Free & Cheap Things to Do in Frankfort

History & Museums

The Kentucky Historical Society's downtown campus packs three attractions into one $8 ticket: the modern Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, the 1830 Old State Capitol (where a governor was assassinated in 1900), and the Kentucky Military History Museum in the old state arsenal. Daily guided tours are included.

Address: 100 W Broadway St, Frankfort, KY 40601

Tip: One ticket covers all three sites plus daily tours and gallery talks, so budget half a day to see them all. KHS members and kids 5 and under are free. Open Tuesday–Saturday, closed Sundays and Mondays. The research library is free to use.

History & Government

Behind the Kentucky State Capitol, a giant working clock with a face of 10,000 plants tells time over a reflecting pool where visitors once tossed coins for charity. The landscaped Capitol grounds are free to roam, though the Capitol building itself is closed for a multi-year renovation.

Address: 700 Capital Ave, Frankfort, KY 40601

Tip: The Floral Clock and grounds are open daily, free of charge. The Capitol building interior is closed through its renovation, so plan on the exterior, gardens, and clock for now. It's a quick stop — pair it with Frankfort Cemetery and the Vietnam Memorial.

Historic Sites

The world's oldest continuously operating distillery — a National Historic Landmark on the Kentucky River — offers genuinely free guided tours and tastings across its historic campus. Even without a tour, the grounds, gift shop, and a new lunch café are free to walk and enjoy.

Address: 113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, KY 40601

Tip: Tours and tastings are free, but tickets release online Wednesdays eight weeks out and vanish in minutes; limited walk-up spots exist. The grounds are free to stroll without a tour. Tastings are 21+, but the historic campus is fine for all ages.

Arts & Culture

Kentucky's only sculpture park spreads 70-plus artworks across 40 acres of native meadows, fields, and woods just outside town, linked by two miles of mowed trails. Free and open dawn to dusk, with rotating temporary pieces alongside the permanent collection, it rewards repeat visits.

Address: 3355 Lawrenceburg Rd, Frankfort, KY 40601

Tip: Free and open daily dawn to dusk; donations support the nonprofit. Wear sturdy shoes for the grassy trails and bring water — there's little shade. Check the events calendar for free family art days. It's about 10 minutes west of downtown Frankfort.

History & Culture

Kentucky's first garden-style cemetery, on a bluff overlooking downtown, is the final resting place of frontiersman Daniel Boone and his wife Rebecca, reinterred here in 1845. The hilltop monument, Civil War and pioneer graves, and sweeping river views make it a free, contemplative history walk.

Address: 215 E Main St, Frankfort, KY 40601

Tip: Free to visit; large tour groups should call ahead. The Boone monument and the overlook of the Kentucky River are the highlights. It's a working cemetery — drive and walk quietly. Combine with the Capitol grounds and Vietnam Memorial nearby.

Memorials & History

One of the nation's most striking war memorials: a giant granite sundial whose shadow falls on each of 1,100-plus Kentucky veterans' names on the anniversary of their death. Set on a hilltop overlooking the Capitol, it's a free, moving feat of engineering and remembrance.

Address: 385 Coffee Tree Rd, Frankfort, KY 40601

Tip: Free and open daily; the hilltop setting gives sweeping views of the Capitol and city. The sundial's shadow design is best understood with the on-site plaques. It's a short drive from downtown — easy to pair with Frankfort Cemetery and the Floral Clock.

History & Museums

Two restored Federal-era homes — the 1796 Liberty Hall and the 1835 Orlando Brown House — sit amid four acres of gardens downtown. Guided tours trace the family of Kentucky's first U.S. senator and the enslaved people who ran the household, with a resident 'Gray Lady' ghost legend.

Address: 202 Wilkinson St, Frankfort, KY 40601

Tip: Guided tours run twice daily Monday–Saturday at 11:30am and 1:30pm; the four acres of gardens are free to walk dawn to dusk. SNAP cardholders (Museums for All) and active military (Blue Star) get in free. Call ahead for group tours.

Wildlife & Nature

Run by Kentucky Fish & Wildlife, this center pairs indoor exhibits with outdoor habitats home to native black bears, bald eagles, bobcats, elk, and bison. Walking trails, fishing lakes, and a nature playground round out a cheap, hands-on day on the wild side of the capital.

Address: 1 Sportsman's Ln, Frankfort, KY 40601

Tip: Open Tuesday–Saturday, March through mid-November only — it's closed in winter. Admission is cash or card; reserve online to be safe. The outdoor wildlife trail loops past the live animals. A great low-cost stop for homeschool and family groups.

Parks & Nature

Just north of downtown, this 240-acre city preserve protects wetlands, springs, a waterfall, and forested ravines, threaded by six miles of trails — paved, unpaved, and boardwalk. A historic stone reservoir, archery range, and scenic overlooks make it Frankfort's best free outdoor escape.

Address: 100 Cove Spring Rd, Frankfort, KY 40601

Tip: Free and open daily. The Lower Cove has parking, restrooms, and the easiest trail access; the Upper Cove adds the paved Sky Trail and overlooks. The waterfall runs best after rain. Trails range from accessible boardwalk to steep dirt — wear good shoes.