This 1886 Victorian is One of Cynthiana, Kentucky’s Finest Historic Homes

Who doesn’t love hand-carved banisters, ornate stained-glass windows, artfully tiled fireplaces, and fabulous spaces to entertain? Crazy people, that’s who. If you’ve got a strong grip on your sanity, you, too, will fall in love with this absolutely stunning Eastlake Victorian in historic Cynthiana, Kentucky.

Now, Kentucky might not sound like the perfect getaway, but hear me out. Lovers of fishing, hunting, and the outdoors will absolutely adore this location.

Kentucky has some beautiful public land in this area, and Cynthiana has several public areas nearby, including the 756-acres known as the Griffith’s Wood Wildlife Management Area. If your goal in a second home is to get closer to nature while enjoying beauty and convenience in a small-town setting, then this is the perfect location!

Plus, this area has a rich history. Cynthiana, which is on the banks of the South Fork of the Licking River, was established in 1793 on the lands of Robert Harrison and named in honor of Harrison’s daughters, Cynthia and Anna. Several historic sites exist in the town, which has an outstanding collection of iron-fronted buildings in the historic downtown area.

This beautiful brick Eastlake Victorian was built in 1886 and remodeled in 2008 in such a sensitive way that the home feels comfortable and convenient while much of the original features remain. The major tenets of Eastlake Victorian architecture were dictated by architect Charles Eastlake, who wrote the book Hints on Household Taste in Furniture, Upholstery, and Other Details.

Eastlake believed that homes should have finishes and furniture that were made by hand or by workers that took pride and care in their work. We can definitely say that this Eastlake Victorian is full of incredible fixtures that speak to those ideas. In fact, there are eight fireplaces with tile surrounds and ornate mantles that are original to the home and add so much character. Two sets of double pocket doors and much of the hardwood floors throughout the four-bedroom, three-full-and-one-half-bath home are original and completely beautiful. Also original is the unpainted, hand-carved Eastlake woodwork, the windows and glass panes, and the whimsical exterior ornamentation.

For those who love to entertain, the kitchen offers a floor-to-ceiling wine rack with a rolling library-style ladder and reclaimed antique marble countertop. There is an approximately 688-square-foot deck for perfect outdoor entertaining when the weather is mild. According to the listing, there is a three-zone HVAC that maintains comfort year-round, too.

Brandon Cox of EXP Realty of Louisville has listed 408 E. Bridge St. in Cynthiana, Kentucky, for $359,000.