Last Native American Village in Kentucky, Tom Owen on Lafayette, Joe Mallard’s Miles Davis Quilt, and More
What was the last Native American village in Kentucky?
As we commemorate America250 at the Frazier, I’m eager to shine a light on the Native American presence in Kentucky at the time Euroamerican settlers started to arrive.
So on October 18, as my first program at the Frazier, I will interview Dr. A. Gwynn Henderson about what may have been the last Native American village in Kentucky. (As Dr. Henderson reminds me: we don’t know this was the last village, as there could be others not yet found or that went unmentioned in documents.)
Where was it? Who lived there? When was it occupied?
Today, Harrodsburg (founded by settler James Harrod in 1774) is the oldest permanent settlement in Kentucky. But human beings first came to Kentucky 12,000 years ago, so there were many settlements before Harrodsburg! (And, by Kentucky, I refer loosely to this land bounded by the Appalachians, the Big Sandy, the Ohio, and the Cumberland, plus the Jackson Purchase.)
Dr. Henderson is the Education Director at the Kentucky Archaeological Survey. She has carried out field research in Kentucky. She’s particularly interested in researching the lifeways of the ancient Native farming cultures of the middle Ohio Valley and the history of mid-eighteenth century Indigenous groups in the same region. I’ve asked her to discuss what the material evidence suggests about one particular site at our October 18 program.
Spots are limited—so RSVP now!
Looking at the calendar, this fall is jam-packed with fun and educational programs at the Frazier.
First, when JCPS Fall Break begins next Monday, we launch our fall break camp—at only $65 a day! Register your kiddos here. On October 21, we invite audience input at our Top 10 Kentuckians program. And on October 29, we celebrate Halloween, 1920s style, with the 2026 Michter’s Spookeasy at the Frazier. (I’ll save a dance for anyone who says: “I read Frazier Weekly”!)
In today’s issue, Mick interviews historian Tom Owen about Frenchman Lafayette’s legacy in Kentucky. (C’est incroyable!) Amanda shows a Mile Davis–inspired quilt made by Louisville’s “Sunshine” Joe Mallard. Stephen sips Old Louisville Whiskey with Amine Karaoud. Rachel attends the unveiling of LA Dodger Will Smith’s banner at the Ice House. Hayley reminds us our sporting clays tourney is this Friday. Marcy likens her to-read list to a multi-course meal. Jason and Megan take 120 on the Road to Morgan County for the Sorghum Festival.
Plus, PK Blankenship highlights the good work Enchanted Forest Wildlife Rescue of Kentucky is doing, nursing critters back to health. And Shamrock Stephen traces the Trinity High School roots of UK and U of L football coaches.
Thank you for reading!
Simon Meiners
Communications & Research Specialist
Frazier Kentucky History Museum
This Week in the Museum
Remnants with Tom Owen: Lafayette in Kentucky
This episode of Remnants with Tom Owen looks at some Kentucky connections to Marquis de Lafayette—from Fayette County, to a Louisville visit, to the naming of LaGrange. Lafayette is featured in Pursuit of Happiness, one of our America250 exhibits at the Frazier!
Thanks to Tom Owen, the University of Louisville Archives, and our friends at the Filson Historical Society.
Mick Sullivan
Curator of Guest Experience
Curator’s Corner: Frazier Displaying Joe Mallard’s Miles Davis–Inspired Quilt Kind of Blue
Kind of Blue by Joe Mallard.
Between last weekend’s Louder Than Life and this coming weekend’s Bourbon & Beyond, more than 450,000 people are expected to travel to Louisville to enjoy music festivals this September in Louisville. For some, the love of music inspires a weekend getaway full of their favorite musicians; and for others, it inspires them to make art.
One person in the latter group is local quilter “Sunshine” Joe Mallard. Over the past few years, we have been fortunate to work with Sunshine Joe to tell his story and display his quilts in our Cool Kentucky exhibition, switching out for a new quilt about once a year. This year is no exception, and Sunshine Joe has chosen to let us borrow his quilt titled Kind of Blue. Now on display in the “Artistic Kentucky” section, Kind of Blue was inspired by Sunshine Joe’s love of Miles Davis. Comparing the art of jazz to the art of quilting, Sunshine Joe stresses the importance of improvisation and having the freedom to create in the moment.
