120 on the Road, 1876 Kentucky Meatshower, Founder’s Gallery Revamped, and More
Visitors explore stories and songs at the Frazier’s 120: Cool KY Counties exhibit, November 5, 2024.
Good Monday morning, y’all.
It’s an exciting time for our 120: Cool KY Counties project as we’re taking it on the road for the first time with the Louisville Orchestra. We have tremendous respect for the work the Orchestra has been doing over the last few years, taking world-class live music throughout the Commonwealth as part of its In Harmony tour.
This week, the Frazier Kentucky History Museum will join them for tour stops in Berea on Wednesday, Frankfort on Thursday, and Danville on Friday.
While there, we’ll deliver stories and songs from each of Kentucky’s 120 counties. It is the genesis for taking our 120: Cool KY Counties on the road full time.
Think Hillbilly Days in Pike County, Quilt Week in McCracken County, the Master Musicians Festival in Pulaski County, and Fancy Farm in Graves County. The Frazier is planning to take 120: Cool KY Counties on the road throughout Kentucky. We will support the Orchestra’s In Harmony tour at its request and schedule around those dates with our own troupe of traveling storytellers.
Yodeler Phoebe White performs “Blue Moon of Kentucky” at the Frazier’s 120: Cool KY Counties exhibit opening, March 15, 2024. Singing backup are Kentucky musicians whose songs are featured in the exhibit’s playlist: from left, Tiny Tiny, Asly Toro, RYVOLI, Cade Crider, Sue Massek, Anne Shelby as Aunt Molly Jackson, Scout Larken, Our Transient Lives, Gravel Switch, Larnelle Harris, Fred Keams, Jeff Murray, Nine Pound Hammer, Senora May, Hong Shao, RISK, Nappy Roots, the Kentucky Gentlemen, and (out of frame) Army of Life, Lorinda Jones, and Kelley Ray King.
Best of all, the true winners will be the people of Kentucky who will experience stories and songs from all around the Commonwealth—urban-rural divide be damned. Our Musical Kentucky playlist, which highlights one song from an artist in each of Kentucky’s 120 counties, is now available on Spotify. I love, love, love music, and I can assure you this incredibly diverse playlist is outstanding!
Also, this week, the 150th anniversary of the Kentucky Meat Shower—a Bath County story featured in the 120: Cool KY Counties exhibit—is next week. Simon Meiners highlights seven Kentuckians you should know about, Kentucky’s best museum (yes, the Frazier) is looking to repeat, and our Founder’s Gallery is all in on the semiquincentennial.
I hope you enjoy!
Andy Treinen
President & CEO
Frazier Kentucky History Museum
This Week in the Museum
Celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the 1876 Kentucky Meatshower
Kentucky Meat Shower Festival flyer.
Anniversaries come every year—but a sesquicentennial only comes once. This year, the world will mark the 150th anniversary of the Kentucky Meatshower. This strange, mysterious, unsolved, and somewhat hilarious event happened in Bath County, Kentucky, on March 3, 1876.
In honor of the big day, will join hundreds of other mystery meat–minded people in Owingsville, Kentucky, on Saturday, February 28, from 1 to 5 p.m., for the official celebration of the day pieces of meat fell from the sky onto the Crouch family farm in Bath County.
In 2019, I published a children’s book called The Meatshower, which was illustrated by Shae Goodlett—the artist of this year’s Kentucky Derby Poster. I’ll read this book at 2 p.m. at the Owingsville Public Library. In addition to that, there will be vendors galore, as well as activities like a chili cookoff, family games, and a chance to “meat” the last specimen of meat from the historic event. Sometime around 4 p.m., there will be a reenactment of the meat rain, a project planned for year by artist and Transylvania University staff member Kurt Gohde.
I have a feeling it will be the most bizarre and fun thing happening in the Commonwealth at that moment.
And if you’d rather celebrate at home, might I recommend a copy of my book, The Meatshower?
Mick Sullivan
Curator of Guest Experience
Museum Shop: The Meatshower
Heidi Janes holds a copy of The Meatshower, February 20, 2026.
One strange day in 1876, chunks of meat mysteriously fell from the sky like rain in Bath County, Kentucky. Today, only one specimen remains—and it’s in a bottle on a museum shelf. This is its story. Written by the Frazier’s own Mick Sullivan, The Meatshower will prove to be the weirdest, craziest, and meatiest book you’ll read all year. Get a signed copy online or in the Frazier’s Museum Shop!
