Step Back in Time: The Historic Kenton Courthouse Square Walking Tour

The Kenton Historic Courthouse District is more than just the heart of our city—it is a living museum of 19th and 20th-century ambition. From the pioneer cabinet shops of the 1830s to the grand "Gothic" fraternal lodges of the 1890s, the bricks and mortar of downtown Kenton tell the story of a community built on industry, elegance, and resilience.

To celebrate this heritage, we have developed a comprehensive Digital Walking Tour that guides you through 38 of our most significant landmarks.

How to Explore

Whether you are walking the square in person or exploring from home, we have provided two ways to experience the history:

• The Interactive Map: Follow the trail across Detroit, Columbus, Main, and Franklin Streets. Each stop on the map includes architectural details and historical anecdotes about the builders and businesses that shaped our town.
• Access the Interactive Walking Tour Map Here
• The Image Archive: While the map provides the history, our supplemental image gallery provides the "then and now" visuals. This page features a curated collection of vintage postcards and historic photographs, showing how these facades have evolved over the last 150 years.
• View the Supplemental Image Gallery

Tour Highlights

Our tour covers 38 essential stops, including:

• The Crown Jewel: The Hardin County Courthouse.
• The "Oldest Brick": The 1851 Ingman Block (30 N. Main).
• Fraternal Grandeur: The Odd Fellows Block and the 1901 Masonic Temple.
• The "Curious Sights": The vertical 20th-century expansions of the Pfeiffer and Damon buildings.
• Entertainment History: The 1929 Kenton Theatre, a Spanish Colonial gem.

A Note on Our Archive

History is an evolving record. Many of the photographs in our archive span over a century of use; while we may not always have the exact year a photo was snapped, these images are invaluable for understanding the "rhythm" of the square and the architectural intent of Kenton’s founders.

Enjoy your walk through history!