Summer of Love Microweddings; Bourbon, Bluegrass & History Program; World Cup Talent in Butchertown, and More
Microweddings are back at the Frazier!
Don’t let the sparks die after Fourth of July. Given our resounding success in February, the Frazier events team is thrilled to once again offer microweddings. That’s right: the Summer of Love is here! If you or someone you know is looking for a beautiful and budget-friendly way to kick off their happily ever after, we are here to help. Complete with three bespoke packages catering to a variety of visions, you and your sweetheart will leave the prep and planning behind to focus on what it’s all about: love everlasting.
Offered in July and August, the microweddings feature three packages to choose from: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Pick whichever package best suits your needs: a short and sweet ceremony, a blissful bash, or an all-out celebration. From there, it’s just a choice between our breathtaking Gateway Garden or our Merkley Kendrick Rooftop Garden for your ceremony, and either the Order of the Writ or the Speakeasy for the reception. That’s it!
Each tier includes up to thirty guests, a champagne toast, a bouquet, light décor, and a cake. The Bronze package provides fifteen minutes for your ceremony and forty-five minutes for your reception. Take things a step up with the Silver package, which provides thirty minutes for your ceremony, an hour and a half for your reception, and an additional floral arrangement, plus beer, wine, and a cash bar to keep the good times flowing. Keep the party going with the Gold package, which includes a full bar, passed appetizers, and two hours of reception to take it all in.
For details and bookings, please reach out to us at events@fraziermuseum.org. Make history with your sweetheart this summer!
In today’s issue of Frazier Weekly, Andy announces our Bourbon, Bluegrass & History program on August 13 with Bernie Lubbers and Steve Cooley. Rachel teases the August 16 opening of our next exhibit, Revolutionary Threads. And Greg previews the roster of brewers at this year’s Beer Fest.
Cheers to love!
Georgie Wilson
Event Sales Coordinator
Frazier Kentucky History Museum
This Week in the Museum
Celebrate America’s 250th with Bourbon, Bluegrass & History
Celebrating America’s 250th with Bourbon, Bluegrass & History flyer.
Frazier barrel pick bottles.
What do you get when you combine the most original Bourbon tasting in Kentucky with live bluegrass music, American history, and side-splitting comedy from a Bourbon icon and a bluegrass music hall of famer?
What you get is the Frazier’s next one-of-a-kind live Bourbon event, Celebrate America’s 250th with Bourbon, Bluegrass & History—scheduled for Thursday, August 13, at 7 p.m.
With instruments in hand, Bernie Lubbers (the Whiskey Professor) and Bourbon Hall of Famer Steve Cooley will share stories and lead tastings as the history of America unfolds through the lenses of American whiskey. All the while, Lubbers and Cooley will perform both original music and tribute tunes celebrating the music that shaped a culture—from Bill Monroe to Merle Travis to Billy Strings.
During the happy hour, guests will have the opportunity to taste Bourbon from the Frazier’s long list of barrel selections over the years. If you missed getting a bottle from a previous Bourbon program, here’s your chance. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste a favorite, from what’s available, and purchase that bottle on site. What’s more American than that?
So, I invite you to immerse yourself in the soul-stirring sounds of Kentucky bluegrass, savor exceptional Bourbon, and be part of a uniquely American celebration on the 250th anniversary month of our nation’s founding.
Andy Treinen
President & CEO
Hundreds Celebrate America’s Semiquincentennial at the Frazier!
Simon Meiners leads a tour of I Too Am a Kentuckian on its opening day, July 4, 2026.
Simon Meiners leads a tour of I Too Am a Kentuckian on its opening day, July 4, 2026.
Simon Meiners leads a tour of I Too Am a Kentuckian on its opening day, July 4, 2026.
Saturday was a semiquincentennial success!
