Frazier at Thurby, Kentucky Gentlemen and Layla Spring to Perform, Great Steamboat Race, and More
For the horses and humans this week, it’s all about pacing yourselves during the busiest time of year in our city. It’s Derby week! And once again the Frazier Kentucky History Museum has partnered with Churchill Downs and Old Forester to celebrate Cool Kentucky day at the track for Thurby Thursday.
All of this of course plays into our Cool Kentucky exhibition at the museum, which highlights everything cool about our Commonwealth. We are happy to share our “cool” factor with the rest of the world this week.
Ed Hamilton with an Abraham Lincoln sculpture.
Yared Nuguse finishes a race.
This Thursday at Churchill, we have two new iconic Kentuckians who will be featured in the Winner’s Circle and on the big board with special tributes. Cheers to hometown hero and sculptor Ed Hamilton and American record holder and Olympian Yared Nuguse, each of whom is so deserving.
On a musical note, select artists from our 120: Cool KY Counties exhibit’s playlist will perform at Thurby. Keep reading Frazier Weekly to learn about who from Simon Meiners.
Our Frazier team will have an activation outside Club SI that shares stories about each of Kentucky’s 120 counties, so be sure to stop by.
We are thrilled to team up with artist Ron Jasin for a special Cool Kentucky commemorative poster to be given away at the track. Look for the tent inside the Clubhouse Gate. We asked Ron to write an article about his inspiration, so make sure to keep scrolling for that.
Be on the lookout for some “cool” photo ops at Thurby like artist Andy Perez creating an interactive Post-it note mural. (You know they are made in Kentucky, right?) And look for Crosley Brands, headquartered in Louisville, with their Cruiser truck to get you groovin’.
We are ready for everyone to see what we already know—that Kentucky is one “cool” place, and not just on Thurby, but every other day of the year as well.
Also, in today’s issue of Frazier Weekly, our Stories in Mind team is featured and honored, say hello to a new member of our family, and the Frazier is hoping to make it two years in a row with your help.
Rachel Platt
VP of Mission
Frazier Kentucky History Museum
This Week in the Museum
Ron Jasin on What Inspired the 2026 Cool Kentucky Thurby Poster
2026 Cool Kentucky Thurby poster by artist Ron Jasin.
Our Cool Kentucky Thurby posters are becoming quite the collector’s item. And this year they will be again with artist Ron Jasin creating the latest one-of-a-kind celebration of who we are! A total of 200 screenprint posters, and 2,000 regularly printed posters, will be given away at Thurby on a first-come, first-served basis. Make sure to visit the tent just inside the Clubhouse gate for the giveaway. We asked Ron to tell us a little bit about his process and the inspiration for it!—Rachel Platt, VP of Mission
I’m a visual problem solver. When someone asks me to capture what makes a place, an event, or a community meaningful, I take that seriously—it’s an honor and a responsibility to do those connections justice.
The Thurby poster grew out of a conversation. I was fortunate enough to tour the Frazier Museum’s Cool Kentucky exhibition with folks from both the Frazier and Churchill Downs, wandering through the stories and artifacts that remind you why this place gets under your skin and never lets go. We talked about what’s unique, what’s beloved, what deserves to be celebrated—and I left with a head full of ideas and a deep sense of responsibility to do all of it justice.
A Hot Brown flanked by two racehorses. A disco ball hanging from a Bourbon bottle. The goal is connectivity through humor and unexpectedness—giving the viewer a sense of wonder and discovery, something that rewards time spent with the piece.
This style was born from something simple—people have an almost fierce pride in where they’re from, a need to tell the world what makes their corner of it worth loving. Being a maximalist, I naturally wanted to shout about everything at once while somehow making sure the viewer walked away delighted rather than exhausted. An overthinker’s approach to art.
Ron Jasin is a Louisville-based illustrator and Creative Director originally from Detroit, drawn to the Bluegrass by its music, hospitality, and deep sense of history. He has created work for My Morning Jacket, Houndmouth, Ben Sollee, Louisville Magazine, LEO Weekly, Copper & Kings, and Bardstown Bourbon Company.
Ron Jasin
Artist
Guest Contributor
Kentucky Gentlemen and Layla Spring to Perform at Thurby
The Kentucky Gentlemen pose at the Frazier’s 120 exhibit, March 15, 2024.
