OC History Center

Hidden History Walking Wine Tour
2026-06-12 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-07-17 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Oldham County History Center, 106 North 2nd Avenue #St, La Grange, KY 40031, La Grange, KY, 40031, US
Explore the Hidden History of LaGrange

With a beverage in hand, explore the history of LaGrange on a walking tour based on the book by Oldham County History Center Director, Dr. Nancy Stearns Theiss.
A to-go-glass of wine will be served at the beginning of the tour and is included in your ticket cost. Tour meets in front of the history center fountain.

Barnyard Fun!
2026-06-13 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-20 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-27 10:00 - 12:00 | Oldham County History Center, 106 North 2nd Avenue #St, La Grange, KY 40031, La Grange, KY, 40031, US
Hands-On-History for children, and children-at-heart!

Join us in the Dahlgren Pioneer Barn each week for a new hands-on activity that bring history to life! This event is free, open to the public, and no registration is required.
MAY 9 Petting Zoo
MAY 16 Phyllis Wheatley & Black Heroes
MAY 23 In the Garden with Jan
MAY 30 Baseball History with Bob
JUNE 6 In the Garden with Jan
JUNE 13 D.A.R. Flag Day
JUNE 20 Bees & Beekeeping with White Oak Point Honey
JUNE 27 Petting Zoo

Juneteenth Celebration 2026 Banquet
2026-06-20 18:00 - 20:00 | CityPlace, 112 South 1st Avenue, La Grange, KY 40031, La Grange, KY, 40031, US
This year we honor our local historic Black churches that grounded the Civil Rights Movement

Juneteenth Celebration 2026 Banquet
Join us at CityPlace on June 20, 2026 at 6:00 AM (Eastern Time) for our annual Juneteenth Celebration! This year’s event celebrates our local historic churches with a panel discussion of local civil rights leaders: Rev. Dr. Charles Elliot, Jr., William E. Summer, IV and Mattie Jones. Hear about their personal journey with the Civil Rights Movement and how local Black churches gave ground to civile Rights. Serenity Singers will bring depth to the program with their performance. We will honor the Rev. W.H. Craighead (1861-1942), the 2026 Elijah Marrs Award Recipient, a local Oldham County native son born into slavery, was educated by Elijah Marrs and became a local Civil Rights Leader and pastor of Louisville’s Zion Baptist Church.

Denise Watts, Emcee
Guest Panel: Rev. Dr. Charles Elliot, Jr., William E. Summers, IV., Mattie Jones
Elijah Marrs Award Recipient: Rev. W. H. Craighead (1861-1942) Pastor of Zion Baptist Church
Music: Serenity Singers
Full Banquet, Family Event, Limited Seating

Archaeology Field School
2026-07-06 09:00 - 2026-07-10 17:00 | Oldham County History Center, 106 North 2nd Avenue #St, La Grange, KY 40031, La Grange, KY, 40031, US
Work alongside professional archaeologists and explore a dig site dating back to the mid-1800s. For students ages 13 and up.

The Oldham County History Center is proud to announce enrollment is now open for its 2026 Archaeology Field School, a hands-on, week-long program for high school students. Running continuously since 2005, the Field School is believed to be the longest-running youth archaeology field program in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Unlike classroom simulations, the Field School places students directly in the field alongside professional archaeologists at a genuine excavation site: the Duncan Homestead, an early 1800s property located here in Oldham County. The site is newly under excavation, meaning students will be among the first to uncover its artifacts and stories — a rare opportunity even for adult researchers.

“When a student pulls an artifact out of the ground and realizes a real person held that same object 200 years ago, that’s the moment history becomes real; you begin to understand that we are connected across centuries by these shared human experiences.”
— Dabney Clore, Assistant Director, Oldham County History Center

What Students Experience
Under the supervision of professional archaeologists, Field School participants excavate the Duncan Homestead site, learning proper excavation, mapping, and recording techniques used by working professionals. Students identify, document, and analyze recovered artifacts, gaining insight into Kentucky’s prehistoric and historic cultures. The program concludes with a field trip to a regional historic site — past groups have visited the remarkable Cahokia mounds — placing local history within a sweeping geographic and cultural context.

Archaeology sits at the intersection of history, science, mathematics, and critical thinking — making the program a natural fit for students with a wide range of interests. Students also have direct conversations with professional archaeologists about their careers and educational paths.

Program Details
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up
Duration: July 6-10th, 2026
Enrollment: Limited to 10 students to ensure a small, intensive experience
Cost: $250 per student. Financial assistance is available — families and educators are encouraged to reach out if cost is a concern.
Location: The History Center is located at 106 N Second Ave in LaGrange, KY. Enrolled participants will be provided with directions to the Duncan Homestead site, located on private property.

About the Oldham County History Center
The Oldham County History Center is dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and sharing the history of Oldham County and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Through educational programs like the Archaeology Field School, the Center connects students and community members to their shared heritage in meaningful, hands-on ways.

River Tales Over Cocktails: “Pirates, Treachery, Battles, and Escapes"
2026-07-16 17:00 - 20:00 | Captain’s Quarters Riverside Grille, 5700 Captains Quarters Road, Prospect, KY 40059, Prospect, KY, 40059, US
History Cocktail Cruise aboard the CQ Princess

Part 3 of our River Tales Over Cocktails history cruise series aboard the CQ Princess. Boarding begins at 5:00pm at Captain’s Quarters on River Rd. Part 3 will feature Dr. Nancy Theiss, Executive Director of the Oldham COunty History Center and her talk, ““Pirates, Treachery, Battles, and Escapes on the Ohio River”.

Underground Railroad Driving Tour
2026-07-25 10:30 - 13:30, 2026-09-12 10:30 - 13:30 | Oldham County History Center, 106 North 2nd Avenue #St, La Grange, KY 40031, La Grange, KY, 40031, US
Car tour of Underground Railroad sites in Oldham County

Driving Tour of significant Underground Railroad Historical Sites in Oldham County. Carpool and join the caravan. Departs from the OCHC. Pack a sack lunch.
