July 4, 2025

Today the U.S. celebrates its 249th birthday. Kentucky isn't that much younger, having turned 233 just last month. Kentucky joined the Union on June 1, 1792. We explore some of the history that makes Kentucky unique.

Episode Transcript

(00:02):
[♪♪]
>> EACH TIME THEY BATTLED BACK
AND SAID NO WE WANT THE CAPITOL
TO STAY HERE AND WE ARE WILLING
TO DO OUR PART TO MAKE SURE IT
DOES STAY HERE.
>> WE WILL TAKE A TRIP IN THE
PAST TO EXPLORE THE FOUNDING OF

(00:23):
KENTUCKY'S STATE CAPITOL.
>> I THINK WE WILL SEE A
DIFFERENT NORTHERN KENTUCKY
RELATIONSHIP WITHOUT JAMES
TALYOR.
>> AND HEAR ABOUT THE MAN
CREDITED WITH FOUNDING NORTHERN
KENTUCKY.
>> PRODUCTION OF "KENTUCKY
EDITION" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN
PART BY THE KET MILLENNIUM FUND.

(00:46):
[♪♪]
>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO
SPECIAL "KENTUCKY EDITION."
I'M RENEE SHAW.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
TODAY IS OUR NATION'S 249TH

(01:08):
BIRTHDAY... BUT OUR STATE ISN'T
THAT FAR BEHIND IN AGE.
LAST MONTH... KENTUCKY
CELEBRATED 233 YEARS.
THE BLUEGRASS STATE JOINED THE
UNION ON JUNE FIRST, 1792.
BUT AS OUR TOBY GIBBS TELLS...
KENTUCKY'S HISTORY STARTED LONG
BEFORE THAT.
>> IT'S BELIEVED HUNDREDDER

(01:30):
GATHERERS FIRST ARRIVED IN
PRESENT DAY KENTUCKY IN 10,000
TO 9500BC.
FARMING BEGAN AROUND 1800 BC AS
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE BEGAN GROWING
WILD PLANTS AND LATER CORN,
BEANS AND SQUASH.
THE CHEROKEE, SHAWNEE AND

(01:50):
CHICKASAW.
20 TRIBES CLAIMED LAND IN
KENTUCKY WHEN IT BECAME A STATE
IN 1792.
THERE ARE THEORIES ABOUT THE
ORIGIN AND MEANING OF THE WORD
KENTUCKY.
ACCORDING TO ONE IT IS AN IRQUOI
WORD MEANING LAND FROM TOMORROW.
SOME BELIEVE IT MEANS RIVER
BOTTOM AND OTHER THEORIES

(02:11):
KENTUCKY MEANS HEAD OF A RIVER,
LAND OF CANE AND TURKEYS AND
MEADOW OR PRAIRIE.
THE BRITISH FIRST EXPLORED
KENTUCKY IN THE LATE 1600'S.
IN 1750 Dr. THOMAS WALKER AND
CHRISTOPHER GIFT BEGAN SURVEYING
EASTERN AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY.
WALKER IS SOMETIMES CREDITED AS

(02:32):
THE FIRST EUROPEAN TO PASS
THROUGH THE CUMBERLAND GAP.
DANIEL BOONE RETURNED IN 1769
AND 1773.
BOORN, JUDGE RICHARD HENDERSON
AND MEMBERS OF THE TRANS VAB
YEAH COMPANY ESTABLISHED
BOONESBOROUGH IN THE SPRING OF

(02:54):
1775.
AS MORE SETTLERS ARRIVED THEY
FOUNDED OTHER KENTUCKY
COMMUNITIES.
JAMES HAR RECORD AND A PARTY OF
31 MEN FOUNDED HARRODS TOWN.
THE TOWN WOULD BE RENAMED
HARRODSBURG.
PENNSYLVANIA FRONTIERS MAN NAMED
THEIR COMMUNITY LEXINGTON IN

(03:14):
HONOR OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
BATTLE IN LEXINGTON,
MASSACHUSETTS.
IT BECAME A PERMANENT SETTLEMENT
IN 1779.
IN 1778, SETTLERS ARRIVED ON
CORN ISLAND IN THE OHIO RIVER
CREATING A COMMUNITY THAT WOULD
BECOME LOUISVILLE.
NAMED FOR KING LOUIE THE 16TH AS
FRANCE HELPED WITH THE WAR

