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James Smith, Executive Director Every community has a stories to tell. Some are stories of buildings, businesses, or famous events. Harrison County certainly has those. But perhaps the most enduring story is one that spans more than two centuries and countless generations—the story of ordinary citizens who left home when their country called. Long before there was a modern courthouse, paved streets, or even a town called Cynthiana, veterans of the American Revolution were set

Every town has a founding story. Some are named for famous leaders, military heroes, or distant places. But Cynthiana's story is much more personal. Our community was named for two little girls. In 1793, when Harrison County was created from portions of Bourbon and Scott Counties, a new county seat was needed. The chosen location sat along the South Fork of the Licking River on land owned by an early settler named Robert Harrison. Harrison donated approximately 150 acres for

The Attack on Ruddle’s Station Long before Cynthiana existed, a quiet stretch of the South Fork of the Licking River near what is now known as Lair became the site of one of the most dramatic and tragic events in Kentucky’s Revolutionary War history. The first known settlement in the area was Hinkston’s Station, established in the 1770s by pioneers led by John Hinkston. Like many early frontier settlements, it struggled to survive under the constant threat of attack and isola

James Smith, Executive Director Drive through a small town in America this time of year and you will still see it. Flags hanging from porches. Church signs welcoming people to Sunday service. Parents lining ballfields with lawn chairs and coolers. Local restaurants packed after graduation ceremonies. Neighbors stopping to talk on sidewalks and storefronts. Veterans memorials decorated ahead of Memorial Day. People who still wave at each other in traffic. And despite what the