Whether you are in town especially for one of these music festivals, or you’re a local feeling the groove, be sure to check out this new musically inspired quilt the next time that you visit!
Amanda Briede
Sr. Curator of Exhibitions
Cool Kentucky Shop: Vintage Bourbon Decanters
Vintage Bourbon decanters sold in the Frazier’s Cool Kentucky Shop.
Vintage ceramic Bourbon decanters are a quirky piece of mid-century Bourbon history. When Bourbon faced a glut in the 1960s and ’70s, distillers dreamed up eye-catching decanters to help move their whiskey—and collectors went wild. From cars and animals to famous faces, the designs were endlessly creative. Today, they’re just as fun to collect. If you’re in town for Louder than Life or Bourbon & Beyond, then come visit the Cool Kentucky Shop and get a piece of Kentucky Bourbon history for yourself!
Sippin’ with Stephen: Old Louisville Whiskey with Amine Karaoud
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 featured distillery is Old Louisville Whiskey Co. My guest is Amine Karaoud, owner of Old Louisville Whiskey Co.
The Old Louisville Whiskey Co. is much more than just a Bourbon brand—it’s a labor of love for Amine and Beth Karaoud. These self-proclaimed “whiskey aficionados” have put their heart and soul into creating a product that honors both the rich history of the Old Louisville neighborhood as well as the long-standing tradition of Kentucky Bourbon making.
They wanted to honor the Old Louisville neighborhood—known for its gorgeous Victorian mansions—with a whiskey brand that would celebrate tradition and history. And that’s exactly what they did.
We tasted and reviewed their 12-Year Single Barrel High Rye Bourbon. (Spoiler alert: it was fantastic!) To find out more about Old Louisville Whiskey Co., visit their website. Cheers!
Stephen Yates
Community & Corporate Sales Manager
LA Dodger Will Smith Gets Louisville Hometown Heroes Banner
Will Smith’s Hometown Heroes banner is unveiled at the Ice House in downtown Louisville, September 15, 2026. Credit: Terry Meiners.
Hillerich & Bradsby’s Rick Redman presents Will Smith a custom bat, September 15, 2026. Credit: Terry Meiners.
Will Smith is a hometown hero for all the right reasons.
The Louisvillian and catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers is now featured on a hometown heroes banner on the Grocers Ice Lofts building at 609 East Main Street that was unveiled last week.
Those right reasons?
Work ethic, humility, character, philanthropy . . . and the list goes on.
Am I biased?
Probably, but I had a front row seat to Will during the time my kids played ball with him at St. Matthews Little League. Yes, he went on to Kentucky Country Day, then the University of Louisville, and finally LA, but I have kept up from the sidelines.
As so many of the speakers, including the Mayor and Governor, said last week, he has always put in the work and realizes he didn’t get to where he is by himself. He has always had a team behind him. And that includes family, coaches, teammates, and friends, and so many of them showed up for the banner unveiling.
And we all said, “it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.”
Or a more talented one.
Let’s not forget he has won three World Series titles, he’s a three-time MLB All-Star, and he is now nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award.
And when I reached out recently asking him if he could loan us something we could put in our Cool Kentucky exhibition at the Frazier, catching gear and a signed baseball was immediately sent and will be on display soon.
Thanks, Will!
You are what makes Kentucky cool. And you are a hometown hero for all the right reasons.
Rachel Platt
VP of Mission
Eleventh Annual Frazier Classic Sporting Clays Tournament is this Friday!
A set of chef’s knives available in the Frazier Classic silent auction.
Webley & Scott 920BC two-barrel combo shotgun.
The eleventh annual Owsley Brown Frazier Classic is just days away, but there’s still time to support the Frazier Kentucky History Museum from wherever you are!
Bidding and raffle ticket sales are open through Friday afternoon. You do not need to attend the Frazier Classic to participate, and winning bidders and the Webley & Scott raffle winner do not need to be present to win.
