Duncan Tavern Historic Center

	Duncan Tavern Historic Center - Quick Facts
HSP Category	Building
Period	c. 1792
HSP Style	Federal
Construction	Stone
No. Stories	4
Original Use	Residence, then tavern
Present Use	Headquarters for Kentucky Society Daughters of the American Revolution

Historical Significance

Duncan Tavern-one of the finest examples of a Kentucky eighteenth century early settlement building-was built ca. 1792 by Joseph Duncan, who had served during the Revolutionary War as a civilian armorer in the Illinois Campaign. In 1791 he was inducted into the Virginia Militia as a captain, later attaining the rank of Major. By 1803 the tavern was called the Goddess of Liberty. The tavern leased rooms and provided beds to travelers until 1834 when it was purchased by William Burr as a single family residence. By 1860, part of the building operated as a middle-class boarding house. After 1929 the building descended into tenement apartments. Fortunately, Duncan Tavern, the oldest stone structure in Paris, was saved from the bulldozer in 1940, when it was purchased for $1 by Julia Spencer Ardery and her DAR Chapter, Jemima Johnson. This bargain came with the caveat that in one year the building would be cleaned up, renovated, and opened for educational programming. In 1941, the building's ownership was formally accepted by the Kentucky Society DAR Executive Board, and has been the property and under the oversight of KSDAR ever since. Later, Duncan Tavern and an adjacent house were faced on all sides with limestone rock from "Fairfield," the demolished home of Kentucky's second governor, James Garrard.

Historical Designations

National Register of Historical Places
National Historic District
State Historical Commission
County Historical Commission
City Landmark

Historical Marker

Marker Date: 1941
State of Marker: Kentucky
Marker Organization: Kentucky Society Daughters of the American Revolution
Marker Text:

DUNCAN TAVERN

ERECTED 1788

DEDICATED IN HONOR OF

MARY DESHA

OF KENTUCKY

ONE OF THE FOUR FOUNDERS OF THE

NATIONAL SOCIETY, DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

RESTORATION COMMENCED 1940 THE GOLDEN JUBILEE YEAR, N.S.D.A.R.

BY THE

KENTUCKY SOCIETY, DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

TABLET PLACED BY THE LEXINGTON CHAPTER

MARCH 14, 1941

Funding

This property is funded through the budget of KSDAR, fees from tours and party rentals, and donations.

Physicial Condition

Preserve

Tourism

Open to the Public
Family Friendly
Hours of Operation: Wed-Sat, conducts tours at 1:30 p.m. and by appointment
Admission Fees: $10, $8, $4, $2, Free

Promotional Materials Available

Dvds and YouTube Video

Acknowlegements

The Duncan Tavern Historic Center is the headquarters and home of the Kentucky Society Daughters of the American Revolution (KSDAR), and provides a house museum; a genealogical and research library; meeting spaces and events venues to members of KSDAR, the Paris, Kentucky, community, and to visitors from around the Commonwealth and the nation.

Select a State to Explore our Historic Properties

Units Overseas

Directions and application forms can be found on this page or in the Forms section of the DAR members' website.

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