About Us

The Duncan Center welcomes you for a visit to see and experience Muhlenberg County and Kentucky’s rich history! The Duncan Center serves to preserve the art, history and culture of Muhlenberg County! Throughout the year, you will find on display collections that date back to frontier Kentucky to exhibits that explore modern day coalmining! The exhibits are always evolving and changing so we promise it will be an exciting visit. Online we promote our proud history through stories, images, and videos. Whether you are a native of our area, a new resident, or just interested in Muhlenberg County, you will find something of interest at the Duncan Center and on the Duncan Center website.

On Exhibit
You will find several permanent exhibits throughout the house and in the Gallery, we host rotating monthly art and historical exhibits! A major attraction is the Coal History Museum. The Coal Museum is a fast-growing collection at the Duncan Center and online you will learn all about our rich heritage as the heart of the Western Kentucky Coal Field. Did you know that the first commercial mine in Kentucky, known as “Mclean drift bank” was located near Paradise and the Green River in Muhlenberg County? On this site and in the Museum you will find images from the early days of underground mining and learn all about the largest earth moving equipment in the world used in strip surface mining in Muhlenberg County.
Did you know that acclaimed American actor Warren Oates and County Western singer/songwriter Merle Travis were both born and raised in Muhlenberg County? Oates starred in numerous films during the early 1970s, which have since achieved cult status such as The Wild Bunch and Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia. Travis is best known for his interpretations of the rich musical traditions of his native Muhlenberg County. On display at the Duncan Center is the Warren Oates Memorial Hall, which includes pictures, newspaper clippings, movie posters and more. We also have on display relics related to Merle Travis, which include his custom made Nudie suit and 12 string Takamine acoustic guitar.
The Felix E. Martin Jr. Room includes beautiful furniture, ceramics, silver and paintings from the early to mid-1900. Enjoy the elegance of the past in the Duncan Center’s Victorian Room. Many other exciting pieces of history can found at the Duncan Center such as the wooden surveying tool used by Alney McClean to survey the city of Greenville in 1799, General Carlos Buell’s riding stirrups and personal pictures of Shiloh, a 1905 Duncan family wedding dress and the original blueprints for Thistle Cottage, old typewriters, telegraphs, cameras and much much more!

“In the Gallery”
The art gallery at the Duncan Center features artists from all over Kentucky during the months of April-September. Check out the Events and Exhibits page to see the art gallery schedule for 2010!