Our silent auction features something for everyone! Sports, outdoors, Bourbon, travel, and food enthusiasts, with an exciting mix of local experiences and one-of-a-kind items.
Highlights include a private tour for ten at Ingram Distillery and a handcrafted five-piece chef’s knife set custom made for the Frazier Classic, plus much more to discover!
Our Webley & Scott raffle offers the chance to win a two-barrel combo shotgun complete with a carrying case and shooting accessories. Webley & Scott has been crafting finely made sporting firearms in Britain since 1790, making this a truly special piece for any sporting enthusiast or collector.
The raffle drawing will take place Friday, September 25, and the winner does not need to be present to win.
Every bid and raffle ticket helps support the Frazier Kentucky History Museum and our mission to educate, engage, and inspire by connecting Kentucky’s past with its present to shape the future.
Don’t miss your final opportunity to participate. Bidding and raffle sales close Friday afternoon!
Hayley Harlow
Sr. Manager of Fundraising
Re-collections: Devouring Kentucky Books as Entrees, Veggies, and Desserts
Skid, wary of sleeping next to the current sacks of books.
Part of our Literary Kentucky section showcasing Pack Horse Librarian–inspired art, September 15, 2026.
My mom taught me to read when I was four. By six, I owned enough Golden books, Highlights magazines, and Encyclopedia Brown books to have my own shelf in the bookcase. I told my mom, “When I read a book, it’s like a movie playing in my head.” That’s still true to this day.
I am a big fan of fiction, descriptive prose, and poetry. Then I started my job here at Frazier and discovered our reading nook, our little library—the Literary Kentucky section in our Cool Kentucky exhibition.
I knew Frank X Walker’s books. Bobbie Ann Mason’s, bell hooks’s, Crystal Wilkinson’s, and Wendell Berry’s. I’d heard of Kim Michele Richardson, but hadn’t yet gotten around to her. But walking by the Frazier’s bookshelves my first week of work made me feel like a bad Kentuckian! Where had I been? I’ve always been slow to stumble onto writers, but this lack of knowledge felt shameful. And spending twenty minutes of my lunch break shuffling through pages of these accessible books, quickly scanning tidbits, wasn’t going to catch me up on all I’d missed. I needed to know more Kentucky authors, stories, and history—stat!
New books arrive at my home every week now. This journey of discovery is delightful and fun and caused me to cancel Netflix. I follow the entree, veggie, dessert method of reading. First, an entree book: my preferred genre of picturesque prose and lush stories. Then a veggie book: one that’s good for me, introduces me to a different perspective, and helps me think outside my little box. Dessert books are just as they sound: a fun, sweet, or an entertaining read I can’t put down, like S.D. House’s Dead Man Blues or Jenny Kiefer’s This Wretched Valley.
Kentucky authors offer something for every course.
To be honest, I have a little dessert every night: one poem before lights out. I like to drift to sleep pondering its meaning instead of worrying about the next day’s to-do list.
My nightstand overflows with precarious stacks of books that would crush my dog if they toppled over in the night. I also have a superstition that I cannot leave this world with an unfinished stack of books, so the piles remain high and I keep reading the incredible talent that fills this state.
We recently refreshed our Literary Kentucky section to include more items on the ever-popular Pack Horse Librarian program, which I understand quite a bit more after finishing Mrs. Richardson’s book. It prompted me to proceed down a rabbit hole of research into more Kentucky history, leading me to more Kentucky authors. Oh, the joy!
Marcy Werner
Collections Manager & Registrar
Frazier’s 120 on the Road Heads to Morgan County’s Sorghum Festival this Weekend!
Come find us as we hit the road visiting all 120 counties in our Commonwealth! Our next stop this week will be sweet:
· Morgan County Sorghum Festival. West Liberty, Morgan County, Kentucky. Friday, September 25. 9 a.m.–8 p.m. (Eastern). Saturday, September 26. 9 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
Look for our 120: Cool KY Counties on the Road exhibit as we share stories and songs from each county and listen to your stories, too! Come say hi to 120 on the Road managers Jason and Megan.