On July 4, 2026, to mark America’s 250th birthday, the Frazier opened its new exhibition I Too Am a Kentuckian—a celebration of Kentuckians who’ve helped preserve the promises of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Hundreds of visitors from the community, the region, and abroad came to the museum to explore the exhibition on opening day. Everyone who entered between 1 and 4 p.m. got free admission if they told the front desk staff “I too am a Kentuckian”—and the first 100 visitors in that period got free “I too am a Kentuckian” lapel pins! I led two tours, and our curator Amanda Briede led two curator availabilities. Sarah Jemerson led engagements for kids and families in the newly reinstalled Pursuit of Happiness exhibition.
Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate America’s independence with us.
Happy Fourth of July!
Simon Meiners
Communications & Research Specialist
Save the Date for Revolutionary Threads Exhibit on August 16
Revolutionary Threads graphic.
Mark your calendars: our next exhibit tied to America’s 250th birthday is Revolutionary Threads opening on Sunday, August 16.
It was organized by the Transylvania Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution to honor America250.
On display will be representations of uniforms, clothing, and items worn and used by Patriot soldier ancestors and family members of Transylvania Chapter NSDAR.
We will have a program on August 16 at 1 p.m. with several special guests with expert insight into the exhibit, as well as Brigadier General Rob Givens and Colonel Amy McGrath discussing their military service.
Stay tuned for more details.
Rachel Platt
VP of Mission
Cool Kentucky Shop: I Too Lapel Pin
Frazier staff model the I Too Am a Kentuckian lapel pin sold in the Frazier’s Cool Kentucky Shop.
As America commemorates its 250th anniversary, we’re celebrating the people, places, and stories that make Kentucky unique. Few words capture that spirit better than President Abraham Lincoln’s proud declaration in 1861: “I too am a Kentuckian.” More than 160 years later, that sentiment still resonates. Wear your Kentucky pride wherever you go with our “I too am a Kentuckian” pin, available in the Cool Kentucky Shop and online.
A Purple Heart Worth the Wait
Glenn Fisher after he enlisted in the US Army in 1943.
Glenn Fisher receives his Purple Heart Award at the Frazier, July 1, 2026.
What an honor it was for the Frazier Kentucky History Museum to be part of a very special ceremony last week.
Ninety-nine-year-old Glenn Fisher’s wish was fulfilled, receiving his Purple Heart Award before his one hundredth birthday in October.
Born in 1926, Fisher grew up in Bedford, Trimble County, Kentucky. He was wounded in Germany in 1945 during World War II, but the date of his injury was incorrectly recorded, leading to all sorts of obstacles. He was just sixteen years old when he enlisted.
His longtime friend, Jeff Thoke, worked for more than a year to sift through mountains of paperwork to make the moment happen. It wouldn’t have without him.
Major Francisco Bonglo, from the Awards and Decorations Branch of the US Army, pinned the medal on Glenn Fisher during the ceremony at the Frazier on July 1.
A special thanks to Miss America 2000 Heather French Henry for singing the national anthem. She was Fisher’s guardian during a special World War II Honor Flight in 2018.
The smile on Fisher’s face was priceless, and his words heartfelt, as he paid tribute to those who were killed on the day he was injured.
It was a history lesson of sacrifice and grit.
Everyone who witnessed it bears witness to what is the Greatest Generation.
It was a true way to honor this country’s 250th anniversary.
Rachel Platt
VP of Mission
Range of Breweries Lined Up for our August 1 Beer Fest
2026 Frazier Summer Beer Fest graphic.
Louisville’s craft beer scene is one of the best around—and all the breweries are coming back for the sixth annual Frazier Summer Beer Fest on August 1! Each brew house brings their own flavors and personality. It’s the perfect chance to discover a new favorite brew, catch up with friends, and celebrate everything that makes our local beer community so special.
This year’s festival features an impressive roster of local breweries, including: Against the Grain, Apocalypse Brew Works, Bravazzi Hard Italian Soda, Butchertown Brewing, Country Boy Brewing, Falls City Brewing, Goshen Mercantile Brewing, Hop Atomica, Last Stop Brewing, Lexington Brewing Company, Monnik Beer Company, Noble Funk Brewing, River Forge Brewery, Trellis Brewing, and West Sixth Brewing. Stay tuned for the full list.