Layla Spring performs.
If you’ve spent any time playing with the touchscreen in the Frazier’s 120: Cool KY Counties exhibit, you know it’s chock full of Kentucky stories. But a major component is the playlist—which features one song from each of Kentucky’s 120 counties! That’s right: there are 120 songs, performed by 120 Kentucky artists, you can stream in the exhibit.
Two of the artists featured—the Kentucky Gentlemen and Layla Spring—will perform live at Thurby! Their roaming performances will take place at select locations at Churchill Downs.
The Kentucky Gentlemen are twin brothers Brandon and Derek Campbell from Versailles, Woodford County—in other words, horse and Bourbon country. The twins grew up singing gospel music in a church choir and R & B songs to their brother’s keyboard beats. They harmonize over a 1990s pop country beat in songs like “Neon Cowboy.”
I met the Gentlemen at the 120 exhibit opening in 2024. Last summer, I saw them put on a high-energy show for a huge crowd at Waterfront Wednesday. Their dear mother—a native of western Kentucky’s Union County—was the most rhinestone-bedazzled fan on the Big Four Lawn!
Layla Spring is a native of Lebanon, Marion County. In 2018, at age sixteen, she competed on American Idol, making it to the top twenty-four before getting eliminated. After she covered a Carrie Underwood song at the American Music Awards in 2019, Layla’s fans, dubbed “Springers,” cast enough votes for her to return to Idol for a second shot.
I have not met Layla, but I have, on occasion, sung along in the car to her fantastic ballad “Another You.” Layla’s skill as a vocalist, aided by the relatable lyrics and high production value, is undeniable! The song would work well in a late ’90s teen rom com.
To get tickets, or learn where these roaming musicians will perform, click here.
I’ll see you at the track!
Simon Meiners
Communications & Research Specialist
Curator’s Corner: Belle of Louisville Objects
The Delta Queen, left, and the Belle of Louisville compete in the Great Steamboat Race, April 30, 1968. Credit: Jim Harlan, Courier Journal.
Select Belle of Louisville objects on display at the Frazier, April 24, 2026.
I love Kentucky Derby time in Louisville. There are always so many Derby Festival activities to take part in, and there is a special buzz throughout the city leading up to that special horse race on the first Saturday in May. One of my favorites of the Derby Festival activities is the Great Steamboat Race, which takes place this Wednesday, April 29.
The race has taken place every year since 1963. It was traditionally held between the Belle of Louisville and the Delta Queen from Cincinnati. However, the Belle of Cincinnati took over for the Delta Queen beginning in 2009. Because the Belle of Cincinnati is diesel powered, it is required to travel further than the Belle of Louisville to claim the first-place spot. Traditionally, the winner of the race received a pair of Golden Antlers. Now the winner receives Silver Antlers as a way to honor the Delta Queen. For those keeping score, the Belle of Louisville has won thirty-one times and the Delta Queen and Belle of Cincinnati have won a combined twenty-five times. If you’re saying to yourself, “Hey, that doesn’t add up to the sixty-two times the race has run”—you’re correct! Occasionally other boats enter the race, and they have come out on top just four times. The race was not held in 1967 due to high water and in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2025, the Mary M. Miller, the sister boat to the Belle of Louisville, won the race after the Belle of Louisville had to withdraw due to a leak.
The Great Steamboat Race always makes me feel a little conflicted. I love seeing the Belle of Louisville every morning on my way to work, but I grew up in Covington and always loved seeing the Belle’s rival, the Delta Queen, docked across the river in Cincinnati. But I think my friends working on the Belle of Louisville might not be very happy if I didn’t root for them this year!
Here at the Frazier, we have a display of items related to the Belle of Louisville in our Cool Kentucky exhibition. Highlights include blueprints and a handmade model of the Belle. But my favorite piece is an actual paddle blade, taken from the Belle herself. The blade measures twenty-four feet long, and I love being able to see just how big it is in person. The blades on the Belle’s paddle wheel need to be replaced about every twenty years, and we were lucky enough that the Belle of Louisville loaned one to us when it was retired! Be sure to stop by and see it as part of your Derby plans this year.
Amanda Briede
Sr. Curator of Exhibitions
Cool Kentucky Shop: Retro-Inspired Kentucky Derby Tee
Heidi Janes models a Kentucky Derby t-shirt sold in the Cool Kentucky Shop.
