In the heart of the Bluegrass Region, Harrodsburg (population 8,000) is surrounded by rolling countryside, picturesque horse farms, and historic stone fences. Founded in 1774, it was the first permanent English settlement west of the Allegheny Mountains.
As Kentucky's oldest town, Harrodsburg offers visitors a mix of history, historic architecture, and culture. Old Fort Harrod State Park offers a "living history" experience, where craftspeople in period costume demonstrate tinsmithing, weaving, and other daily tasks performed by Kentucky's early pioneers who lived within the stockade walls.
At the heart of downtown Harrodsburg's National Register Historic District is its restored Main Street, a national model. Walking and driving tours show off more than two centuries of architectural treasures, including the oldest group of row houses in the State, which now house the historical society's museum and research library.
Nearby is the nationally known Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, America's largest restored Shaker community. This National Historic April 21, 2009ed interpreters, who give insight into the Shaker movement and 19th-century life at Pleasant Hill.
Designated a Preserve America Community in April 2004.