Oldham County was formed in December 1823. It was Kentucky's 74th county and was named for Colonel William Oldham, a Revolutionary War officer from Jefferson County. The County Seat is LaGrange. Oldham County is located in north central Kentucky, along the Ohio River and is part of the outer bluegrass region. It is largely rural, although the accessibility of the interstate system has led to rapid residential growth. The population was 33,263 according to the 1990 Census, but by 2001 the population had grown to over 48,000. Oldham County has a land area of 189 square miles, with an average of 176.0 people per square mile. La Grange was established as the county seat in 1838.

For more history and photos, visit the Oldham County Historical Society’s photo gallery at http://oldhamcountyhistoricalsociety.org/photo_collection.htm

Oldham County History Center LaGrange
106 N. Second Ave. KY 40031
502.222.0826
Email: ochstryctr@aol.com
www.oldhamcountyhistoricalsociety.org

Hours of Operation:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday
10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. til 8p
Sunday: 1 p.m. til 4p
The Archives ARE NOT OPEN on weekends

Alexis de Tocqueville stopped in the Oldham County town of Westport during this historic tour of America and included his Oldham County visit in his landmark book, Democracy in America.

The Oldham County History Center is owned and operated by the Oldham County Historical Society. The Center is located on the block west of the Courthouse Square in LaGrange Kentucky. There are three buildings on the History Center property: J.C. Barnett Archives and Library, the Peyton Samuel Head Family Museum and the Rob Morris Chapel. The archives and museum buildings were erected in 1840. The church was built in 1880. The Archives building was owned by James and Amanda Mount during the Civil War. During this time "Aunt Amanda" received letters from her nephew, Amos Mount, who wrote about his experiences as a Union soldier during the Civil War. There letters are part of the Oldham County Historical Society Collections.

The Peyton Samuel Head Family Museum is in the restored Victorian home that was belonged to the Peyton Samuel Head family. Mr. Head was a banker and landowner during the early 20 th century in Oldham County . His daughter, Louise Head Duncan, inherited his estate and she donated her home for the current museum. Part of Mrs. Duncan's estate was put into a trust for community grants.

The Rob Morris Church was a Presbyterian Church. The land for the church was donated by Amanda Mount. Her son, John Mount, married one of Rob Morris's daughters, Ruth Electra.

Rob Morris was the poet laureate for Freemasonry in the 19 th Century. Only one other has been given that title and it was the Scottish poet, Robert Burns, in the 18 th Century. Morris has been credited as the founder of the Eastern Star. He resided in LaGrange with his family and at one time taught at Funk Seminary in LaGrange, which was a school and college that originally was founded
by the Masons.

D.W. Griffith was born in La Grange in 1875 and had a distinguished career as a well known film director. His most famous production was “The Birth of a Nation,” made in 1915. The Griffith home was built in 1905 as a single family dwelling but later served as a funeral home. Griffith purchased the home around 1910 for his mother and aunt, living there himself from 1935 until 1939. During his stay there, a sidewalk was built in front of the home, and his name is still visible where he wrote it in the concrete at the end of the walk. The present owners are Donna and Ken Schwedler, who bought the home in 1983. Among the homes furnishings are several artifacts relating to Griffith and his career. Visit the Griffith gravesite at Mount Tabor Cemetery in Centerfield and the Oldham County History Center's exhibit of Griffith memorabilia. The Griffith home is located at 206 N. Fourth St., LaGrange and is open to the public for home tours during the holidays.

Oldham County History Center Hours of Operation:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.
The Archives ARE NOT OPEN on weekends

Directions to the Oldham County History Center:
Take Interstate 71, between Louisville and Cincinnati. Take exit 22 north, the LaGrange exit (this exist is approx. 23 miles from Louisville and 76 miles from Cincinnati). Turn north, toward the historic district of downtown LaGrange. Go approx. 1 mile to 4 way stop- Main Street and Railroad Tracks. Take a left at the courthouse square, turn right on Second Ave. and the Oldham County History Center is on your left. There is a large parking lot that will accommodate buses by the history center.