What is a semiquincentennial?

Well, you might not know it, but today we are on the fifth day of one. A semiquincentennial is the 250th anniversary or celebration of an event. In Latin roots, it means “half of five hundred years.”

From this point forward, we will simply refer to America’s semiquincentennial as “America250” or “the 250th.” No matter what you call it, the Frazier is leaning in this year.

As the US celebrates its 250th year, the Frazier Kentucky History Museum is committed to honoring Kentucky’s past and celebrating its unique and substantial impact on the country. It is a challenging, diverse, and enduring America that has survived through conflict from its very inception. Our 250th exhibitions, events, and programs throughout 2026 are thoughtfully and creatively crafted so every Kentuckian will see themselves as part of that history.

This is our story, Kentucky, and the Frazier is sharing it unconditionally!

With the holidays now behind us, I’m sure you will start to hear more about America250—and much of it will be from the Frazier. Here’s what we’re doing.

First, we’ve got three exhibitions: Pursuit of Happiness opens January 17, I Too Am a Kentuckian opens July 3, and Revolutionary Threads opens August 16.

Next, we’ll release a second season of our podcast Kentucky Wide—a season focused solely on stories that reflect Kentucky’s contribution to America250.

From our permanent collection, we’ll highlight artifacts that have a significant place in American history. For example, the Bloedner Monument is the oldest surviving monument to the American Civil War, and it’s right here it at the Frazier.

Of course, we’ll also deliver a rich programming schedule designed to engage, educate, and inspire by connecting Kentucky’s past with its present. From Lady Washington: America’s First First Lady in February to the Legacy of York in June and Service to America on Veterans Day, 2026 promises to be a red, white, and blue year.

It is our hope that you are saying “I too am a Kentuckian” throughout.

Stay informed about all the Frazier’s 250-related content at fraziermuseum.org/frazier250.

This Week in the Museum

Frazier to Open Pursuit of Happiness Exhibition January 17

This particular new year brings a renewed focus on one of my favorite time periods, as well as a great excuse to over-use the word “semiquincentennial.” At the Frazier, we are jumping into the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in January and then building with snowball-like momentum, offering new things to see and experience as the year rolls on.

Opening on January 17 is our new exhibition Pursuit of Happiness, a fun partnership between our education and exhibits teams. Inspired by the immortal words from 1776, this hands-on exhibition uses games, codes, and play to introduce families to thirteen individuals from the time of the American Revolution who pursued happiness in a variety of unique ways.

Through stories and interactives, we’ll challenge visitors to consider what happiness means to them and think of the ways we can all work towards that lofty ideal. Also, this is where guests will find a wall-mounted breakdown of the Declaration of Independence, matching the original text with more digestible modern language.

As the year rolls on, you’ll see much, much more. Closer to the July 4 holiday, we’ll open I Too Am a Kentuckian, followed by an exhibition in partnership with the Transylvania Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution called Revolutionary Threads. We’ll also roll out a new season of the Kentucky Wide podcast tied to the Revolution and host some great public events you won’t want to miss.

Curator’s Corner: I Too Am a Kentuckian Preview

Truth be told, I have been excited to celebrate America’s Semiquincentennial for several years now. It is a chance to celebrate 250 years of the United States and to reflect on the foundational values on which our Founding Fathers created this country. Our Founding Fathers were far from perfect. Of the fifty-six men who signed the Declaration of Independence, forty owned slaves. However, for me, their greatness lies in the revolutionary values that they held close while writing the Declaration of Independence: values such as liberty, justice, and equality that we are still striving toward today.

Our largest temporary exhibition that will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary focuses on these values and the Kentuckians who have worked to further them. This exhibition, titled I Too Am a Kentuckian, does not focus on the time of the Revolution, but rather builds on the foundation laid out in the Declaration of Independence. A mix of civics and Kentucky history, I Too Am a Kentuckian discusses how our government works, our civic duties as citizens, and the important work that Kentuckians have done to make our Commonwealth and our country better. You will learn about Kentuckians who have served in the military and as public servants in our federal government. You will learn how Kentuckians utilized the liberties laid out in the First Amendment, how Kentuckians have contributed to our justice system, and how Kentuckians have worked toward equality for all, as described in the Fourteenth Amendment and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

I look forward to sharing the stories of these revolutionary Kentuckians with you when the exhibition opens in early July of this year! Stay tuned for more updates.

From the Collections: Steiff Co. Teddy Bear, c. 1906

Steiff teddy bear made c. 1906. Part of the Frazier Kentucky History Museum’s permanent collection.

Happy New Year, Frazier friends. As we walk into this new year, we are all getting ready to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country! As part of that celebration, we are redoing a case in our Founder’s Gallery to highlight all the items in our collection that pertain to the presidents or the road to the White House.

Did you know that the Frazier Kentucky History Museum’s collection represents thirteen presidents? That’s right: From the early days of our museum, presidents and Americana have been a part of what we have collected. And while we have had the guns that belonged to American presidents on display, this is the first time we will have an entire case dedicated just to those presential items in our collection.

One piece that will go on display in late January is a Steiff Co. teddy bear. While on a hunting trip in Onward, Mississippi, in 1902, Teddy Roosevelt refused to shoot a black bear that had been cornered and tied up for him to shoot. Roosevelt felt this was unsportsmanlike and ordered the bear released. Morris Michtom, a Brooklyn shop owner who also made stuffed animals with his wife, saw the story in the papers. Michtom then made a stuffed bear and named it “Teddy’s Bear.” The stuffed bear grew in popularity. Today, we call them Teddy bears.

