Kentucky Military History Museum at the State Arsenal

Revisit the Commonwealth's military history in this fortress-like building that overlooks downtown Frankfort. Built in 1850, the State Arsenal is now home to the Kentucky Military History Museum.


The Kentucky Military History Museum has reopened after five years of extensive renovations!


The newly renovated museum houses the exhibition, "Kentucky Military Treasures: Selections from the Kentucky Historical Society Collections," which now includes a recently-restored piece of the Fighting Falcon (the first American glider to land at Normandy on D-Day) and Gen. William O. Butler’s presentation sword from the Mexican War.

Spanning nearly 200 years of conflicts -- from the War of 1812 to more recent engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq -- "Kentucky Military Treasures" shares the personal stories of Kentuckians who fought and sometimes lost their lives in these battles.

See the many machines and other trappings of the military service. Learn how regular Kentuckians became heroes. Listen as veterans tell their stories in their own words. 

Explore the "Kentucky Military Treasures" online exhibition.

Hours

Beginning March 9, 2013, the Kentucky Military History Museum will be open to the public:

Wednesday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

School tours and group visits of 10 or more will be accommodated with a reservation at least seven days in advance. Email leslie.mcwhorter@ky.gov or call 502-564-1792, ext. 4424 for details.

Admission

Adults: $4
Youth (6-18): $2
Children (5 and under): FREE
KHS members: FREE
Veterans: $3
AAA members: $3

Admission includes all exhibits at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History and tours of the Old State Capitol at specified times.

Old Wars Records

The Kentucky Military History Museum also houses the collection of the Military Records and Research Branch, Kentucky Department of Military Affairs. These are the surviving records from 1794 to 1912 (the year in which the Kentucky State Guard became the Kentucky National Guard) of the Kentucky Adjutant General's Office. These records include documentation of the Kentucky Militia, Kentucky State Guard, Kentucky National Legion and Volunteer regiments during the conflicts from 1794 to 1912. Records from 1794-1860 (which includes the Cornstalk Militia, War of 1812 and Mexican War) are very limited due to destruction of most of these records by order of the Kentucky Adjutant General in 1874 to make room for incoming Civil War and widow's pension applications. Civil War records upon all Union regiments, Adjutant and Quartermaster General's Offices, state formations and Ordinance Departments are complete. Most records of Unites States Colored Troops accredited to Kentucky are also maintained. Primary source Kentucky Confederate records are very limited.

For more information about Kentucky's Old Wars Records, contact:
Brandon Slone
Archivist, Military Records and Research Branch
brandon.k.slone.nfg@mail.mil
502-607-6041

The Kentucky Military History Museum is operated by the Kentucky Department for Military Affairs and the Kentucky Historical Society.

Kentucky Military History Museum
125 East Main Street
Frankfort, KY 40601