Kentucky State Capitol
Kentucky State Capitol
5
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  • CMKE12
    England, United Kingdom7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    You have to visit if you’re in Frankfort!
    Scott was hands down the best guide of any historical tour I have ever done. He’s so enthusiastic and makes learning fun. I’m not from Kentucky, so he was happy to go a little more in depth about the topics covered to give me some much-needed background information. Scott was also very engaging with us, ensuring we understood what we were learning and encouraged questions. I suggest Scott teach all the guides at every single state Capitol building how to be a great guide. I’ve been to a number of these, and all of the guides could really learn a lot from Scott. I recently went to a neighbouring state’s Capitol building and kept thinking, “Why can’t they be more enthusiastic like Scott?!” Scott knew so many interesting facts, like he knew the history of the door knobs in the building! If you’re on the fence with visiting, just go. You won’t be disappointed and Scott will certainly make your visit a memorable one.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written September 10, 2023
  • Nick F
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Visit the Capitol - and ask for Scott as your tour guide!
    The Kentucky State Capitol is a beautiful building that is well worth a guided tour. Last Tuesday, our guide Scott, a former U.S. history teacher, gave us a thorough and fascinating tour of the building and grounds. His knowledge of the building's architecture and history, as well as the functioning of the Kentucky legislature, made for a fascinating afternoon. As a group, we were astounded by his knowledge of each table, rug, and column, and he presented it in a way that made it all feel like a story. Go visit!
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written September 11, 2023
  • Roman Y
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    So happy I went!
    Historian Scott Johnson did a wonderful job showing me the capital building. It is amazing what ~$2Million could buy back in the day the Capital building was constructed. Best materials, amazing art, fascinating history. Plan on coming back with family. Got some amazing pictures and fun anecdotes from the era.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written September 29, 2023
  • Anne M
    Peabody, Massachusetts141 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent guide and Capitol tour
    Our tour of the Kentucky State Capitol was interesting and informative. Our guide, Scott, is a retired American history teacher whose passion for the capitol building and its history was apparent throughout the tour. Although the exterior of the dome is scaffolded for repairs, the inside of the building is fully open and you can see the changing colors on the inside of the dome.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written October 17, 2023
  • Les Z
    Beaver Dam, Wisconsin2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Kentucky State Capitol Tour
    Scott Johnson was our tour guide and was an excellent guide with interesting commentary on the history of the Capitol and the past governors and their families. His own personal experiences from his childhood being in the Capitol where his father worked were delightful. The Capitol building was one of the top two we have toured.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written October 18, 2023
  • CindyLou2262
    Denver, Colorado6,940 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Linda and George are the best
    It is a beautiful building with a lot of history. Construction started in 1905 and was finished at 1909. Granite and marble inside was from, Vermont, Georgia, and India. honestly, I wouldn’t enjoyed it as much if George and Linda hadn’t been there, they were delightful. Good people! I WOULD RECOMMEND
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written October 23, 2023
  • thomas k
    Madison, Wisconsin2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Kentucky Capitol Tour
    My spouse and I decided to take a trip to the southeast and see some sites. As she loves mansions and capitols and I'm big into Nascar, South Carolina and North Carolina seemed like a good bet since we had not visited either area in years. As we decided what state capitols, we wanted to see on our way out and back. Kentucky was a sleeper in the mix. Located in Frankfort KY. not a big well know city we weren't sure what to expect. we were pleasantly surprised. As we pulled up Capitol Avenue to the capitol, we were taken back to our rural roots of small-town charm in this quint city. We took the guided tour as to capture as much history as possible (guided tours give you so much more over self-tours). I have to tell you Denise Melancon our tour guide was one of those people that was welcoming. We have toured many capitols and Denise was by far the best guide we have ever had. She was extremely knowledgeable and very inviting that kept your interest peaked. This was not "you have seen one capitol you have seen them all". You need to see this capitol and have Denise be your tour guide, you will not be disappointed.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written July 6, 2024
  • Karen A
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful Tour and History
    We had a wonderful tour through the Kentucky Capitol building. We had a great tour guide, Denise Melancon, who was so knowledgeable about the capital history and the history that surrounds it. It was so worth the tour. Thank you so much! Chas & Karen
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written July 11, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles46 reviews
Excellent
37
Very good
7
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
0

