Enjoy it while visiting Frankfort in Kentucky
Josephine Sculpture Park is Kentucky’s only sculpture park, set across 30 acres of restored native meadows and forest in the hills above Frankfort. The park was founded by artists Janel and Todd Fischer, who transformed a former limestone quarry into an outdoor gallery that has grown to include nearly 70 works of art. Since opening, the nonprofit park has become one of the most distinctive cultural destinations in the Bluegrass State, drawing visitors who come specifically to experience its ever-changing outdoor art. The park is free and open every day from dawn until dusk, with no admission charge.
The permanent collection features works in steel, iron, bronze, and mixed media, many of which are site-specific installations designed to interact with the natural landscape. “The Giants” by Chicago artist Kevin Buccellato is among the park’s most recognizable pieces, featuring towering iron figures that rise dramatically from the meadow floor. Other highlights include large-scale works by Kentucky artists that reflect the region’s culture and history. The park’s landscape itself is part of the experience, with walking paths that wind through forests of oak and hickory and past wildflower meadows that bloom throughout the warmer months.
The park hosts a rotating schedule of artist residencies, bringing new sculptures to the grounds each year and giving visiting artists the opportunity to create work on-site. Residents typically spend several weeks developing and installing new pieces, which then join the permanent collection or are featured in temporary exhibitions. These residencies ensure that returning visitors always encounter something new, and they give emerging artists a rare opportunity to develop and showcase large-scale work in a professional setting. The park also partners with schools and community groups for educational programs that bring students out for hands-on art experiences.
Self-guided tours are the primary way to experience the park, with brochures and a map available at the trailhead. The main loop covers roughly a mile and a half of accessible gravel paths, with shorter spurs that lead to individual sculptures tucked into the forest. Docent-led group tours can be arranged in advance for organizations, schools, and other groups interested in a more in-depth experience. Photography is encouraged throughout the grounds, and the park’s blend of art and nature makes it a particularly popular spot in the morning and during the golden hour before sunset.
Picnicking is welcome across the park’s grounds, with several open meadow areas suitable for spreading a blanket. There are no food vendors on-site, so visitors should bring their own refreshments. Benches and natural stone seating are scattered throughout the trail system, offering places to sit and contemplate individual works. The park’s nearby proximity to downtown Frankfort makes it easy to combine a visit with lunch or dinner in the city’s historic district, which features a range of restaurants and cafes within a short drive.