Guide to Frankfort, Kentucky

Frankfort is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the seat of Franklin County. It is located in the inner Bluegrass region of Central Kentucky near an S-curve in the Kentucky River.

• Frankfort is home to Buffalo Trace, Castle & Key, Glenn’s Creek Distillery, and Whiskey Thief Distilling. From Frankfort it’s easy to reach Four Roses Distillery, Wild Turkey, Woodford Reserve, and Jeptha Creed.
• In Frankfort, Jim Beam bottles 100 different brands of alcohol for global distribution.
• Frankfort’s Rebecca Ruth Candy is the birthplace of the iconic bourbon ball. The sweet delicacy was created by Ruth Hanly Booe in 1938; the candy store opened in 1919.
• Historic architecture includes two Capitol buildings, Governor’s mansions, the region’s only Frank Lloyd Wright house, and the home of John Brown (Kentucky’s first U.S. Senator). Frankfort also has one of Kentucky’s few remaining original covered bridges, the Switzer Bridge.
• The popular phrase ‘dog is man’s best friend’ was coined by George Graham Vest, a Frankfort native, lawyer, and U.S. Senator. He uttered the phrase during his closing arguments in a trail seeking damages for killing a dog.
• On June 25, 2021, the City of Frankfort launched The MIX District. In this Entertainment Destination Center, participating downtown restaurants and bars are allowed to serve open-container alcoholic beverages to-go on Thursday and Fridays from 4:30 to 11 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Based on population, Frankfort is the 5th-smallest state capital in the U.S.