Karen D
106 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022 • Friends
The security and welcome staff were very welcoming and informative. The capital is made out of beautiful marble with great chambers. The First Lady inaugural ball dressed on the dolls, art, county quilt squares and veteran memorial quilts were very interesting.
Written April 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anne M
Peabody, MA141 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
Our tour of the Kentucky State Capitol was interesting and informative. Our guide, Scott, is a retired American history teacher whose passion for the capitol building and its history was apparent throughout the tour. Although the exterior of the dome is scaffolded for repairs, the inside of the building is fully open and you can see the changing colors on the inside of the dome.
Written October 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CMKE12
England, UK7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
Scott was hands down the best guide of any historical tour I have ever done. He’s so enthusiastic and makes learning fun. I’m not from Kentucky, so he was happy to go a little more in depth about the topics covered to give me some much-needed background information.

Scott was also very engaging with us, ensuring we understood what we were learning and encouraged questions. I suggest Scott teach all the guides at every single state Capitol building how to be a great guide. I’ve been to a number of these, and all of the guides could really learn a lot from Scott. I recently went to a neighbouring state’s Capitol building and kept thinking, “Why can’t they be more enthusiastic like Scott?!” Scott knew so many interesting facts, like he knew the history of the door knobs in the building!

If you’re on the fence with visiting, just go. You won’t be disappointed and Scott will certainly make your visit a memorable one.
Written September 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nick F
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Solo
The Kentucky State Capitol is a beautiful building that is well worth a guided tour. Last Tuesday, our guide Scott, a former U.S. history teacher, gave us a thorough and fascinating tour of the building and grounds. His knowledge of the building's architecture and history, as well as the functioning of the Kentucky legislature, made for a fascinating afternoon. As a group, we were astounded by his knowledge of each table, rug, and column, and he presented it in a way that made it all feel like a story. Go visit!
Written September 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dee M
St. Petersburg, FL12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023
Wonderful learning experience and tour guide Scott Johnson was absolutely the best. He's a retired school teacher and I recommend you ask for him if you want real insight to Kentucky and the capitol itself. The statehouse has dolls, in formal gowns, of all of Kentucky's first ladies, including the famous Phyllis George. Pretty neat.
Written August 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Les Z
Beaver Dam, WI2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
Scott Johnson was our tour guide and was an excellent guide with interesting commentary on the history of the Capitol and the past governors and their families. His own personal experiences from his childhood being in the Capitol where his father worked were delightful. The Capitol building was one of the top two we have toured.
Written October 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

thomas k
Madison, WI2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Couples
My spouse and I decided to take a trip to the southeast and see some sites. As she loves mansions and capitols and I'm big into Nascar, South Carolina and North Carolina seemed like a good bet since we had not visited either area in years. As we decided what state capitols, we wanted to see on our way out and back. Kentucky was a sleeper in the mix. Located in Frankfort KY. not a big well know city we weren't sure what to expect. we were pleasantly surprised. As we pulled up Capitol Avenue to the capitol, we were taken back to our rural roots of small-town charm in this quint city. We took the guided tour as to capture as much history as possible (guided tours give you so much more over self-tours). I have to tell you Denise Melancon our tour guide was one of those people that was welcoming. We have toured many capitols and Denise was by far the best guide we have ever had. She was extremely knowledgeable and very inviting that kept your interest peaked. This was not "you have seen one capitol you have seen them all". You need to see this capitol and have Denise be your tour guide, you will not be disappointed.
Written July 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Karen A
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Couples
We had a wonderful tour through the Kentucky Capitol building. We had a great tour guide, Denise Melancon, who was so knowledgeable about the capital history and the history that surrounds it. It was so worth the tour.
Thank you so much!
Chas & Karen
Written July 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CindyLou2262
Denver, CO6,940 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
It is a beautiful building with a lot of history. Construction started in 1905 and was finished at 1909. Granite and marble inside was from, Vermont, Georgia, and India. honestly, I wouldn’t enjoyed it as much if George and Linda hadn’t been there, they were delightful. Good people!
I WOULD RECOMMEND
Written October 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

John S
135 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
This was my second time visiting. I took my kids over 20 years ago and today I took my grandson. This place is awesome to see. We did a guided tour an the guide was great. I recommend seeing the Capital and the capital city museum and Daniel Boone memorial. Make a day of it!
Written July 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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KENTUCKY STATE CAPITOL - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

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