Join Us March 1 to Meet and the Artists of Aflora!
Aflora: The Artist Talk flyer.
In partnership with La Casita Center, the Frazier Kentucky History Museum is excited to announce Aflora: The Artist Talk on March 1—a roundtable discussion featuring Latinx artists whose artworks are currently on display in our Aflora exhibition. This unique program will highlight the personal experiences and philosophies behind the artists’ vibrant and thought-provoking pieces. Taking place in our newly-renovated Brown-Forman Theatre, Aflora: The Artist Talk will do more than educate. We are confident the program will also uplift and inspire, as we join together to celebrate the power of community and resilience through Latinx art.
Following the discussion, guests are invited to tour the Aflora exhibition on our second floor, giving people a chance to engage personally with the artists themselves. The exhibition ends on March 15, making this a truly unique opportunity. Representing an incredibly diverse range of backgrounds and artistic media, Aflora artists are nonetheless unified in their mission to reflect the times and circumstances in which we live. The Frazier Museum is honored to host this extraordinary event, and even more honored to partner with La Casita Center and Latinx artists to make it a reality. As Aflora’s Guest Curator, Ada Asenjo, says: “We are thriving despite the odds.” We invite you to join us on March 1, from 2 to 4 p.m., to see just how true her words are. Click here to reserve your ticket.
Jason Berkowitz
Engagement Specialist
Frazier Revamps Founder’s Gallery with Presidential Objects
An updated shot of the Founder’s Gallery case that focuses on Presidential artifacts, February 19, 2026.
Preparator Lucas Keown and Senior Curator Amanda Briede re-install Teddy Roosevelt’s “Big Stick,” February 19, 2026.
An in progress install shot of the presidential memorabilia section, February 19, 2026.
As we continue to celebrate America250, I wanted to explore out newest Founder’s Gallery case update from a design aspect. Perhaps you’ll even find some easter eggs you may not notice at first glance.
The Frazier wasn’t always focused on Kentucky history, which is why we have objects that represent all sorts of American history. Some notable items like Teddy Roosevelt’s “Big Stick” and George Washington’s rifle are always on display. But we dug through our collection to find some real gems!
We really wanted these items to stand out, so each famous person represented is given their own thematic background. Teddy Roosevelt, known for being a conservationist, has rolling mountains imagery in a “greetings from” post card style. Washington leading the Army has an overlay of Washington Crossing the Delaware. Side note: have you seen this interactive image in our Pursuit of Happiness exhibition? For Dr. Josiah Bartlett, you will notice his name on the bottom of one of the most famous documents in our history, the Declaration of Independence.
To amalgamize the last section of casework, the inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower is depicted. Our collection has items from centuries of political campaigns and inaugurations. Here you’ll find a sampling of buttons and pins from many US Presidents, including Eisenhower, along with a rifle presented by fellows of his West Point graduating class of 1915 as part of an award ceremony.
Finally, to correspond with our recent program, a swatch of Martha Washington’s wedding dress is on display on loan from our partners at Sons of the American Revolution. Don’t wait too long to stop by and see it as it is only on display through the end of March. There’s so much depth to this case by design and the longer you look, the more wonders you will find.
Nick Cook
Exhibit & Design Manager
Frazier’s Black History Month Post Highlight Seven Kentuckians you Should Know About
Still from the Frazier’s “Seven Kentuckians you Should Know About: Black History Month Edition” social media post, February 2, 2026.
February is Black History Month!
Did you know Black people made up nearly a quarter of Kentucky’s population back in 1830?
That’s right: close to one in four Kentuckians was Black—due in part to the reliance on slave labor in the hemp and tobacco industries.
Today, Black people make up just eight percent of the state’s total population (which is 4.5 million).
Here at the Frazier Kentucky History Museum, we preserve and present Kentucky history. As the marketing team member who manages our social media accounts, I’m always looking for clever (and easy) ways to communicate Kentucky history to the public.
Recently, my colleague Nick and I met up on the museum’s first floor, in the Hall of Unsung Kentuckians. (That’s a hallway lined with replica portraits of about twenty-eight notable Kentuckians.) A few years ago, I filmed a series of social media reels in this hallway titled “Seven Kentuckians you Should Know About.” In each reel, I panned over seven portraits—one at a time—while explaining in one sentence the significance of the portrait subject.
This time, Nick and I rearranged the portraits to put seven Black Kentuckians in proximity. Then, we filmed a post called: “Seven Kentuckians you Should Know About: Black History Month Edition.”
