Hankering for a little old-world charm? Visit Covington, Kentucky's MainStrasse Village and you'll find yourself whisked back in time to a charming, 19th century, German/American village.
Between 1840 and 1845, Covington's west side was the scene of a dramatic population boom when an estimated influx of over 200 German and Irish immigrants a day began to arrive, doubling Covington's population in just five, short years. This influence, primarily the German one, led to the heritage of what is known as MainStrasse Village today.
Developed in the late 1970's, the revitalized west side was renamed MainStrasse Village. Quaint buildings, shops, pubs, restaurants, homes, and parks make up this historic section of town, all restored to look much as they might have in the mid to late 1800's. Varied classic styles of architecture, such as Federal, Victorian, Italinate, and Queen Anne, line the streets, decorated here and there with attractive mosaics and gingerbread woodcarvings.
Walking tours of MainStrasse Village take you through the 5-plus block section of Covington to point out architectural influences and the histories of various points of interest, such as the majestic Carroll Chimes Bell Tower, the bronze Goose Girl Fountain crafted after the famous Grimm fairy tale, and Goebel Park.
A designated national historic district, MainStrasse Village hosts numerous festivals and events throughout the year, including such crowd-drawing favorites as Mardi Gras, Maifest, Goettafest, Oktoberfest, and the MainStrasse Village Classic Car Show.
