Good Monday morning, Frazier friends!

This Sunday, August 16, we will celebrate the opening of another exhibit to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. Titled Revolutionary Threads, this exhibit is the final installment in our series of shows for America’s semiquincentennial. Revolutionary Threads is a special traveling temporary exhibit that was developed by the Transylvania Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Lexington, Kentucky. The exhibit focuses on the wartime experience of Revolutionary War soldiers, both men and women, and what they wore. It features replica uniforms of the Patriot ancestors of contemporary Kentuckians, as well as replica flags from the Revolutionary period.

In celebration of the opening of Revolutionary Threads, this Sunday at 1 p.m., you can enjoy a special presentation by the exhibit’s curators, who also created many of the replica pieces on display: Sandy Marting, Janet Freeman, and Leslie James. You will also hear from two modern day Kentuckians who have served in the military, Rob Givens and Amy McGrath, both of whom are featured in I Too Am a Kentuckian. The program is free with museum admission, so we hope to see you there!

If you can’t make it on Sunday, never fear! We will also host an America250-themed Family Day on Saturday, September 12, featuring all three of our “revolutionary” temporary exhibits: I Too Am a Kentuckian, Pursuit of Happiness, and Revolutionary Threads. Save the date!

In today’s issue of Frazier Weekly, Rachel Platt previews this Sunday’s program and teases an upcoming program and Teacher PD in September for Underground Railroad Month.

And don’t forget Bernie Lubbers’s Bourbon, Bluegrass & History program, which is coming up Thursday evening.

Make it a great week!

This Week in the Museum

Last Call for Sunday’s Program Frazier250: Exploring Revolutionary Threads and I Too Am a Kentuckian

As our exhibit Revolutionary Threads opens, we want you to meet the people who helped create it in a special program on Sunday, August 16, at 1 p.m. in our Brown-Forman Theatre.

Some of our presenters will discuss creating the historically correct garments that were worn by men, women, and children during the American Revolution.‍

They’re members of Lexington’s Transylvania Chapter NSDAR whose ancestors were among those who fought in that war.‍

You’ll also hear from two modern day soldiers, Brigadier General Rob Givens and Colonel Amy McGrath.‍

We’ve asked them to talk about their military history and how Kentucky helped shape them.‍

Givens retired after twenty-seven years with the United States Air Force and is among the most highly decorated veterans in Kentucky. He flew over 100 combat missions and also served a stint with the Thunderbirds.‍

Amy McGrath is a former Marine fighter pilot, and was the first woman to fly a combat mission for the Marine Corps.‍

Both Givens and McGrath are included in our I Too Am a Kentuckian exhibition that will be featured in our program as well.‍

The program is free with the cost of admission to the museum, but RSVPs are required. Click here to secure your seat.

Cool Kentucky Shop: Bourbon Whiskey by Bernie Lubbers!

If this were school, the Whiskey Professor Bernie Lubbers would be my favorite teacher—hands down.

If you haven’t experienced Bourbon Through Bluegrass, you’re missing one of Kentucky’s best performances. Bernie brings Bourbon history to life through music, storytelling, and, of course, a little Bourbon.

Want to keep learning after the show? We highly recommend Bernie’s book Bourbon Whiskey: Our Native Spirit. From Bourbon history and cocktail recipes to hosting tips and tasting know-how, it’s got something for everyone.

Pick up your copy in the Cool Kentucky Shop!

And don’t miss Bernie’s program this Thursday, Celebrating America’s 250 with Bourbon, Bluegrass & History. There are not one, not two, but SEVEN exclusive Frazier Barrel Pick Bourbons you can taste that evening. Spots are limited—so secure your tickets now!

You can catch a preview of Bernie’s performance this Wednesday, August 12, in the nine o’clock hour (about 9:45 a.m.) on WDRB Mornings.‍

Highlights of 120: Robertson County: Battle of Blue Licks

In 2026, as we celebrate America250, we’re adding dozens of America250-themed entries to our 120: Cool KY Counties exhibit. These stories generally pertain to figures from the American Revolution and the early days of Kentucky. Today, we take a look at a grim incident from Robertson County: the Battle of Blue Licks, one of the deadliest days in Kentucky history. It took place at the tail end of the Revolutionary War.—Simon Meiners, Communications & Research Specialist

Illustration of Daniel Boone rallying his men at the Battle of the Blue Licks. Credit: Francis Samuel Drake.

Occurring on August 19, 1782, the Battle of Blue Licks is notable for being one of the last battles of the American Revolution. Fought on a hill next to the Licking River in what is now Robertson County, the battle resulted in the worst defeat for Kentuckians during the war. According to legend, American Major Hugh McGary rode his horse out into the river, waving his hat and shouting: “Them that ain’t cowards, follow me!” However, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Boone believed McGary foolish, exclaiming “we are all slaughtered men” before joining the fray. Boone’s instincts were correct. In less than fifteen minutes, nearly 200 Kentucky militiamen were overrun by fifty British troops aided by 300 Native soldiers. Daniel Boone’s son, Israel, was one of the sixty militiamen killed. Interestingly, Lord Cornwallis and the British Army had surrendered at Yorktown the previous year. Still, the Battle of Blue Licks would prove that the war was not yet over.

Frazier to Host Teacher Professional Development and Program on the Blackburns Next Month

Mark your calendars for mid-September!

Archaeologist and author Karolyn Smardz Frost will join us to discuss the lives of Thornton and Lucie Blackburn, an enslaved couple who eventually made their way to freedom in Canada after a daring escape from Louisville in the 1830s.

