National Register of Historic Places

Whitley, William, House State Shrine

Crab Orchard, Lincoln County, Kentucky
Listed
April 10, 1973
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
73000814

About this property

William Whitley House State Historic Site is a park in Crab Orchard, Kentucky. It features the home of Kentucky pioneer William Whitley and his wife, sharpshooter Esther Whitley. The home was built as a fortress against Indian attacks sometime between 1787 and 1794. The first brick house in Kentucky, its construction marked a transition in the area from log cabins to more formal homes. The site became part of the park system in 1938, and the house was restored by locals between 1948 and 1955. Additional property has been purchased for the park by the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves' Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund, including Sportsman's Hill, the first horse racing track west of the Appalachians. In 2019 management of the site was adopted by the Lincoln County Fiscal Court with assistance from local historians.

Location

Crab Orchard, Lincoln County, Kentucky
37.46813, -84.54995

Categories

ARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Whitley, William, House State Shrine

This page lists Whitley, William, House State Shrine. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Whitley, William, House State Shrine report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Walnut Meadows
Industrial
1.8 mi
Confederate Monument at Crab Orchard
Civil War
2.6 mi
Pence, Adam, House
Industrial
4.6 mi
Thomas, Kings, III, House
Industrial
4.8 mi
Baughman, John, House
Industrial
5.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Whitley, William, House State Shrine listed on the National Register?

Whitley, William, House State Shrine was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 10, 1973.

What type of historic resource is Whitley, William, House State Shrine?

Whitley, William, House State Shrine is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Whitley, William, House State Shrine?

The period of significance for Whitley, William, House State Shrine is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Whitley, William, House State Shrine?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Whitley, William, House State Shrine will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Lincoln County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Lincoln County.

Explore LincolnCounty ›

More historic places in Kentucky

Browse all historic places in Kentucky.

View Kentuckyhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Kentucky history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Kentuckyhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Whitley, William, House State Shrine will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report