Welcome to the Cynthiana Harrison County Museum!
The Cynthiana Harrison County Museum first opened its doors in July 1994. Housed in the historic Rohs Movie Theatre on S. Walnut St. the museum is a step back in time displaying nearly 3000 artifacts showcasing the community’s Military, Education, and Agricultural Histories. Rooms are also devoted to items from childhood, daily life, local industry, and the town’s churches, police and fire departments.
Our museum exists to preserve, display, maintain and share artifacts of historical significance. It provides a “snapshot” into the past. The Cynthiana Harrison County Trust Inc. established the museum to provide a place where the tangible history of this small town Kentucky community could reside.
Museum Hours
The Great Museum Treasure Hunt Returns This Summer!!
For all school aged children - 8weeks!!
Friday & Saturday 10am - 4pm
or by Appointment - Call 859-234-7179
124 South Walnut Street Cynthiana, Kentucky
4000 Sq. Ft. of Display Space Showcasing Over 4000 Artifacts!
This is a Mortician's "Cooling Table" and was used by undertakers for preparing bodies for burial. It was also used by field doctors during the Civil War for emergency amputations. The 'bed of the table is perforated with holes for the drainage of body fluids.
Our Museum's tool section is filled with hand hewn tools and implements used by local farmers, machinists, carpenters, and those of other professions. Come see how the tools from the past were made and used.
One of the Museum's prized artifacts are the more than 100 letters sent by Harrison county resident William Jones to his wife Mary while he was fighting for the Union during the Civil War. The hand written letters dated from 1864 have been transcribed into a binder and are available for reading. The letters discuss everything from his episodes on the battlefield to the loss of friends, and the love for his wife. A real treasure.
New Acquisitions
We are always receiving new artifacts in the museum. Here are a few recent acquisitions and newly displayed items.
For Our Civil War History Buffs
The complete bound edition of
Harpers Weeklys 1865 Vol IX
Original Projector from 1920 Rohs Theatre
This is one of two Power's Cameragraph No. 6B Motion Picture Projectors that was installed in the building that now houses our museum and was originally built for silent movies. although not complete it has survived for more than a century. This photo shows the complete projector.
President Lincoln's Funeral Service at White House April 19, 1865
Saturday March 11, 1865
New Exhibits in our Children's Toy Room
Unique to the Cynthiana Harrison County Museum is a special room which displays children's toys, games, dolls, costumes, and memorabilia from childhood. New to our toy room are two wonderful artifacts from the early years of Roy Rogers and Davy Crockett! When these shows became popular, their images and names went on everything from dolls to guitars. We are thrilled to be adding these unique items to our toy collection.
Roy Rogers was known as the "King of the Cowboys". He starred in movies & television. His television show featured his horse, Trigger and his bog, Bullitt. He recorded many songs, some with his wife Dale Evans. His popularity was hightest in the 1950s & 1960's
Recently a museum visitor who grew up in Cynthiana was so impressed with our toy room he donated his Davy Crockett Doll and its Coonskin cap. He sent it all the way from Arizona. He played with these as a child.
Fess Parker played the legendary Davy Crockett in the first ever mini-series from 1955-1956. A picture of Fess accompanies the display.
Piano Stool used in the Rohs Theater
This stool was used with the piano that was played during silent movie runs.