Look for the presidents case to be up and ready for view the first Monday in February just in time for Presidents’ Day!

Frazier Program to Highlight First Lady Martha Washington

Lady Washington: America’s First First Lady flyer.

Get ready for a full slate of programs in 2026 as part of our Frazier250 celebration.

If you watched Ken Burns’ The American Revolution, perhaps you learned even more about George Washington and the pivotal role he played in our history.

He is known as the Father of Our Country—but how much do you know about his wife Martha, considered the Mother of Our Country?

On Sunday, February 15, one day before Presidents’ Day, join us here at the Frazier at 2 p.m. for Lady Washington: America’s First First Lady.

We are partnering with the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution for this program, with their Curator Zachary Distel leading our discussion with his research and SAR artifacts.

Frazier Board member Vickie Yates Brown Glisson, who chairs the Spencer County America250 Committee, will also join us to help give us a more informed view of her importance as a spouse, a partner, and someone who helped shape the role of First Lady.

A swatch of Martha Washington’s wedding dress, on loan from SAR, will also be on display in our Founder’s Gallery during this program.

This is the first of many special and diverse programs this year at the Frazier as part of America’s 250th commemoration.

The program is free with the price of admission, but RSVPs are required. Click here to reserve your seat.

New Educational Programs Highlight America’s 250th

Planning for educational programs to align with America250 has been in the works for over a year, so our team is excited that the time is finally here! We will offer a range of programming over the next eighteen months, including field trips, virtual lessons, Kentucky Wide podcast episodes, family history nights, homeschool days, and a new live presentation titled Early America Through Music.

A variety of themed field trip programs will be available through the end of this school year and throughout the next. Our Declaring Your Independence visit has been popular for years and will now incorporate the new exhibitions and theatre presentation. When the Pursuit of Happiness exhibition opens in mid-January, we will also begin offering a field trip program by the same name. Matching the exhibition’s energy of a hands-on, student-centered look at how everyday people worked towards freedom and pursued happiness, the field trip will include exhibition exploration, a live presentation, and the option to include a craft and activity session. When the I Too Am a Kentuckian and Revolutionary Threads exhibitions open in time for next school year, they will be incorporated as field trips, as well.

Educators will also have the option to request a video lesson focused on Sybil Ludington, attend teacher trainings, or plan a Family History Night at the museum where families can enjoy exploring and learning about early America together.

Learners of all ages, even those no longer in the classroom, will enjoy the second season of our podcast, Kentucky Wide. Season two will feature stories of Kentuckians tied to the American Revolution and the American ideals of liberty, equality, and the pursuit of happiness. And homeschool families are invited to attend an America250-themed day planned for early fall.

More details are to come for many of the programs mentioned. If you have questions on a specific offering, feel free to reach out to the education team at education@fraziermuseum.org.

Highlights of 120: Campbell County: John Campbell

Did you know Campbell Street in the Butchertown neighborhood of Louisville is named for American Patriot John Campbell? (I live on that street, but only just learned that!) There’s also a county named for John Campbell in Northern Kentucky. There are hundreds of stories in our 120: Cool KY Counties exhibit, and many of them pertain to America’s founding. As we celebrate America250, we will share some of those stories here with you.—Simon Meiners, Communications & Research Specialist

Born in Ireland in the mid-1700s, John Campbell immigrated to America as a trader on the western frontier. His first minor accomplishment was laying out four blocks of Fort Pitt, which later became Pittsburgh. In 1773, he and a business partner acquired 4,000 acres of land in Kentucky, including much of present-day Louisville. But, when presented with the offer to join the British militia at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, he refused, siding with the Patriots.

Campbell became a colonel, joining a group of explorers in order to secretly gain French support in New Orleans. On the way back, they were overwhelmed by a Native American attack and were taken prisoner. As a result of his business partner staying loyal to the King, Campbell’s acreage was revoked, which inadvertently caused the town of Louisville to be created.

Campbell still had part of the land, sued the town’s developers, and won, jumpstarting the tobacco industry in Louisville. In 1794, Campbell County was named in his honor in northern Kentucky. Four years later, he was named speaker of the Kentucky Senate.

Museum Shop: Bluegrass State Socks

Show off your Kentucky pride from heel to toe! These Bluegrass State socks are packed with iconic symbols—horseshoes, goldenrods, and Bourbon—that celebrate the spirit of Kentucky and the stories that helped shape America. As we mark America’s 250th, it’s a fun, wearable way to honor our hometown charm and the heritage we’ve contributed to our nation. Find them in our Museum Shop and online.

On the Trail with Abby: Preservation Distillery in Bardstown

Bourbon tourism is booming—and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® is growing faster than ever! Each week, the Frazier’s Abby Flanders takes readers on a digital stop-by-stop tour of this expanding adventure, spotlighting the distilleries, stories, and expressions behind America’s native spirit. Ready to hit the trail in real life? Start your journey at the Frazier Kentucky History Museum, the Official Starting Point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®.

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America250 at the Frazier, Pursuit of Happiness, I Too Am a Kentuckian, and More

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