The post has performed very well on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. You can watch it here. Perhaps you will learn something new!
Simon Meiners
Communications & Research Specialist
Frazier Museum Hosts Five Weddings on Valentine’s Day
Jana Rutkowski and Matt Dillman wed, with Simon Meiners serving as the officiant, February 14, 2026.
Whew—what a couple of weeks it’s been! Between Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras, Lunar New Year, and the Winter Olympics, there’s been no shortage of celebration.
Speaking of love, the Frazier was delighted to host five intimate weddings (including one vow renewal) on Saturday, February 14. Each couple exchanged vows in the light-filled Order of the Writ, officiated by our own Simon Meiners. Guests then made their way to the Speakeasy for cake and a champagne toast before exploring the museum—many spending extra time in the Davis Jewelers’ Love & Marriage exhibition. From there, the celebrations continued across the city with festive brunches, lunches, and dinners.
We were thrilled to hear from couples and guests alike that the setting felt both beautiful and effortless—exactly what such a meaningful day should be.
Inspired by the success of this event, we’re now brainstorming additional packages designed to help friends, families, and businesses host memorable small gatherings—whether birthdays, reunions, corporate lunches, or board meetings. Stay tuned for more details! You can also learn about our event venues and book a site visit on our website.
And while “false spring” has teased us with a few warmer days, winter isn’t quite finished yet. Still, Derby season is already in the air—and next week, we’ll talk Thunder Over Louisville!
Melanie C. Duke
Director of Events
Last Chance to Nominate the Frazier for Best Museum in Kentucky!
2026 Best in Kentucky nomination graphic.
Don’t forget: Nominations for Kentucky Living’s 2026 Best in Kentucky awards close Saturday, February 28!
If you want to help the Frazier Kentucky History Museum retain its crown as the Best Museum in Kentucky, nominate us today.
Thank you in advance!
Simon Meiners
Communications & Research Specialist
On the Trail with Abby: Kentucky Peerless in Louisville’s Portland Neighborhood
On the Trail with Abby graphic.
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, home of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Welcome Center.
Exterior of Kentucky Peerless Distillery in Louisville’s Portland neighborhood.
Just a stone’s throw from the Frazier Kentucky History Museum is our good neighbor, Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. The distillery has technically been around since the 1860s, but it was Henry Kraver who acquired it in 1889, changed the name to its top-selling brand, and built it into Henderson’s largest distillery. Peerless earned a reputation for quality before Prohibition silenced production, less a period of time where around 6,000 barrels were available medicinally.
More than a century later, Kraver’s great-grandson Corky Taylor brought the family legacy home to Louisville, restoring not just a brand, but a story that had been waiting patiently to be retold. Peerless welcomes guests to their facility six days a week with advanced reservations. Try the Henry Kraver Whiskey Experience or Distillers’ Select Tasting to get a taste of their delicious Bourbons and ryes! Peerless also offers an exciting mix of absinthe, rum, and cognac barrel finished products.
Abby Flanders
Administrative Chief of Engagement
History All Around Us
America250 Off and Running at the Frazier!
Members of Spencer County’s America 250 Committee pose at the Frazier’s program on Martha Washington, February 15, 2026. From left, Pearl Glisson, Robbie Travis, Bonnie Downs, Vickie Yates Brown Glisson, and Nikki Walker.
A word of thanks to everyone who came to our America’s First First Lady program on Martha Washington.
Our speakers Zac Distel from the National Society of Sons of the American Revolution and Vickie Yates Brown Glisson with Spencer County’s America250 Committee were amazing and informative.
Guests walked away with a better understanding of Martha Washington’s role as Chief Operating Officer with her husband George. What an essential role she played in his legacy, and establishing her own.
I also want to thank Vickie for giving us a taste of some of Martha Washington’s favorite things she served her husband and the guests who visited their home at Mt. Vernon. Those things included rum punch, cherry bounce, ham on beaten biscuits, and the Great Cake (something like a fruit cake).
A special shoutout to Vickie’s colleagues from the America250 committee in Spencer County and family members who showed up to help serve our appreciative guests at the Frazier.
If you want to learn more about Martha Washington, Vickie recommended reading The Papers of Martha Washington, correspondence that spans her entire life. Keep in mind Martha burned all but just a handful of letters between her and her husband.
We can’t wait to see you at the Frazier for more America250 programming this year. And don’t forget: a swatch of Martha Washington’s wedding dress is on display in our Founder’s Gallery.
Rachel Platt
VP of Mission
