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Kentucky
27

Kentucky State Parks

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USA Parks
Kentucky
Cave Country Region
Old Mulkey State Historic Site
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Old Mulkey State Historic Site Church Pews © Ken Bartley
Inside the church building.
Old Mulkey State Historic Site We still salute you © Ken Bartley
B/W of Grave yard with color Flags.
Old Mulkey State Historic Site In the distance © Ken Bartley
Facing the East end of the Church.
Old Mulkey State Historic Site Split Rail fence © Ken Bartley
West side of church
Old Mulkey State Historic Site Hannah Boones Place of Rest © Ken Bartley
Old Mulkey State Historic Site Behind the Fence © Ken Bartley
Shot from the East side of church
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OLD MULKEY STATE HISTORIC SITE
OLD MULKEY STATE HISTORIC SITE
38 Old Mulkey Park Road
Tompkinsville, Kentucky   42167-8766

Phone: 270-487-8481
Email: park email button icon
The oldest log meetinghouse in Kentucky was built in 1804 during a period of religious revival. Many Revolutionary War soldiers and pioneers, including Daniel Boone?s sister, Hannah, are buried here. The structure has twelve corners in the shape of a cross and three doors, symbolic of the Holy Trinity.

The Old Mulkey Church, orginally called the Mill Creek Baptist Church, was established by a small band of pioneer Baptists from North and South Carolina and led by Philip Mulkey. The gift shop, located in the park office, features books on the history of Old Mulkey, Kentucky handcrafts and souvenirs.
History of the Area
The Building:

The Old Mulkey Church was orginally called the Mill Creek Baptist Church, established by a small band of pioneer Baptists from North and South Carolina led by Philip Mulkey. John Mulkey was the first preacher of record. In April 1804 the growing congregation commissioned the building of a meetinghouse.

This crude log stucture, with puncheon floor, pegleg seats, chinked and daubed walls, clapboard shutters and handrived shingles, was built with 12 corners and in the shape of a cross with three doors. Many historians believe that the 12 corners represent the 12 apostles, while others believe that they represent the 12 tribes of Israel. The three doors are symbolic of the Holy Trinity.

The Schism:

By 1809, a large congregation worshipped in the log meetinghouse. A controversy arose over the teachings of John Mulkey, which led to several heresy trials. Failing to gain a majority vote against him, the church decided to "choose sides." The majority of the group that believed as Mulkey did continued to worship in the church, which after the split, or schism, became known as "Old Mulkey." The other congregation built the second Mill Creek Baptist Church.

The Mulkey Church flouished for several years after the schism. Many converts were won to the Campbellite movement, as it was then called, which was very strong in the upper South. Religious services were held there regularly until 1856. The movement encouraged the establishment of the Disciples of Christ and Church of Christ in the United States.

Early Religion in Kentucky:

Dissenting preachers like John Mulkey were an important element of the early society of Kentucky. Church camp meetings were among the most attractive community affairs in many sections of the Kentucky territory. People came from miles around to see the most popular preachers on the frontier. Families would arrive with enough provisions to last several days or even weeks. Camp meetings, where sometimes more than 20,000 people were in attendance, revealed an outpouring of the spirit which was called the great revival, or "The Great Awakening."


Location
Old Mulkey State Historic Site is located near Lafayette

Picnicking
Old Mulkey has a picnic area on its 60 acres with a playground for children.

Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
September 9 Great place. by Ingo Breuer
park review stars; one to five We have made several memorable family trips here. We love this old-fashioned place. You can see where America is really coming from. One of the most fascinating places.
May 3 Childhood Memories by Mike Turner
park review stars; one to five Some of my happiest birthday memories were at Old Mulkey. We would stop at Dovies and go to the park and play on the playground equipment and walk around the cemetery. So much history in one place. Thank you for such a beautifully kept park.
July 5 Loved every minute of it. by Twilla Baker
park review stars; one to five I really loved seeing this part of religious history. Of course it helps that this was a well known ancestor of mine. I remember my Mother and Father telling me about going to see the home of a famous minister in our family.
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Directions
The site is about 25 miles south of the Edmonton Exit on the Cumberland Parkway. Take KY 163 from Edmonton to Tompkinsville. Take the Old Mulkey Road or KY 1446 about two miles past Tompkinsville to the site. From I-65, take the Cumberland Parkway to Glasgow, follow KY 90 from Glasgow, and turn south onto KY 163 to Tompkinsville.

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Kentucky
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Kentucky State Parks

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