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.
The 2023 Great Museum Treasure Hunt was a HUGE success! Click below for all the wrap-up info about our Grand Prize Winner and Persistent Pursuers Club!
!!Museum Launches HarriCyn Junior History Club!!
This fall the Cynthiana Harrison County Museum is launching a history club for 5th-9th graders. The HarriCyn Junior History Club will meet the 2nd Saturday of each month beginning Saturday September 9th from 9AM-10AM at the Museum. The Club is open to kids super interested in local history who want to get together and learn, explore, and have fun! For more info or to get signed up, just hit the button.
The HarriCyn Junior History Club kicked off with a fun filled meeting in September. Club members learned about the history of one of the town's historic businesses Dailey's Bakery and its famous salt-rising bread. Speaking about his father's bakery son Tom talked about the history of the bread and how it's made. He shared how long it took him to recreate his dad's recipe in order to carry on the tradition of making and selling it at his current restaurant The Dailey Grind. Tom brought some of the bread for club members to taste and it was highly approved. October's meeting focused on the Civil War with historian and author Bill Penn sharing the history of the two Civil War battles that took place in Cynthiana/Harrison County. Club members participated in a timed scavenger hunt inside the Museum and the significance of Fried Apple Pie during Civil War times was discussed. Everyone went home with a taste of the sweet treat.
Guest Speaker Tom Dailey tells the history of this father's bakery and its famous salt-rising bread to history club members at the Kick-Off meeting.
October's meeting focused on the Civil War. Here local author and historian Bill Penn talks about his latest book on the battles of Cynthiana "Rebel Town"
History Club member Lance Phillips shows off some football attire recently donated to the Museum.
See our Brochure
Download it
Here!
Museum Hours
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.
For all school aged children - 8weeks!!
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.
This Glass Washboard from the National Washboard Co of Chicago Illinois was recently acquired.
Imagine wearing a pair of these roller skates!
These roller skates were worn by local physician Dr. McMurtry and his sister Katherine.
This Burial Device is for casket lowering. It came from Rees Smith Funeral Home in Cynthiana. Stanley Benson, the father of museum volunteer Larry Benson, worked for Rees Smith. Larry recently donated it to the museum.
