Pike County’s Historic Courthouse Houses its Own Little World

Over the past decade, the historic Pike County Courthouse has been developed into one of Kentucky’s most interesting places to visit. It was in the Pike County Courthouse that famous feudists from the Hatfield McCoy Feud were put on trial, namely Ellison “Cottontop” Mounts. The courtroom where Cottontop was convicted is available for the public to tour. The courthouse also features two award-winning exhibit halls, “The Veterans Hall of Honor”, a somber memorial celebrating the men and women who served our country in the military, and “Heritage Hall”, featuring artifacts and photos from Pike County’s intriguing history. A memorial for fallen police officers was also recently added, including another famous character from feud history, “Bad” Frank Philips.

During the Holiday season, Pike County locals have come to love another exhibit on display in the courthouse’s County Court Clerk’s office, “The Christmas Village”. Drawn from her personal collection, County Court Clerk Lillian Pearl Elliot arranges an impressive display of miniature houses, people, cars, restaurants and foliage into a small-scale community that stretches from one end of the office to the other. Some of these models feature lighting effects and move on their own, bringing the tiny village to life. If you look closely, you can see minor details that add to the overall charm of the layout, such as a Christmas tree in a window, or characters and franchises from American pop culture. There is even a diorama featuring Harley Davidson models. Check out the photos below, or stop by the County Court Clerk’s office in the Pike County Courthouse and see this impressive exhibit for yourself.

Click here to find the Historic Pike County Courthouse.