Smardz Frost led the excavation of the Blackburns’ homestead in Toronto. She uncovered artifacts and their story, which led her to Louisville. She recounts the Blackburn’ remarkable journey in her book I’ve Got a Home in Glory Land, which we sell in our Cool Kentucky Shop.

As part of Underground Railroad Month in September, we will conduct a Teacher Professional Development on September 14 and then a public program on September 15 with Smardz Frost that will also include other special guests like artist Hannah Drake who has written an original poem about Lucie.

In the meantime, please visit our exhibit at the Frazier, Louisville to Liberty: The Blackburns’ Journey. For the first time in the United States, we have some of those artifacts recovered in Toronto by Smardz Frost.‍

Save the date September 14 for the Teacher Professional Development (and if you’d like more information, email education@fraziermuseum.org).‍

Register for the September 15 program today!‍ ‍

Rachel Platt
VP of Mission

It’s Frazier Classic Season! Raffle Tickets and Silent Auction Preview

Summer’s not over yet, but we’re looking ahead to our Fall Sporting Clay Tournament, the Owsley Brown Frazier Classic! This year’s event will take place on Friday, September 25, at the Sporting Club at the Farm.

Now in its eleventh year, the Frazier Classic is an annual fundraiser that raises essential support for the museum’s mission while honoring the legacy of our founder. For those of you who have joined us on the course before or have already signed up this year, thank you!

While teams are nearly sold out, you can join the fun for the next six weeks by purchasing a Webley & Scott shotgun raffle ticket or bidding on cool items when our silent auction opens later this month. Both the raffle and auction support the Classic’s fundraising efforts and will close in conjunction with the event on September 25.

Webley & Scott is a British gun manufacturer that has been making finely crafted firearms since 1790. Our raffle features a two-barrel combo shotgun with a carrying case and shooting accessories.

Our silent auction features experiences at the Ingram Distillery, Brasserie Provence, and Progress Park alongside handcrafted knives, hunting calls, and a one-of-a-kind barrel stave gun rack.

Access our event site below to preview and purchase!

Raffle Tickets & Silent Auction Preview

On the Trail with Abby: Town Branch Distillery in Fayette County

Bourbon tourism is booming—and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® is growing faster than ever! Each week, the Frazier’s Abby Stanton 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.

While you’re enjoying distilleries in and around Lexington, Fayette County, be sure to stop at Town Branch Distillery. As part of Lexington Brewing & Distilling Company, Town Branch is proud to be the first new distillery built in Lexington following the Prohibition. Their lineup features a variety of Bourbons and whiskeys, including a delicious six-year wheated Bourbon released earlier this year. On a tour, you can see their custom copper pot stills imported from Scotland.

Fun fact: Town Branch is the only joint brewing AND distilling operation on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, so there’s fun for everyone.

Cheers!

Gallery Guides are Here to Help at the Frazier

We are always looking for ways to improve your experience at the Frazier Kentucky History Museum. From the friendly folks who greet you at admissions to the tours we give most every day, we want to make sure you feel that human connection.

We are adding Gallery Guides to our lineup and want you to meet them here first.

Lincoln Chesman is a member of our Guest Services team who works part-time at the museum. He’s a senior at J. Graham Brown School and just seventeen years old, but he’s an old soul when it comes to history. He says he’s fascinated by stories of the past and hopes to spark that same passion in others.

And say hello to Konnor Groemling, who grew up visiting and volunteering at the Frazier and has come back once again to volunteer. He’s now studying history at the University of Louisville. We are thrilled he is back and loves history as much as we do.

Gallery Guides can help answer your questions, show you where to find things in the museum (including restrooms!), and give you some interesting extras about some of our artifacts.

And by the way, we have restarted our volunteer program and would love to hear from you if history is your thing too!

Here is the link to get started.

See you at the Frazier.

Rachel Platt
VP of Mission

History All Around Us

A New Book Celebrates Founder of Moonlight Schools in Kentucky

The Kentucky author who brought the history of the packhorse librarians to light is at it again. This light, though, is moonlight, and the focus is on Cora Wilson Stewart, who was the founder of what became known as moonlight schools in Kentucky.‍

Author Kim Michele Richardson has written a children’s book capturing her powerful and often overlooked story.‍

Stewart was from Farmers, Kentucky, and is essentially the founder of the first official adult literacy movement in the United States. She was a teacher and in Eastern Kentucky was well aware that many adults couldn’t read or write. She also knew they couldn’t attend school by day because they were working away in the coal mines or on their farms.‍

That’s when Cora decided to offer evening classes and held them when the moon was bright enough to light the dark pathway to the school. The first one opened in 1911 with 1,200 adults showing up!‍

Stewart is represented in our I Too Am a Kentuckian exhibition, and deservedly so.‍

Our friend Kim Michele is a champion of Kentucky history and recently added a marker to Stewart’s grave in North Carolina that acknowledged her accomplishments.‍

The name of Richardson’s new book is My Kentucky Moonlight School, and it comes out this week. Click here for a list of sites where you can preorder the book. You can also access this link to learn more about Cora Wilson Stewart. And one more thing, click here to listen to the song “All These Moonlighters,” which Ruby Friedman recorded to celebrate Kim Michele’s new book.‍

Thanks, Kim Michele, for always lifting up history we need to know about.‍

Rachel Platt
VP of Mission

Revolutionary Threads Exhibit Opening, Military Veterans Rob Givens and Amy McGrath, Last Call for Bernie Lubbers Program, and More

Back to School, Tom Owen on Louisville Motor Speedway, American Soldiers from Revolution to Present, and More