Planning a Visit to the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History in Bardstown

The Oscar Getz Museum of Bourbon History, also known as the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History, covers American whiskey history from colonial times through the 20th century. Its exhibits include moonshine stills, antique bottles, prescriptions for medicinal whiskey during Prohibition, and Abraham Lincoln’s liquor license.

The collection came from Oscar Getz, a master distiller and bourbon distributor who lived from 1897 to 1983. The museum opened in 1984 after his wife, Emma Getz, donated his bourbon bottles, memorabilia and artifacts.

The museum occupies Spalding Hall, a building that dates to about 1826. It first served as St. Joseph College and Seminary and was later used as a hospital during the Civil War. That setting adds a layer of local history to a visit focused on whiskey.

The museum is at 114 N. Fifth St. in Spalding Hall, in Bardstown. The building is about two blocks from Court Square, making it straightforward to pair the museum with a walk through the city center.

Free parking is reported in lots behind Spalding Hall. Motorcoaches are directed to park on Fifth Street. The museum is reported to have ramps, wide corridors, ADA elevators and restrooms.

For another nearby historic stop, the Basilica of Saint Joseph Proto-Cathedral is about a block away on West Stephen Foster Avenue. Its location makes it a natural addition before or after the museum; the Basilica of Saint Joseph Proto-Cathedral visitor guide covers that landmark separately.

Other listings give a seasonal schedule, so hours can differ by source. Check the official site before you go.

Opening hours

• Tuesday to Saturday: 10 AM–4 PM
• Sunday: 12 PM–4 PM
• Monday: closed

Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.

Self-guided admission is reported as free, with donations welcome. Plan on about 45–75 minutes to look through the collection at your own pace. For groups of 10–50 guests, docent-led tours are reported at $3 per person and take about one hour.

The Bardstown tourism listing reports closures on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. If you are planning a group visit, confirm tour arrangements and current details with the museum before setting out.

Spalding Hall’s position about two blocks from Court Square makes the museum easy to combine with a look around downtown Bardstown. You can plan a stroll through the city center before or after your visit using this guide to walking Bardstown City Center.

For a visit that includes more local history, the Bardstown Civil War Museum is another museum stop in town. The Basilica of Saint Joseph Proto-Cathedral is close to Spalding Hall, so you can combine its visit with the Oscar Getz Museum without needing to make a separate trip across town.

From this two-star hotel in Bardstown, the museum is about a 4-minute drive or a 39-minute walk. That makes a short drive the quicker option if you are coming from the hotel; once there, the museum and nearby Court Square can fit into the same outing.