Bridging the Divide
PK Blankenship on Enchanted Forest Wildlife Rescue of Kentucky
Racoons rehabilitating at Enchanted Forest Wildlife Rescue of Kentucky.
Things got a little “wild” at our Summer Camps as we took on the theme of Wild Lives. We learned so much about the caring hearts of animal lovers everywhere, including the folks at Enchanted Forest Wildlife Rescue. And remember: our Fall Break camp starts next Monday, September 28. Spots are limited, so register today!—Rachel Platt, VP of Mission
Enchanted Forest Wildlife Rescue of Kentucky is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to animal rescue and education in the state of Kentucky, as well as our location in Indiana. We specialize in native wildlife and exotic animal species. Our dedicated team consists of co-founders PK Blankenship, Mark Blankenship, Samantha Opp, and Lauren Wilson, as well as team members Dr. Sonia Lacki, Kim Burris, and Elizabeth Baez.
We strive to teach the community with educational programs—traveling to churches, schools, summer camps, and events—to help the public better understand the important role each species has in their ecosystem.
Each year our organization receives hundreds of calls to wildlife in need. Some animals arrive in critical condition, such as being hit by a car, run over by a tractor, hit by a weed eater, or sadly humans being unkind. Others could be because mom and/or dad have been killed, leaving them orphaned, and needing human intervention. However they arrive, our team puts their heart, soul, tears, sleepless nights, personal life on hold, and cares for them 24/7 until they are able to be placed back in the wild, where they belong, to BE FREE!
Being a nonprofit, we rely on the public for donations to continue our passion. Please like, follow, share our FB page, and donate to help us keep our doors open!
PK Blankenship
Co-Founder, Enchanted Forest Wildlife Rescue of Kentucky
Guest Contributor
UK, U of L Football Coaches Share Shamrock Roots
Will Stein and Jeff Brohm. Courtesy of Vince Wolfram, X.
On Friday night, Trinity High School takes on its rival St. X in football. I have no dog in the fight—I’m a proud Manual alum! But my colleague Stephen Yates is a green-blooded Shamrock. Every year, the Louisville chapter of the Ancient Order of the Hibernians—of which Stephen is a member—awards the winner of the Trinity-St. X game an Irish war club called a Shillelagh. Who will take home the Shillelagh this year: the Rocks or the Tigers? We asked Stephen to weigh in on two famous Trinity football alumni who are now opposing coaches in the college football world.—Simon Meiners, Communications & Research Specialist
As a proud alumnus of Trinity High School in Louisville, I have the unique perspective of saying that the football coaches at the Commonwealth’s largest two football programs are both graduates of Trinity and products of that historic program.
Kentucky head coach Will Stein and Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm are both alumni and former star quarterbacks of Trinity.
Both men starred as quarterbacks for the Trinity Shamrocks before eventually taking over the two biggest college football programs in the state.
Jeff Brohm, class of 1988, led the Shamrocks to a perfect 14-0 record and the Class 4A state championship during his senior season as the starting quarterback.
Brohm was named Kentucky’s Mr. Football in 1988 and chosen as the Kentucky High School Player of the Decade for the 1980s. His No. 11 jersey was the first number retired in Trinity football history.
Will Stein, class of 2007, was part of three state championships during his career at Trinity, including the 2007 state title as the starting quarterback. That season he threw 54 touchdowns.
Jeff's father, Oscar Brohm, served as Will Stein's quarterbacks coach at Trinity High School.
Jeff Brohm was Will Stein's first quarterbacks coach when Stein played at the University of Louisville.
Coach Brohm has the Louisville football team as a regular contender for the ACC championship. It is Coach Stein’s goal to do the same thing with Kentucky football in the SEC. Only time will tell if that goal becomes reality or not, but one thing is for sure: Both Kentucky and Louisville have offensive head coaches that will bring a very interesting dynamic to the Governor’s Cup rivalry that was born, developed, and cultivated at Trinity High School.
It is going to be a lot of fun to watch these two compete against each other in the years to come. In my opinion, the real winners in this situation are the football fans of both schools. Sit back and enjoy the fireworks, football fans—it is going to be a fun ride!
Stephen Yates
Community & Corporate Sales Manager
