Fernweh, An Ache for Distant Places

Munfordville is the county seat of Hart County, Kentucky, a small town of 2.2 square miles and around 1,300 people.

It is most popular for being the home of the Kentucky Stonehenge, but has a lovely downtown full of historic homes and buildings like the Hart County Historical Society & Museum and German American Bank.

This region was once known as Buffalo Crossing, and is one of Kentucky’s finest Trail Towns, an honour given to towns that make the best bases for camping and outdoor activities.

Munfordville is also a hot spot for fishing, hiking, biking, mountain biking, paddling/kayaking, and rock climbing. The Green River is the most beautiful place here, showcased by the Green River Park & Arboretum and Green River Canoeing Tours.

Munfordville is also located just a few miles from Horse Cave, Cave City, and Mammoth Cave National Park.

The Munfordville Welcome Center & Gift Shop is the perfect way to start your visit, pick up maps and brochures, and learn more about the history and recreational opportunities nearby.

Kentucky Stonehenge is a fun stop for all ages. It is free to visit, but be mindful that it is on someone’s private property in a residential neighbourhood.

There is a small designated parking loop to access the stonehenge and carefully sculpted gardens.

Take a walking tour of Munfordville by following this 13-stop guide.

The 1893 Chapline Building, the first stop of the tour, is now home of the Hart County Historical Society & Museum.

Visit for more extensive area history and view their collections of historical artifacts and books, as well as data from their ongoing genealogical research repository.

The Courthouse and Courthouse Fountain are a striking feature of Munfordville.

In the 1890s, a local man and civil engineer named Simon Bolivar Buckner paid to have the fountain constructed in order to serve the town’s water needs, eliminating the tedious trek to the nearby spring each day.

Buckner became a bit of a town hero for this deed, but later obtained rank as Confederate Brigadier General.

One of his most famous battles was against his childhood friend, another local boy who became Union Major General Thomas Wood. That battle is part of the story depicted on Munfordville’s Civil War Mural.

The Old Munford Inn, The Woodson House, George Wood House, Camp Wood, Thomas Bolin House, F. A. Smith House, Robert Munford House, and the Battle for the Bridge Historic Preserve are additional must-see stops on the walking tour.

We also spotted City Hall and the Hart County Deposit Bank and Trust Company Building among the attractive downtown historic properties.

Munfordville is known as a World BBQ Destination and even has a mural for it. The towns hosts the Kentucky State Championship Cook-off each year in October and it is sponsored by the Kansas City Barbeque Society.

The Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-off also hosts competitors from all over the country to win cash awards. 

The Brew House, and Poor Key’s BBQ, Murray’s Restaurant, RK Grill, and the Bluegrass Floral Market are just a few of the restaurants and markets downtown worth checking out.

Something else to know about Hart County, especially if you are visiting Munfordville and Horse Cave, is that this region is the fastest-growing population in the country. Amish community members first started moving into Hart County from Ohio in the 1980s, and now make up the 8th largest Amish population.

The Hart County Amish community (HCAC) also owns R & S Grocery and Amish Bakery, Detweiler’s Country Store in Cub Run, Hart County Produce Auction, and other businesses you can view on this map.

HCAC has eighteen different church districts on either side of the Green River, and members are very active in the general public. We saw quite a few Amish families out in traditional attire, just walking down the street and standing next to us in the caves.

Check out Farmwald’s Dutch Bakery and other Amish-owned businesses on the Hart County Amish Trail.

Munfordville’s In the Hart car show is one of the biggest events each year, so plan your visit accordingly.

In the area for a while? Follow me to see more of Hart County in Horse Cave, or to Cave City, Mammoth Cave, and Glasgow!

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