We’re in the final stretch leading to our favorite horse race! We love this soft, retro-inspired shirt—perfect to wear this week or send as a thoughtful gift to friends who can’t join the local festivities. It’s available for purchase in our Cool Kentucky Shop and online.
4-for$250 Gala Tickets Party Pack Deal Ends at Midnight!
Round up your crew and don’t miss the last chance to grab our Party Pack—4 tickets for $250—for Night at the Frazier! Celebrate in true Red, White & Bluegrass style with an unforgettable night in the galleries of the Frazier Kentucky History Museum. The Party Pack promo ends tonight at midnight!
Your Party experience (8 p.m. entry) includes live bluegrass from the Bottled in Bond Boys leading into a high-energy set from V-Groove, plus crowd favorites like the Bourbon pull and silent auction. Come hungry for incredible bites from Mayan Cafe, Michaelis Events, Mussel & Burger Bar, Bearno’s, and more—paired with specialty pours from Horse Soldier Bourbon, Dark Arts Whiskey House, and Larrikin Bourbon Co.
View the full party lineup here.
Preview the auction and secure your tickets here!
Hayley Harlow
Sr. Manager of Fundraising
KET’s Kentucky Health Features Frazier’s Stories in Mind Team
From left, KET host Dr. Wayne Tuckson poses with the Frazier’s engagement specialists Susan Reed and Jason Berkowitz on the set of Kentucky Health, 2026.
The Frazier’s Stories in Mind team has been moving and shaking this year, bringing Kentucky history to hundreds of seniors at eighteen campuses across Louisville! My colleague Susan Reed and I do more than share history: we create meaningful relationships, working to alleviate the loneliness and lack of purpose with which seniors often struggle. I would be lying if I said everything was always rainbows and gumdrops. There are certainly times when the emotional toll can feel overwhelming. But those instances are far outnumbered by the many, many smiles, hugs, personal stories, and once-hidden talents shared with us every single day by people who have not only called Kentucky home for decades, but have shaped its history.
Though we never seek it, and even shy away from it, it is nonetheless incredibly moving to be recognized for our efforts. As such, we are extremely honored to have been recently recognized by not just one, but two organizations! The first honor came from Signature Healthcare, with whom we service several senior campuses. On April 21, Susan and I were invited to a Signature volunteer luncheon and presented with a plaque recognizing our work and dedication to their senior community. Being constantly uplifted by our seniors, however, is more reward than anything.
And in February, the Stories in Mind team was invited to appear on the KET program Kentucky Health, discussing both our program and its impact. It was a super fun experience, made even better by our excellent host, Dr. Wayne Tuckson, who asked the best questions and showed genuine empathy for the program and the seniors it serves. The show premiered on KET1 on Sunday, but it will also run all this week on KET1, KET2, and KET3. Check below for additional airtimes! You can view the program online once it’s published.
More importantly, take a few minutes today to speak with a senior, be it a loved one or a complete stranger. Trust me, you will be glad you did!
The program will air on the follow stations: KET1 (Sunday, April 26, 1:30 p.m.); KET2 (Monday, April 27, 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, April 29, 12:30 a.m.; Wednesday, April 29, 7:30 a.m.); and KET3 (Sunday, April 26, 5:30 p.m.; Monday, April 27, 4 a.m.; Monday, April 27, 11 a.m.; Monday, April 27, 5 p.m.; Sunday, May 3, 12:30 a.m.; Sunday, May 3, 9 a.m.).
Jason Berkowitz
Engagement Specialist
Vote for the Frazier for Best Museum in Kentucky—Again!
In 2025, Kentucky Living magazine readers voted us the Best Museum in Kentucky.
This year, we are honored to defend our crown!
The Frazier Kentucky History Museum has once again been nominated in the Best Museum category of Kentucky Living magazine’s annual Best in Kentucky Awards. The awards highlight exceptional restaurants, destinations, people, and more in thirty categories. Readers can vote May 1–31, so starting this Friday.
In the past year, the Frazier Kentucky History Museum has opened exhibitions on love and marriage in Kentucky, historic photography in the 120 counties, Latinx art in Kentucky, and the Blackburns, a couple who escaped slavery in Louisville. Our Pursuit of Happiness exhibition celebrates thirteen figures from the American Revolution. We offer guided tours of our permanent exhibitions and daily screenings of KentuckyShow!
