future of the United States.

After more than a year of preparation, the Expedition launched from Camp River Dubois on May 14, 1804. The crew included Captain William Clark, Clark’s enslaved servant York, interpreter George Drouillard, Seaman the dog, 34 enlisted men, and several French engagés—all traveling in a barge and two large pirogues. Their destination: uncharted territory up the Missouri River, starting with a stop in St. Charles where Captain Meriwether Lewis joined them after traveling overland.

Preparation began in December 1803, with winter quarters built at Camp River Dubois, across from the Missouri River’s mouth. Lewis gathered intelligence from St. Louis traders and secured supplies and gifts for diplomacy with Native nations. Meanwhile, the soldiers trained under strict military discipline, preparing for the immense challenges ahead.

A pivotal moment came in March 1804, when Lewis and Clark witnessed the transfer of Upper Louisiana from Spain to France—and then, just one day later, to the United States. This marked the dawn of a new American frontier, and the Expedition was ready to set forth into the unknown.”

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvhg1Gs3cvs)

Site of the Week: Knife River Indian Villages Nati

Site of the Week: Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site

The Knife River area, according to archaeological studies, has been inhabited by people for over 11,000 years. For hundreds of years it was a significant place of trade for the local tribes, a characteristic that would eventually be used to the advantage of fur traders starting in 1750. It remained a place of trade and mixing cultures until a smallpox epidemic decimated the population in 1837. Following this, the local Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara moved north and established another village.

During the time of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Knife River villages were flourishing, providing a booming trading economy in what is modern-day North Dakota. It was from one of these villages that a young woman by the name of Sacagawea would emerge and take her place in the history of the expedition. She was Shoshone and had been taken captive by the Hidatsa during a raid against her tribe before she was won or otherwise purchased by French Canadian fur trader Toussaint Charbonneau.

Today, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Park has a visitors center as well as a rebuilt earthlodge which holds replica artifacts in the summer months. Knowledgeable park rangers are available for tours, and there are multiple trails of varying lengths that are available to hike. There are birding checklists available in the visitors center, so make sure to pick one up so you can keep an eye out for the various bird varieties that are present at the site.

https://www.nps.gov/knri/index.htm

Photos credited to Cait Clark

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #kniferiver #kniferiverindianvillagesnationhistoricsite #nationalparkservice #northdakota