Tickets are being snatched up every day, so don’t let the event sell out! Get your tickets now at fraziermuseum.org/beer-fest and get ready for our best beer fest yet!
Greg Schoenbaechler
Sr. Marketing Manager
Stories in Mind Receives Funding from the Humana Foundation
Stories in Mind team members Jason Berkowitz and Susan Reed lead engagements at Eastway, November 11, 2025.
Stories in Mind team members Jason Berkowitz and Susan Reed lead engagements at Eastway, November 11, 2025.
Learning is a lifelong pursuit, and nowhere is that more evident than through Stories in Mind, a humanities-based program that uses artifacts from our collection to combat isolation and foster a sense of purpose for residents in long-term care facilities. We are so excited to announce that the Humana Foundation has made a three-year investment in the program!
Our work would not be possible without our generous supporters like the Humana Foundation! Thank you!
Becky Morris
Director of Development
Bridging the Divide
Remembering Oliver Lewis: A Champion Finally Takes his Place
A statue of Oliver Lewis is unveiled outside Churchill Downs, June 24, 2026. Credit: Sydney Novack, Courier Journal.
For nearly 150 years, the story of the first winner of the Kentucky Derby remained largely untold. In 1875, Oliver Lewis, a young Black jockey from Kentucky, rode Aristides to victory in the inaugural Derby, forever securing his place in horse racing history. Yet, despite this remarkable achievement, Lewis, like many of the Black horsemen who built the sport of thoroughbred racing, was largely forgotten as the contributions of African Americans were erased from the public narrative. In fact, when Lewis was buried in the historic African Cemetery No. 2 in Lexington, he joined several other important jockeys there by being placed in an unmarked grave.
Oliver Lewis was not an exception—he was part of a remarkable generation of Black horsemen who dominated the earliest years of the Kentucky Derby. Of the first twenty-eight Kentucky Derbies (1875–1902), Black jockeys won fifteen. Legendary riders such as Isaac Murphy, Willie Simms, Lonnie Clayton, Jimmy Winkfield, and Oliver Lewis were among the finest athletes of their era. Isaac Murphy alone captured the Derby three times and is still regarded as one of the greatest jockeys in American racing history. Yet by the early twentieth century, the rise of segregation, racial intimidation, and exclusionary practices forced Black jockeys from the sport they had helped define. Their disappearance from the winner’s circle was not due to a lack of talent but to the systemic barriers that denied them opportunities for decades.
Today, that story is changing.
The recent decision by Churchill Downs to honor Oliver Lewis with a permanent statue represents far more than the recognition of a single athlete. It acknowledges an overlooked chapter in both Kentucky and American history, reminding us that the foundations of Kentucky’s signature sport were built by Black jockeys, trainers, grooms, and horsemen whose expertise shaped the racing industry during the nineteenth century.
The statue will stand not only as a tribute to Lewis’s extraordinary accomplishment but also as a symbol of historical correction. With the placement of Lewis’s statue, Churchill Downs and Kentucky embrace a more complete and truthful account of its past.
The cultural significance extends beyond horse racing. Lewis’s recognition invites conversations about whose stories have been preserved, whose have been forgotten, and why recovering these narratives matters. Understanding history in its fullness allows communities to celebrate achievement while acknowledging the complexities of the past. It encourages new generations to see themselves reflected in history and reminds us that excellence has always crossed racial boundaries, even when recognition did not.
Telling stories like this is the work of Stories in Mind. By bringing Kentucky history into senior living communities and other community spaces, museum facilitators share stories like Oliver Lewis’s with audiences who may never have encountered them before. Participants explore Kentucky’s rich and diverse heritage through conversation, historical objects, photographs, and personal reflection, discovering that history belongs to everyone—and, more importantly, that everyone has a history.
