Clay County was named for General Green Clay (1757-1826). Born in Virginia, he came to Kentucky in 1777. He served in the Virginia Legislature from 1788-89 and the Virginia Convention that ratified the Federal Constitution. From 1793 to 1808 in Kentucky House, Senate, and Constitutional Convention. General Clay with 3000 Kentuckians held back British and … Read more
What self-respecting main Street manager would turn down an opportunity to transform a block of their downtown in 48 hours for $1,000 or less? That’s how I met Mike Lydon of Street Plans Collaborative in 2010. He visited me in Oyster Bay, New York, where I was the director of a Main Street program restoring … Read more
Beaumont College (1895-1915) Col. and Mrs. Th. Smith owned and ran this famous girls’ school, which offered “art, elocution, a conservatory of music and the strongest of literary courses in preparation for the best American and European schools.” Beaumont motto: “Exalted character graced by elegant culture and refined manners.” The tour marker with a simple … Read more
On the Kentucky River, James Harrod and party landed in 1774, founding Harrodsburg. Called “Harrod’s Landing,” this location was a major rendezvous for militia. It became site of Warwick, founded 1787. Trustees included early surveyor Samuel McAfee, future governor Christopher Greenup, and the noted military leader Hugh McGary. Warwick flourished for some 50 years and … Read more
The Oasis has a variety of activities including a grocery store and reading area. In the reading area is a teddy bear library in addition to traditional books. A climbing apparatus is in the middle of a multi-story atrium at the center of the museum. Outside of the Port Discover museum is the Power Point … Read more
We took in the National Mall while waiting to enter the U.S. Botanic Garden. Once inside they had train tracks and exhibits with monuments from different areas. The U.S. Supreme Court, Eiffel Tower, and what appeared to be the Palace of Fine Arts by Bernard Maybeck were all featured. One exhibit had a plaque reading … Read more
We only had a few minutes while driving through to see Elizabethtown, Kentucky. There was enough there to take a few photos and quick notes about what we saw. A prominent location had an interesting metal armature with life-size illustrations of different people who were representative of different themes such as Education and Medicine. This … Read more
Historic Abingdon, Virginia has enjoyed a rich and vibrant history. Long a center of both commerce and culture, Abingdon traces its modern roots to 1750 when Dr. Thomas Walker, who had been granted over 6,000 acres of land by King George II, explored the area in what is now Southwest Virginia. Land was patented here … Read more
Eight major venues tell the story of our rich musical traditions. Flatfoot at the Carter Fold or the Floyd Country Store: learn about the music’s history at the Blue Ridge Institute, the Ralph Stanley Museum or the Blue Ridge Music Center; join in a jam at the Country Cabin II: hear a live radio show … Read more
By 1779, the patriots’ rebellions against the British had developed into a full-fledged war throughout the colonies. The British, in hopes of maintaining control, launched a “southern campaign.” Lord Charles Cornwallis led the charge to suppress the revolutionary movement in the south. By 1780, Cornwallis had moved into George and South Carolina and began advancing … Read more