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10 Fun Things to Do in Danville, KY

See a play, view history, visit downtown and more

By Kevin Litwin on April 29, 2017

McDowell House in Danville
Danville / Antony Boshier
Apothecary bottles at the McDowell House in Danville, KY date back to the early 1800s. The McDowell House was home to Dr. McDowell who performed surgery removing a 21 pound tumor.

Stay awhile in Danville and indulge yourself with some interesting attractions and venues while visiting this quaint, scenic and progressive community.

Play Nice

See a play at Pioneer Playhouse, Danville’s outdoor theater. The venue is open from June through August and presents six plays per season, with performances occurring Tuesdays-Saturdays. Actors who have graced the Pioneer Playhouse stage include John Travolta, Lee Majors, Jim Varney and Bo Hopkins.

Think Small

Make a trip to the Great American Doll Museum to see hundreds of miniature collectibles and more than 200 dollhouses. Exhibits include a complete miniature town circa 1910, and a fantasy land with fairies, elves, witches and trolls. The museum is open Tuesdays-Saturdays.

View History

Visit Constitution Square State Historic Site, where Kentucky’s Constitution was signed in 1792. A visitors center at nearby Grayson’s Tavern provides maps for self-guided tours to view attractions like log cabin meeting houses, a courthouse, jail, schoolhouse and an old post office building.


Best Places to Eat in Danville, KY


Tweet About It

Take a walk through Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge, home to hundreds of bird species. The 500-acre preserve is open year round from dawn to dusk and features species such as northern cardinal, bluejay, Carolina chickadee, American goldfinch and downy woodpecker. Nature trails are open to the public.

Shop and Eat

Spend a few hours shopping and dining in Historic Downtown Danville, which houses about 15 restaurants and 25 stores as well as galleries and museums. Also available are pubs, microbreweries and day spas, and the district has undergone several historic preservation upgrades.

Drink It In

Explore Wilderness Trail Distillery, a stop on the world famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail driving tour. The Danville distillery produces spirits like Wilderness Trail Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Blue Heron Vodka, Harvest Rum and Settler’s Select Whiskey, with all grains purchased locally within three miles of the distillery.

Go Clubbing

Play a round of golf at Old Bridge Golf Club, an 18-hole venue that measures 6,790 yards and plays as a par 72. The course has won awards for its well-manicured grounds and also features a spacious family restaurant along with a pro shop.


Festivals in Danville, KY


Toot Your Horn

Join in the fun at the Great American Brass Band Festival that occurs each June on the campus of Centre College. The free four-day event attracts bands from throughout the nation, and highlights include a Bayou & Brass New Orleans Style Friday Night Party.

Check Jacobs Hall

Learn about the early fundamentals of deaf education at Jacobs Hall Museum on the Kentucky School for the Deaf campus. Jacobs Hall was used from 1857-2002 as the residence for female deaf students, and many rooms at the museum have been restored to their 19th century look.

Tour the McDowell

Stroll through the gardens of McDowell House Museum and learn about Dr. Ephraim McDowell, who in 1809 performed surgery on Jane Todd Crawford for the removal of an ovarian tumor. The tumor weighed 22.5 pounds and was the first successful removal of an ovarian tumor in the world.

 

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