Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic Site
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5.0(3)yelp
HistoryHistoric BuildingPhoto Spot
Overview
Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic Site is a 20-acre (8.1 ha) park in Monroe County, Kentucky. It features the Old Mulkey Meetinghouse, a Baptist church built around the turn of the 19th century, and its adjacent cemetery. The site became part of the park system in 1931.
Practical Info
Every day9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration1-2 hours
Best TimeMay through September offers the finest historic grounds travel conditions. Celebrating the physical site of the oldest unique 12-corner hand-hewn log meetinghouse left in the American Old West (built in 1804), visiting on a clear Sunday morning between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM is ideal; sharp shafts of daylight cut through the small window openings onto the hand-carved wood pulpits.
Getting ThereHidden away in a rural valley at 38 Old Mulkey Park Rd, Tompkinsville. Accessible exclusively via car; drive southeast from Bowling Green along the Cumberland Parkway to Glasgow, transition south onto US-31E South straight into town, and take State Road 1446 South for 5 minutes straight to the clearing. The historic state park hosts a free paved lot.
Travel Tips
- Do not touch early 1800s historic sandstone headstones on the Jackson trail; charcoal tombstone rubbing is illegal and heavily fined.
Photo Tips
Photo Rules
- The historic log structure lacks artificial lighting and climate control; natural light fails past 15:30, ending indoor photography.
- Sandhill cranes and wild turkeys flock to the meetinghouse yard during November-December migrations; maintain a strict 15-meter wildlife buffer.
Reviews
Positive
- This 1808 log church is exceptionally well-preserved; as the oldest standing log meetinghouse in Kentucky, it radiates an overwhelming sense of deep history.
- The old graveyard surrounding the church contains many Revolutionary War pioneers and Daniel Boone's sister, acting as a treasure trove for history and genealogy buffs.
- The park's atmosphere is extremely peaceful and serene without a shred of commercial pollution; large lawns and ancient trees are perfect for meditation or picnics.
- The historic interpreters here are knowledgeable and enthusiastic, offering free tours to explain the unique 12-sided architectural structure and its religious background.
Heads up
- As a purely historic and cultural site, the activities are limited; with nothing but the church and cemetery to view, it is not suitable for energetic children.
- The location is highly remote with no public transit access; reaching it requires navigating long, twisting country roads after leaving the highway, raising travel effort.
- The hours of operation are erratic and reduced; they often close early on weekdays or winter afternoons, making a pre-visit phone call essential to avoid a wasted trip.
- There is no visitor center on site, and accessible facilities are restricted to the perimeter; due to historic preservation, wheelchairs and strollers struggle inside.