This year, the museum has hosted programs on Chippewa athlete Joe Guyon, Holocaust survivors in America, First Lady Martha Washington, Wild Turkey and Four Roses Bourbons, and microweddings on Valentine’s Day—not to mention our beer fest, gala, speakeasy, and Lights on Main family events and free days.
The Frazier serves tens of thousands of students, educators, and families each year, offering camps, field trips, youth and family programs.
We hope you’ll help us defend our title!
Vote for us starting Friday, May 1.
Simon Meiners
Communications & Research Specialist
Introducing the Frazier’s Director of Development Becky Morris
“And they’re off” both sums up the culmination of Derby week and my experience joining the incredible team at the Frazier Kentucky History Museum. Since my first day earlier this month, I’ve found myself energized and inspired by our staff who are dedicated to bringing Kentucky to the world.
I’m thrilled to join the Frazier as the Director of Development! As a lifelong Louisvillian (Ballard ’09), I’m excited to share what makes Kentucky so Cool with our donors, members, and grantors. Museums challenge our thinking, feed our curiosity, and do some of the most underrated work in our community. And now I work at the Best Museum in Kentucky (2025) as voted by Kentucky Living readers!
This is not my first experience working at an iconic Louisville museum. I’ve previously worked in the communications and development departments at the Muhammad Ali Center, followed by five years working for a regional human services nonprofit.
Fate has a silly way of guiding us toward where we were always meant to be. When I was studying abroad in London in 2012, I was particularly homesick one day during a field trip to the Tower of London. I turned a corner and saw a sign that said “the rest of this collection is with our partner museum, the Frazier International History Museum, in Louisville, Kentucky.” It was a little beacon from home; and I am excited that the Frazier is now my home once again.
I’d love to connect with you! Feel free reach out to me: email me at bmorris@fraziermuseum.org or call my office phone at (502) 398-3455.
Becky Morris
Director of Development
On the Trail with Abby: Neeley Family Distillery in Gallatin County
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.
Mash tubs at the Neeley Family Distillery in Gallatin County, Kentucky.
Over in Gallatin County, Kentucky, Neeley Family Distillery combines old and new. State-of-the-art distilling equipment sits alongside centuries-old family stills, newspaper articles, and guns, combining illegal Kentucky distilling history with the Bourbon Trail® we know and love today. The Neeley family had been distilling and bootlegging (illegally) in Easten Kentucky for eleven generations. That was up until 2015 when tenth- and eleventh-generation family members Roy and Royce Neeley took the family business legal.
Today, the original Neeley Moonshine recipe is known as one of the best in the Eastern Kentucky mountains. Their lineup features World Spirits Competition–winning Bourbons in many finishes. Bonus: you can see the only pre-ban absinthe still located in North America, which is still in use at Neeley Family Distillery today! You can enjoy tours, tasting, and cocktails daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cheers!
Abby Flanders
Administrative Chief of Engagement
History All Around Us
Celebrate the Legacy of York June 16 at George Rogers Clark Park
The Legacy of York flyer.
It has been a collaboration of partners to bring you a very special program on June 16, as part of the city’s Juneteenth commemoration.
Please save the date to join us for the Legacy of York program at George Rogers Clark Park in Louisville. York, an American explorer, was a key member of the Lewis and Clark expedition. He was the enslaved Black servant to William Clark, who along with Meriwether Lewis headed the trek West. We are holding the program at the park once known as Mulberry Hill, the childhood home to William Clark. It’s the one place we know York lived for an extended time in Louisville.
Several special guests will join us to tell a fuller story of York, including Ed Hamilton, whose sculpture of York is on the Belvedere, and poet Frank X Walker, who has written about York. Historian Jim Holmberg will lead tours of the property and Dr. John Chenault, with the Louisville Juneteenth Jubilee Commission, will talk about the importance of Juneteenth.
You can click here to learn more about the free program, the rundown of events, and the many partners who have come together to bring you this important history. Join us at George Rogers Clark Park starting at 6 p.m. Be sure to enter by the tennis courts and meet us at the Lodge.
Rachel Platt
VP of Mission
