Bluegrass, Blues and Barbecue Region of Western Kentucky: Museums

Daviess County

International Bluegrass Music Museum
- 117 Daviess Street, (270) 926-7891
- www.bluegrass-museum.org
- IBMM is the only international museum dedicated to preserving and showcasing bluegrass music. The museum offers exciting tours.
Owensboro Area Museum of Science & History
- 220 Daviess Street, (270) 687-2732
- www.owensboromuseum.com
- This large facility encompasses many adventures, including a unique hands-on exhibit area and displays depicting local history. Also includes the Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center and a motorsports gallery.
Owensboro Museum of Fine Art
- 901 Frederica Street, (270) 685-3181
- www.omfa.us
- Enjoy traveling exhibitions from major museums, galleries and private collections and rotating exhibitions from the permanent collection.

Hancock County Farm Museum
- Downtown Lewisport, 270-314-5688
- Learn more about tractors, plows and other machinery used to farm in Western Kentucky.
Hancock County Museum
- River Street, Hawesville 270-295-6637 or 270-927-8721
- Riverboats were a big part of Hancock County's rich history and you'll learn more about them, as well as life here in the early 20th century. The museum is housed in an old railroad station on River Street in downtown Hawesville. Open Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. Apri through October and by appointment.

John James Audubon Museum & Nature Center
- 3100 US 41 N, 270-827-1893, Henderson
- http://parks.ky.gov/findparks/recparks/au/
- This world class facility houses the art collections of internationally known wildlife artist, John James Audubon. The Nature Center features inter-active displays and a binocular-equipped observatory.

Dawson Springs Museum & Art Center
- 127 South Main Street, Dawson Springs, 270-797-3503
- Learn more about this historic region, once a health spa getaway and the winter home of a professional baseball team. In addition to periodic displays of works by local artists, the museum is home to the Claude Holman Collection of Oriental Art. Open Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Historical Society of Hopkins County Museum
- 107 Union Street, Madisonville, 270-821-3986
- Browse a large collection of Hopkins County memorabilia dating from the area's founding in the early 1800s. Open Monday through Friday from 1 to 4 p.m.

Livermore Community Library and Art Museum
- 116 East Second Street, 270-278-9184, Livermore
- Local color is on display with special showings of quilts and arts and crafts. Family historians can visit the genealogy section
McLean Co. Historical and Genealogy Museum
- 540 Main Street, P.O. Box 34, Calhoun, KY 42327
- 270-273-9760
- This museum includes over 800 surnames, research books, displays on military, coal mining, old toys, ladies homemaking tools and more. It also has an original newspaper article published in 1862 documenting the Battle of Sacramento. Open Mondays and Fridays or call for appointment.

Duncan Center Museum & Art Gallery
- 122 S. Cherry Street, Greenville, 270-338-2605
- www.duncancentermuseum.com
- The center serves as a museum of local culture, agriculture, coal mining, religion, and community activities. It also provides a gallery for exhibition for local artists.
Kentucky Women’s Hall of Fame (inside public library)
- 108 East Broad Street, Central City, 270-754-4630
- Established in 1981 by the Central City Business and Professional Women's Club, the Hall of Fame a tribute to the outstanding achievements of Kentucky women and is the only one in the state. Among the 20 inductees is Lena Madesin Phillips, a native of Nicholasville, Ky., who was the first woman to graduate with honors from the University of Kentucky College of Law (1917) and went on to found the International Federation of Business and Professional women. Open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Merle Travis Music Center
- Cleaton Road, Powderly, 270-338-5414
- The music center, featuring Travis memorabilia and other great musicians whose musical origins are in Muhlenberg County, will host all genres of music and feature up-coming performers as well as established legends.
Paradise Park Museum Complex
- Cleaton Road, Powderly, 270-338-5961
- The complex houses the Merle Travis family home place and many remembrances of the 1920 world class coal mining era.

Bluegrass Motorcycle Museum
- 5608 US Hwy 231N, 270-298-7764, Hartford
- A unique display of vintage American made motorcycles and related memorabilia from 1906 to the present are on display. Please call for appointments.
Fordsville Historical Society and Depot Museum
- 32 Ridge Road, 270-276-5400, Fordsville
- You’ll almost hear the clatter of trains as you visit this restored depot area, the only one still standing on this line. The museum holds a complete ticket room, train memorabilia and relics of KY rural life.
Ohio County Museum
- 415 Mulberry Street, 270-298-3749, Hartford
- This museum complex includes a two story historic home built in 1880, a small country store, schoolhouse, rustic relics building, L&N Caboose on the track, and an 1838 log cabin. Open May-Oct., Thurs & Fri. 1 pm-4 pm.
Ohio County Veterans Museum
- 415 Mulberry Street, 270-278-3749, Hartford
- This museum keeps our memory of heroes alive with uniforms and memorabilia from all branches of military service. Open Saturdays 9 am-4 pm.

James D. Veatch Camp Breckinridge Museum & Arts Center
- US 60, Morganfield, 270-389-4420
- www.breckinridge-arts.org
- In the heart of Western Kentucky there is truly a unique place that offers a fascinating piece of history and at the same time an amazing work of art. Step back in time to World War II and the ageless art of German POW Danie Mayer.

Parker Warner Historic Museum
- Providence
- Displays coal mining artifacts, local community artifacts. Open 1-4pm April – November.