You’re driving down Frankfort Road, just a mile or so outside of downtown Georgetown, and suddenly it hits you. This massive, white-columned ghost of a building sitting on a hill. It’s Ward Hall Georgetown KY, and honestly, it looks like it belongs on a movie set rather than tucked away in Scott County. Most people see the columns and think "just another old house," but they’re wrong.
This isn't just an "old house." It’s 12,000 square feet of ambition, ego, and sheer wealth that hasn't been seen in the Bluegrass since. Junius Ward, the man who built it, basically dropped $50,000 in gold in the 1850s to make this happen. To put that in perspective, you could build a massive, top-tier mansion back then for about $5,000. Ward spent ten times that.
The Myth of the Empty Mansion
People often ask why someone would build something this big in the middle of Kentucky farm country. Junius Ward was a cotton king. He owned a massive plantation down in Mississippi, but Mississippi in the summer is, well, miserable.
So, he built Ward Hall as a summer home.
Imagine having "summer home" money that buys you 27-foot-tall Corinthian columns and a double elliptical staircase that looks like it’s floating. It’s wild. But the house wasn't just for the Wards to sit around in. It was a stage. His niece, Sallie Ward—the "Belle of Louisville"—was the 19th-century version of an A-list influencer. She threw parties here that were legendary, the kind where people would travel for days just to say they were there.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Architecture
There’s a lot of debate among history buffs about who actually designed the place. Most experts, including the folks at the Ward Hall Preservation Foundation, attribute the design to Major Thomas Lewinski. He was a British-born architect who basically defined the look of Lexington at the time.
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But here’s the cool part: the actual construction was a collaboration.
Taylor Buffington was the lead, but he worked closely with James Bailey, a free man of color. Bailey was a legit master builder. He’s the guy responsible for some of the most beautiful structures at Georgetown College, too. When you walk through the 14-foot-wide central corridor, you’re looking at his handiwork.
The style is textbook Greek Revival, but it’s got these weird, unique quirks. Have you ever heard of "blind windows"? From the outside, the house looks perfectly symmetrical. But if you look closely, some of those windows are fakes. They’re actually closets or cupboards on the inside. The architects cared more about the exterior looking "perfect" than they did about actually having a window in every room.
The Basement Nobody Talks About
If you take a tour—which you totally should—the fancy parlors are great, but the basement is where the real story is. Most antebellum homes have had their basements finished or ruined over the years. Not here.
The 4,000-square-foot basement at Ward Hall is one of the most intact in the United States.
This was the "engine room" of the mansion. It’s where the enslaved people lived and worked to keep the Wards’ lifestyle running. It’s a heavy, sobering contrast to the gold-leaf and marble upstairs. You see the original cooking areas and the small rooms where servants stayed. It’s a necessary reminder that the $50,000 in gold didn't just come from cotton; it came from a system of forced labor that the Wards brought with them from Mississippi every summer.
The Tragic End of the Golden Era
Nothing stays gold forever, literally. The Civil War absolutely wrecked the Ward family's finances. By 1867, Junius was flat-out bankrupt.
He had to sell everything. The house, the land, even the furniture went to auction.
Since then, the house has had about 13 different owners. At one point, someone even tried to convince the Commonwealth of Kentucky to use it as the State Capitol. The state said no (probably too expensive to heat, honestly). Because it changed hands so many times and spent years sitting vacant, it didn't get "modernized" in the way many other old homes did. No one came in and tore down walls to put in a 1970s kitchen. That’s why it’s so well-preserved today.
Planning Your Visit to Ward Hall Georgetown KY
If you're looking to actually see this place, don't just show up on a Tuesday and expect the doors to be open. It’s run by a non-profit foundation that is working their tails off to restore it, so the schedule is a bit specific.
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- Open Houses: Generally, the house is open the first two weekends of every month from April through October.
- December: They do these incredible Candlelight Tours which are probably the best way to see the house.
- Admission: It’s usually around $10 for adults. That money goes directly into fixing the roof or stopping the paint from peeling, so it’s a good cause.
- Private Tours: If you have a group of four or more, you can usually call ahead and schedule a private walkthrough.
Don't expect a polished, Disney-fied experience. Some of the paint is peeling. Some of the ceilings have water stains. It’s a work in progress. But that’s actually why it’s better. It feels real. You can smell the old wood and feel the history in a way you can't at more "perfect" museums.
Actionable Steps for History Lovers
If you’re heading to Georgetown to check it out, here’s how to make a day of it:
- Check the Calendar First: Always verify the "Open House" dates on the official Ward Hall website before you drive out.
- Wear Comfortable Shoes: You’ll be walking through four floors, including that massive basement and the steep staircases.
- Explore Downtown Georgetown: After the tour, hit up Main Street. It’s got that classic small-town Kentucky vibe with local spots like Local Feed for a solid lunch.
- Support the Restoration: If you’re into preservation, consider joining the Ward Hall Preservation Foundation. They are a small group doing the work of a giant army to keep those columns standing.
Ward Hall is a complicated, beautiful, and sometimes uncomfortable piece of Kentucky history. It’s a reminder of a time when the Bluegrass was the center of the world for the ultra-wealthy, and it’s a miracle it’s still standing at all.