The Oldham County History Center preserves, collects and conveys the history of Oldham County, Kentucky by telling the story of its people and the events that shaped its development, using the objects and artifacts that illustrate and symbolize that history.
We provide an environment in which the life of the past is experienced in the present. Through its exhibits, programs, events and activities, it will engage people in a dynamic process of thought, participation, and action. It will strive to affirm the importance of individual and collective community memory to develop a more enlightened society.
We create, maintain, and manage for the benefit of all the people of Oldham County: a physical presence, an organizational structure, a strong financial base and an endowment, a staff and volunteers, collections, exhibits, creative educational programs, activities and special events, and a publications program.
We proudly have two locations here in Oldham County (and working on a third!) recognized by the National Parks Service as Underground Railroad Destinations.
The History Center has a large library of archives that you can stop in to see with a prior appointment. For the first time, you can now see online what collections we have in the archives!
The Oldham County History Center offers a variety of events throughout the year, including heritage festivals, historical lectures, and guided tours of their historic sites.
Nancy Stearns Theiss is a native of Oldham County where she grew up on the family farm and married her childhood sweetheart. She has numerous degrees in education, biology and environmental studies. She has taught in the public school system, worked for the Kentucky Department of Education and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife. She has been director of several non-profits and currently works as the Executive Director of the Oldham County History Center. She has written history columns for the Louisville Courier-Journal, The Oldham Era, articles and books and received numerous recognitions for her various endeavors. An avid naturalist and historian, Nancy believes that knowing your community and the people, places and living things (past and present) around you, gives you an understanding of your importance and place in the world.
Cole Taylor was born and raised in Batavia, Ohio, a little place just outside of Cincinnati. He is currently finishing up his senior year at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky, with a double-major in history and political science. What began as a summer internship working for the Oldham County History Center has since evolved into a lasting commitment to public history in Oldham County. As a child, Cole was obsessed with the Titanic, and from this childhood obsession grew a love for history and an appreciation for just how much the past can shape the present. His first big project at the History Center involved transcribing and scanning letters and V-mail from Earl D. Bennett, an engineer-gunner aboard a bomber during WWII, that he sent home to his family.
Ann Cannon grew up in Irvington, a small Kentucky town in Breckinridge county. She went to Meade County High School. Then went to Bellarmine University and received a bachelor’s degree in computer science in 1984, then 20 years later received a master’s degree in teaching also from Bellarmine. In between those 20 years, she worked as a computer programmer at Bellarmine University. She then pursued a career as an elementary school teacher working in Jefferson, Carroll, and Oldham County Public Schools teaching 1st through 5th grades. She retired from teaching and is now working part-time at the Oldham County History Center as the Office Program Director. She and her husband have resided in Oldham County for 26 years. She has a daughter, son-in-law, and four grandchildren, who are the apple of her eye. Ann’s father shared his love of history with her as a child by visiting many historical sites during vacations and explaining the significance of each one. When historical events were happening on television, he would tell Ann and her brother, “Kids watch this closely, this is History in the Making!” This is how her love of learning of history began.
A recent transplant to Oldham County, Jennifer came to us nearly two years ago from her home town in the Mojave Desert. She started her family history research shortly after graduating from high school last century and has been at it ever since. In her travels discovering her and her husband’s deep Midwest roots, she was fortunate enough to come across county clerks and registrars who gladly welcomed her into their vaults and taught her the art of reading plats, and unearthing various documents. As her home was far away from her roots, navigating resources online became a must. She is a founding member of the East Kern Genealogical Society.
An avid photographer (and the official photographer of the Oldham County History Center), her current personal project is photographing historic buildings, barns and silos before they become only memories.
She lives with her husband, Bob; two cats who are plotting world domination; and two young Labrador Retrievers lovingly referred to as “The Beasty Boys”. She has three grown children who have fond memories of chasing frogs in cemeteries and listening to old stories. She would like Yankee Candle to create a candle that smells like old parchment or tractor oil.
She loves the History Center and is thrilled that she is able to put her four decades of experience to work, helping to discover and share the stories of Oldham County’s past.
President : Kevin Eldridge
Vice President : Greg Schultz
Treasurer : Ken Dahlgren
Secretary : Frenchie Sweatt
Gala Chair: Nancy Morgan
Shirley Hinkle
Karen Horton
Bob Martin
Terri Miller
Jo Ross
Karin Soltau
James Sweatt
Rita Underwood
Jim Zimmerman
Antique Iron Club
Board of Directors
Corn Island Festival Committee
Dia de Muertos Committee
Education Committee
Gala Committee
Juneteenth Committee
Maintenance Committee
Museum Desk Volunteers
Research and Library
Revolutionary War Committee