Stories in Mind tells stories like Oliver Lewis because they demonstrate that history is not simply a collection of dates and events—it is an ongoing conversation about identity, memory, and belonging. When participants learn about pioneers such as Lewis, they can often connect his story to their own experiences of perseverance, resilience, and the importance of being seen and remembered.
As Churchill Downs honors Oliver Lewis with a lasting monument, there is an opportunity to not remember Lewis simply as the winner of the first Kentucky Derby, but as one of the remarkable Black Kentuckians whose skill, courage, and determination helped shape the Commonwealth’s most celebrated traditions.
History grows richer each time another forgotten voice is restored. Oliver Lewis’s story reminds us that honoring the past is not about changing history. It is about telling it more completely.
Susan Reed
Engagement Specialist
History All Around Us
LouCity and Racing Louisville Show World Cup Talent is Right Here in Butchertown
Fans pack Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville’s Butchertown neighborhood to see Louisville City FC host Charleston Battery, August 9, 2025. Credit: Ben Johnson.
Today is the day the United States Men’s National Team is back in action at the World Cup after defeating Bosnia-Herzegovina. That win last week was the first time since 2002 they’ve won a game in the knockout round at a World Cup. Next up tonight is Belgium, but as we know, it will be without the team’s top goal scorer. World Cup fever is alive and well with games being played in several US cities. But hey, did you know many of the players you’re seeing in the World Cup have played right here in Louisville at Lynn Family Stadium? We’ve teamed up with Louisville City and Racing Louisville FC for the scoop. Here’s hoping we’re all singing “Take me Home, Country Roads” tonight after the game.—Rachel Platt, VP of Mission
As this summer’s FIFA World Cup captivates American audiences, local professional soccer clubs Louisville City and Racing Louisville FC have proven you don’t have to travel to see the highest-caliber talent.
That’s because many of these same players appearing on the sport’s grandest stage have already played at Lynn Family Stadium.
Last July, for example, Eintracht Frankfurt of Germany’s Bundesliga and Aston Villa of the English Premier League met for an exhibition in Butchertown. That game alone featured eleven players who went on to this summer’s World Cup, with several others in tow.
In all, fifteen players from eleven nations participating in the World Cup have visited Lynn Family Stadium in recent summers for games featuring foreign clubs.
It’s not just prestigious exhibition games. LouCity’s regular schedule has featured many World Cup players.
Earlier this summer, goalkeeper Eloy Room of Curaçao earned international acclaim by making fifteen saves against Ecuador, tying a World Cup record. He plays his club soccer for Miami FC of the USL Championship—LouCity’s league. Earlier this season, Room was in goal for Miami at Lynn Family Stadium as Louisville took a 4-1 victory.
Part of America’s captivation this summer has come from the United States team. The Americans have shown flair and creativity with their play, and they’ve won. This summer, the US team took consecutive victories in the World Cup group stage for the first time since the inaugural 1930 tournament.
That American team features five players that have faced LouCity previously in their careers: Brendan Aaronson, Tyler Adams, Mark McKenzie, Miles Robinson and Auston Trusty, who notably scored against Türkiye.
The next great American World Cup player could be playing for LouCity right now: seventeen-year-old defender Brandon Dayes, a Louisville native, is in his first professional season. In March, he was called up to the US youth national team, and Dayes is among the players hoping to represent the United States at next summer’s FIFA U-20 World Cup.
A year from now, the world will turn its attention to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil—and Racing Louisville has offered plenty of connections to the action there, too.
Racing forward Emma Sears has become a regular with the United States Women’s National Team, making twenty-one appearances for the red, white, and blue since late 2024. She could very likely represent the US on the world stage next summer.
In 2023, at the last FIFA Women’s World Cup, Racing Louisville sent six players, representing six different nations, to the tournament.
Racing has also hosted several international clubs over the years, including the likes of Juventus of Italy, Tottenham Hotspur of England, Paris Saint-Germain of France, and Bayern Munich of Germany.
It may be the world’s game, but high-level soccer has a home here in Louisville.
Jeff Milby
Club Journalist, Louisville City and Racing Louisville FC
Guest Contributor
