The Hart County Historical Society has recently received a $415,000 historic preservation grant for the preservation and development of the site of the Battle of Munfordville. The society will use the grant money to create walking trails throughout the battle site, renovate the Anthony Woodson home into a Civil War museum and visitor center, and provide signs around the future tourist attraction. The society hopes to offer tours of the battlefield earthworks, museum and former site of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Bridge. Previously the Battlefield has been accessible to the public only during the historical society’s annual Civil War Days Celebration. This grant will make the site available year round.

The Battle of Munfordville was fought on September 14 through 17, 1862. It is considered by many to be a pivital point of the war, in spite of the Confederate victory, and perhaps due to an untimely exit by General Bragg and his rebel forces. Three days after the successful battle, Confederate General Bragg and his troops were on the move again. The Union army, under General Buell arrived the next morning with 30,000 men. Within 20 days of the Battle of Munfordville the Confederates had lost their hold on KY.

The Battle of Munfordville tourist site is still in the planning stage, with work scheduled to begin late fall, 1997. The historical society needs your help in gathering information. The society is looking for local stories, or knowledge, of the Battle for the Bridge and Hart County during the Civil War era. If you would like to offer information you may do so by calling the museum at (502) 524-0101, or by e-mail. We invite you to be a part of this historic project.