This article lists the oldest extant buildings in Kentucky, including extant buildings and structures constructed prior to and during the United States rule over Kentucky. Only buildings built prior to 1840 are suitable for inclusion on this list, or the building must be the oldest of its type.
In order to qualify for the list, a structure must: be a recognizable building (defined as any human-made structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or continuous occupancy); incorporate features of building work from the claimed date to at least in height and/or be a listed building.
This consciously excludes ruins of limited height, roads and statues. Bridges may be included if they otherwise fulfill the above criteria. Dates for many of the oldest structures have been arrived at by radiocarbon dating or dendrochronology and should be considered approximate. If the exact year of initial construction is estimated, it will be shown as a range of dates.
List of oldest buildings
BuildingImage Location First built UseNotesOld Talbott TavernBardstown, Kentucky 1779Hotel"Oldest western stagecoach stop still in operation." Adam Rankin House Lexington, Kentucky 1784 Residence Oldest house in Lexington, although moved from its original foundation. Oldest part was built as a log house and then later covered with clapboards. It was the home to a Presbyterian minister, Rev. Adam Rankin. John Andrew Miller House Scott County, Kentucky 1785 Residence Stone home of pioneer John Andrew Miller. Served as a community shelter from Native American attacks Israel Grant Cabin Scott County, Kentucky ca. 1787 Residence Early log cabin William Whitley House State Historic Site Crab Orchard, Kentucky 1787–1794 Residence Oldest brick house in Kentucky Millspring Georgetown, Kentucky 1789 Residence Back ell is the oldest part of the house, constructed by Rev. Elijah Craig Jacob Eversole Cabin Perry County, Kentucky ca. 1789–1804 Residence Oldest house in eastern Kentucky Zachary Taylor House Louisville, Kentucky 1790 Residence Childhood home of President Zachary Taylor Cane Ridge Meeting House Cane Ridge, Kentucky 1791 Church Likely oldest church building in Kentucky Historic Locust Grove Louisville, Kentucky 1792 Residence Visited by explorers Lewis and Clark and President Zachary Taylor Old Providence Church Winchester, Kentucky 1793 Church Oldest stone church in Kentucky Abraham Barton House Lexington, Kentucky 1795 Residence Constructed for Kentucky politician Peyton Short, later owned by Confederate soldier Henry Brainerd McClellan Daniel Boone Cabin Carlisle, Kentucky 1795 Residence Last Kentucky cabin of Daniel Boone Richard Masterson House Carrollton, Kentucky ca. 1795 Residence Early Methodist services were held in house as well. Oldest two story brick building in state. White Hall Richmond, Kentucky 1799 Residence Home of Green Clay and Cassius Marcellus Clay Bates Log House Lexington, Kentucky ca. 1800 Residence Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 Oldest House Bell County, Kentucky 1800 Residence Oldest house in Bell County. Henry Clay's Law Office Lexington, Kentucky 1803 Office Building where Henry Clay ran his law servicesWaggoner/Langdon/Colyer HousePulaski County, Kentucky1805ResidencePulaski 1805 log house is one of oldest extant log houses in Pulaski County Ashland Lexington, Kentucky 1811 Residence Home of Kentucky politician Henry Clay Cane Springs Primitive Baptist Church College Hill, Kentucky ca. 1812–13 Church Built during the Great Awakening, oldest church building in Madison County J. B. Knight House Hopkinsville, Kentucky ca. 1815–1820 Residence The Knight House is the oldest standing structure and residence in Hopkinsville and Christian County Kentucky. Squire Earick House Louisville, Kentucky 1815 Residence Oldest woodframe house in LouisvilleRobinson, Kurt. "Louisville to Portland Turnpike". ExploreKYHistory. Retrieved 2021-07-10. Carneal House Covington, Kentucky 1815 Residence Oldest building in Covington Elijah Herndon House California, Kentucky 1818 Residence Home of Elijah Herndon, a Kentucky slaveowner Cleveland-Rogers House Lexington, Kentucky 1819 Residence Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 Chenault House Richmond, Kentucky 1830 Residence Estate built by William Chenault in 1830, known for derby parties in the 20th century
See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Kentucky History of Kentucky Oldest buildings in the United States
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