Blackburns Program and Exhibit, America250 Family Day September 12, I Too Am a Kentuckian Shields, and More
What a special program we are rolling out on September 15 as part of Underground Railroad Month. It’s in conjunction with our exhibit Louisville to Liberty: The Blackburns’ Journey, an exhibit that took three years to bring here.
It’s the story of Thornton and Lucie Blackburn, an enslaved couple who found freedom in Canada. It’s a true story I first learned about when I started working at the Frazier. Our education staff was passionate about it and gave me the book I’ve Got a Home in Glory Land, written by Canadian author Karolyn Smardz Frost.
She’s an archaeologist who in 1985 conducted a dig at the site of the Blackburns’ home in Toronto, the first Black history site dug in Canada. The project received international attention.
The enslaved couple found freedom in Toronto in the early 1830s after a daring escape from Louisville and a jail break in Detroit. They helped make Canada a safe haven for fugitive slaves and returned to Kentucky to rescue family.
Smardz Frost spent years piecing their story together. Now we want to share it with you.
She’ll join us on September 15, and so will our partners Hannah Drake and Josh Miller from the (Un)Known Project and Lamont Collins from Roots 101. We all flew to Toronto in 2023 to learn more about Thornton and Lucie, and just recently were able to get many of their artifacts to the United States for the very first time.
The Blackburns are an important part of our history; their names are unknown no more. Learning about them has had a profound impact on each of us who will be part of our program. Artist Hannah Drake will perform original poetry inspired by Lucie. Click here to purchase your ticket, which is the cost of admission to the Frazier.
Each Wednesday at 1 p.m., we have a special tour of Louisville to Liberty, so please visit the Frazier for that as well. Below you can watch a story I put together on our trip to Toronto that is part of the exhibit. While in town, Smardz Frost will also conduct a teacher professional development on September 14.
Lifelong learning is our mission at the Frazier, so please join us.
Keep reading this issue of Frazier Weekly to learn more about our exhibit featuring Thornton and Lucie, a way to show your pride in Kentucky, and some new faces here at the Frazier!
Rachel Platt
VP of Mission
Frazier Kentucky History Museum
This Week in the Museum
Curator’s Corner: Blackburns Exhibit Louisville to Liberty
Select objects in the Frazier’s Louisville to Liberty exhibit, August 12, 2026.
Nestled away in the second-floor hallway near the elevator is one of our smallest but most impactful exhibits. Louisville to Liberty: The Blackburns’ Journey chronicles the story of Thornton and Lucie Blackburn and their escape to freedom via the Underground Railroad and the life they made for themselves in Toronto, Canada. It is an incredible story with lots of twists and turns, as told by archaeologist Karolyn Smardz Frost in her book I’ve Got a Home in Glory Land: A Lost Tale of the Underground Railroad. We worked with Karolyn on this exhibit to create a timeline that breaks down their story into an easy-to-understand format.
One of the most interesting parts of their story is the fact that it was almost completely lost to time. That is, until Karolyn started excavating the back area of a school playground that turned out to be the former site of the Blackburns’ home. Thanks to the excavation and decades of research, Karolyn was able to uncover the details of their story, the first complete story of an enslaved person that has been put together since the Civil War.
We are proud to say that we were able to borrow some original artifacts from this excavation from the Toronto School Board and that these artifacts are on display for the first time in the United States. Also on display are several original maps from the excavation. Many of these maps detail the discovery of the home’s chimney and fireplace, which were knocked down to help fill the cellar when the Blackburns sold the home to the school board.
The Louisville to Liberty exhibit is part of our series of shows put together in celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary. It expands on the theme of liberty, which is discussed in another of our exhibitions, I Too Am a Kentuckian. In that exhibition, you can learn more about other ways enslaved people in Kentucky became free, whether that was after the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment or by enlisting to serve in the Union Army.
When I walk around the museum, I often see people slowing down to spend time reading through the Blackburns’ story. I hope that, if you haven’t yet, you too will take some time to learn more about Thornton and Lucie’s incredible journey, either through visiting the exhibition or attending the special program on September 15.
Amanda Briede
Sr. Curator of Exhibitions
Frazier to Host America250-Themed Family Day on September 12!
Although July 4 has come and gone this summer, we at the Frazier are still celebrating America’s 250th anniversary of independence. With a roster of not one, not two, not even three, but FOUR exhibits celebrating the birthday of the US, we’ve created an event around them for the whole family to experience and enjoy!
