Blackacre State Nature Preserve & Historic Homestead

Blackacre Conservancy is Kentucky’s first Nature Preserve and has influenced thousands of school students, teachers and volunteers with environmental education programs.  The homestead was given by Judge Macauley L. Smith and wife Emilie Strong Smith for the purpose of maintaining the historic home, farm buildings and lands for the benefit of the people of Kentucky. Blackacre Conservancy includes a nature preserve and historic homestead which provides insight to the precious traces of Kentucky’s past. In 1792 Moses and Phoebe Tyler established their homestead, becoming one of the earliest Kentucky settlers and licensed whiskey distillers. 

Today, visitors and school children can explore an early American homestead as they walk the grounds, enjoy the farm animals, and tour our historic structures. Our 280 acre Nature Preserve includes trails, forest, waterfall, streams, meadows, ponds and the largest community garden in Jefferson County. Our mission is threefold: to Preserve Blackacre’s natural and historic features, promote outdoor environmental education, and share Blackacre’s cultural heritage with the community.

This year, our goal is to raise $30,000 for a vehicle to deliver environmental and sustainability education programs to at-risk children, the elderly, and mentally/physically challenged adults who cannot visit Blackacre.  We appreciate your support in this effort.

This initiative will overcome transportation and geographic barriers that many of these places face. The vehicle will provide education, therapy, wellness, and community engagement activities with goats serving as instructors. Hands-on learning experiences will allow them to actively engage with the natural world and develop a deeper understanding of ecological concepts. 

Who We Are

The Blackacre State Nature Preserve and Historic Homestead, Kentucky’s first State Nature Preserve, was established in 1979 and is managed by the Blackacre Conservancy, a 501(c)3, nonprofit organization. Our mission is threefold: to Preserve Blackacre’s natural and historic features, promote outdoor environmental education, and share Blackacre’s cultural heritage with the community. At Blackacre, nearly three hundred acres filled with rolling fields, forests, and streams surround the historic homestead, which lies at the heart of the Blackacre Nature Preserve.

Visitors to Blackacre can explore the grounds and trails, visit with the farm animals in their open pastures, tour its historic homestead, and participate in many of the educational and recreational programs and events Blackacre has to offer. Blackacre is also a partner of the JCPS system, hosting outdoor education programs and field trips during the school year to both JCPS and other local private schools.

Blackacre has strived to be a haven and a resource for the community and with your support it will continue to be for future generations as well!