Experience the Frazier’s four temporary exhibits inspired by American Independence and the contribution of Kentuckians to it: Pursuit of Happiness, Louisville to Liberty, I Too Am a Kentuckian, and Revolutionary Threads. With admission to the event, you and your family can engage in a series of hands-on crafts and activities provided by the Frazier’s Education team, participate in museum-wide scavenger hunts, guided tours, meet with our collections manager, get up close with the collection, witness a live theater performance titled Early America Through Music, and gain access to the rest of the Frazier’s three floors of exhibitions!
The Frazier’s America250 Family Day will take place Saturday, September 12, with admission from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.—and we are so excited to partner with five different local community organizations to bring you fun and engaging activities for the whole family! Learn about the history of the American Revolution and its connection to the Bluegrass State from Sons of the American Revolution, Kentucky Historical Society, and Historic Locust Grove! Watch a storytelling performance from StageOne Family Theatre. Afterwards stop by the Louisville Free Public Library’s table and grab a free America250-themed book.
Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to learn and make memories with the whole family. Mark your calendars and join us in September!
Tori Kennedy
Manager of Youth & Family Programs
Frazier Selling I Too Am a Kentuckian Shields in Cool Kentucky Shop
Dr. Benjamin M. Gies holds the first produced I Too Am a Kentuckian shield, now sold in the Frazier’s Cool Kentucky Shop, August 2026.
State pride is not something we are in short supply of. Just landed in the Cool Kentucky Shop: our “I Too Am a Kentuckian” shield, inspired by the famous words of Hodgenville native Abraham Lincoln. Add it to your gallery wall, gift it to a fellow Kentuckian, or send a little pride to your out-of-state family. Because whether you were born here, raised here, or simply know in your heart that Kentucky is home—you, too, are a Kentuckian. We’ve asked Dr. Benjamin M. Gies, Chairman of the Louisville America250 Committee, what it means to have received the very first of these shields. You can purchase yours in our shop or online!—Mindy Johnson, VP of Operation
Serving as Chairman of Louisville’s America 250 Committee has been one of the most meaningful civic experiences of my life. As we worked toward July 4, 2026, I was reminded that commemorating America’s history is not simply about looking backward; it is about bringing people together around the ideals, stories, and responsibilities that continue to shape our communities. The events we held on July 4 were the culmination of months of planning, partnership, and community effort, and I am deeply proud of what Louisville was able to contribute to this historic moment. More than anything, the experience reinforced for me that civic life is strongest when people are willing to step forward, work together, and invest their time in something larger than themselves.
I am especially grateful for the partnership of the Frazier Kentucky History Museum and the opportunity to help bring the I Too Am a Kentuckian exhibition to life. The exhibition offered a powerful reminder that Kentucky’s story, like America’s story, is made up of countless individual experiences and contributions. It created an opportunity to celebrate the people and traditions that make Kentucky distinctive while also inviting us to think about the broader meaning of belonging, citizenship, and community. The Frazier’s willingness to partner in this effort demonstrated the important role that museums and cultural institutions can play in connecting history to the civic life of today.
I would be remiss if I did not make sure that the first produced I Too Am a Kentuckian patriotic shield is finding its way onto the wall of my office. I want it there not simply as a memento of July 4, 2026, but as a daily reminder of what this experience taught me about the value of civic work. It will remind me that communities are strengthened by people who choose to participate, to build partnerships, to preserve and tell our stories, and to create opportunities for others to feel connected to their community and country. I will treasure the shield because it represents a special day in Louisville and Kentucky history, but even more because it represents a principle I hope to carry forward: that a meaningful life in Kentucky, and a healthy civic life anywhere, is built through service, participation, and a willingness to contribute. Like the great Abraham Lincoln who first uttered those words, and countless Kentuckians afterwards, “I too am a Kentuckian.”
Dr. Benjamin M. Gies
Chairman, Louisville America 250 Committee
Guest Contributor
Sippin’ with Stephen: Russell’s Reserve Barrel Selection with Wild Turkey’s Bo Garrett
The Frazier Kentucky History Museum shares stories of the people, places, and producers of the Kentucky Bourbon industry. To learn more, visit our Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Welcome Center or tour our Spirit of Kentucky® exhibition.
This month’s episode of Sippin’ with Stephen showcases Wild Turkey and their Senior Brand Builder, Bo Garrett. In addition to leading tastings and tours, Bo is the developer of visitor engagement and brand promotion. Bo has a personal and longstanding relationship with the Russell family and is a longtime brand builder with Wild Turkey. In addition to articulating the many reasons to visit Wild Turkey in Lawrenceburg, Anderson County, Kentucky, Bo also reviews a Russell’s Reserve Barrel Selection. For more information regarding Wild Turkey, including products and how to book a tour, please visit their website.
Cheers!
Stephen Yates
Community & Corporate Sales Manager
Introducing Frazier Staff Members Angee, Megan, and Faith!
From left, Angee Brown Tompkins, Megan Sleeper, and Faith Shoulders pose with Colonel Sanders, August 3, 2026.
We have some friendly new faces here at the Frazier! In their different roles, Angee, Megan, and Faith will help the Frazier manage accounting, take our 120: Cool KY Counties exhibit on the road, and share history with seniors in long-term care facilities. We’ve asked all three to share a little about themselves, their backgrounds, and their passions. Look forward to hearing more from them in future issues of Frazier Weekly!—Simon Meiners, Communications & Research Specialist
About Angee Brown Tompkins
My name is Angee Brown Tompkins! I hail from Grand Rapids, Michigan, by way of Augusta, Georgia. I am a devoted wife, a devoted mother of five adult children (and a devoted grandmother of ten grandchildren), a small business owner, a music and dance enthusiast, and an avid football fan. I received my formal education from Michigan State, Davenport University, Grand Valley State University, and Northcentral University. I have a bachelor’s of business administration and a master’s of public administration (nonprofit management), and I am close to obtaining a doctorate in business administration. I relocated to Indiana in 2018. I’m the daughter of a Pentecostal pastor. My past roles include working as a senior staff accountant, a controller, a church administrator, an executive director, and a program director.
I can describe the Frazier Museum as a rich work culture, with fine history. But working with the great folks at Frazier is what drives me over the Ohio River every day. I love history and have been studying my family lineage for four years. I have found maternal family lineage to George Washington, Abe Lincoln, and Queen Elizabeth, to name a few, and paternal lineage to Daniel Boone.
I came aboard as an accounting manager, working with grants and the accounting team. I truly believe that I will learn from everyone here! I have plans to bring my past work experience, work ethic, dedication, and education to the Frazier—with hopes of being the best colleague that I possibly can be!—Angee Brown Tompkins, Accounting Manager
About Megan Sleeper
My name is Megan Sleeper, and I recently started at Frazier as the Manager of 120 on the Road alongside Jason Berkowitz!
I am not a native Kentuckian. I was born and raised in Arizona, where I got a degree in anthropology and biology from Arizona State University. I began working in museum education in 2019, and I moved to Kentucky in 2023 to work in the Offsite Programs department at Kentucky Science Center. When I heard about the 120 on the Road project, I jumped at the opportunity to combine my background in history museums with my experience coordinating outreach and educational programs throughout the state of Kentucky!
The Frazier’s new 120 on the Road initiative will send a mobile version of our 120: Cool KY Counties exhibit all across the state, bringing the experience to those that collaborated to create it, the people of Kentucky. While we’re on the road, we will help people explore the exhibit, but we will also learn about each community’s history and foster conversations about preserving history outside of a museum collection. We’ll work with partners at fairs, county days, library events, school functions, and other county events. So come by and celebrate the cool counties of Kentucky with us!—Megan Sleeper, Manager of 120 on the Road
About Faith Shoulders
My name is Faith Shoulders. I’m a native Kentuckian from down in the western coalfields of Muhlenberg and Daviess counties. I’m one of the new Stories in Mind/Snapshot facilitators! I get the opportunity to travel to assisted living communities around Louisville every week to share stories from history with older adults and record stories straight from the older generation as part of our Snapshot program. I have always been a “grandma’s girl,” and I could always be found sitting with the older adults and listening fervently to their stories as a kid. Now I get to share my love of Kentucky with the older adults of Louisville and provide continued education and enrichment for them!
I got my start in museum education when I was fresh out of college. After being in the elementary school classroom for four years, I am so excited to be back in a museum setting. I love sharing stories and learning from my new colleagues!—Faith Shoulders, Stories in Mind/Snapshot Facilitator
See the Frazier’s 120 Exhibit at this Year’s Kentucky State Fair!
Representing the Frazier, my colleague Jason and I will showcase the museum’s mobile 120: Cool KY Counties exhibit at this year’s Kentucky State Fair! We’ll be in South Wing B from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., August 20 through 30. No matter what brings you to the State Fair, we have a relevant story from Cool Kentucky to share! Love fair food? Swing by our interactive station to find out which Kentucky county is home to the Batter Capital of the World! Do you come to the fair to see cute animals rather than eat them? Then you might be interested in the story of Lexington, about the fastest racehorse in the world. If your favorite part of the fair is the festive vibes, you’ll want to learn about the 170-year-old tradition of the Alexandria Fair, one of the oldest county fairs in Kentucky! Come see us and experience the stories, songs, and sights that make Kentucky’s counties so cool!
Megan Sleeper
Manager of 120 on the Road