(03:36):
AGAINST GREAT BRITAIN.
VIRGINIA TROOPS FOUGHT SHAWNEE
TRIBES IN WHAT BECAME KNOWN AS
LORD DONE MORE'S WAR NAMED AFTER
VIRGINIA GOVERNOR IN 1774.
THE VICTORY OPENED THE DOOR TO
MORE SETTLERS.
KENTUCKY BECAME A COLONY OF

(03:56):
VIRGINIA SPELLED WITH THE E AT
THE END RATHER THAN Y.
BATTLES OCCURRED IN KENTUCKY,
THE BATTLE OF BLUE LICKS IN
ROBERTSON COUNTY WAS ONE OF THE
LAST BATTLES OF THE WAR.
AS THE POPULATION GREW,
KENTUCKIANS BEGAN THINK BEING
STATEHOOD.
THERE WERE NINE STAT HOOD

(04:16):
CONVENTIONS BETWEEN 1784 AND
1790.
FINALLY A 10TH CONVENTION IN
1792, PRODUCED A CONSTITUTION
THAT DELEGATES APPROVED.
KENTUCKY THEN JOINED THE UNION
ON JUNE 1, 1792, AMERICA'S 15TH
STATE AND THE FIRST WEST OF THE
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS.
IZE CONTACT SHELBY WAS

(04:37):
KENTUCKY'S FIRST GOVERNOR.
FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" I'M TOBY
GIBBS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT TOBY
GIBBS.
>> WE ALL KNOW FRANKFORT IS THE
CAPITAL OF KENTUCKY... BUT HOW
DID THAT COME TO BE?
OUR EMILY SISK EXPLORED THE
FOUNDING OF FRANKFORT--AND HOW
IT'S REMAINED THE CAPITAL CITY.
>> THE HISTORY OF FRORTD IT'S

(05:00):
THE STORY OF A SCRAPPY UNDERDOG.
>> THAT BEGAN AS A LAND
INHABITED BY NATIVE-AMERICANS.
THEN IT BECAME THE FRONTIER.
>> IT WAS THE FARTHEST WEST FOR
A NUMBER OF YEARS.
>> IN 1786, A REVOLUTIONARY WAR
GENERAL JAMES WILKINSON

(05:20):
PURCHASED LAND WHERE FRANKFORT
SITS TODAY.
THE VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE GIVES
HIM A MANDATE TO ESTABLISH A
TOWN THAT HE NAMES FRANKFORT.
JAMES WILKINSON IS A CHARACTER
IN KENTUCKY HISTORY HE WAS A
ROGUE AND SCOUNDRAL AND SPIED
FOR THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT.
BUT HE GOT ONE THING RIGHT AND

(05:40):
THAT WAS ESTABLISHING THE TOWN
OF FRANKFORT IN 1786.
>> A FEW YEARS LATER FRANKFORT
WAS SOLD TO A WEALTHY MAN NAMED
ANDREW HOLMES.
AROUND THE SAME TIME KENTUCKY
WAS ESTABLISHED AS A STATE AND
BEGAN LOOKING FOR THE CAPITAL
CITY.
LOUISVILLE, LEXINGTON AND
PETERSBURG IN WOODFORD COUNTY
ALL WANTED THE TITLE BUT

(06:02):
FRANKFORT'S LANDOWNER HAD A
TRICK UP HIS SLEEVE.
>> HE MADE A BID THAT INCLUDED
LOTS OF LAND THAT DOBB USED FOR
THIS PURPOSE AND THE USE OF HIS
HOME FOR SEVEN YEARS AS THE
CAPITOL BUILDING WHILE A
PERMANENT CAPITOL WAS BEING
BUILT AND HE ALSO PROMISED
BUILDING SUPPLIES IN THE FORM OF
LOCKS AND HINGES, BOXES OF

(06:24):
GLASS, NAILS, AND SOME CASH AS
WELL.
>> AND FRANKFORT HAD OTHER
ADVANTAGES LIKE ITS GEOGRAPHY.
>> IT IS BETWEEN THE GROWING
COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS OF
LEXINGTON AND LOUISVILLE.
>> IT ALSO WAS ALONG THE
KENTUCKY RIVER WHICH MADE IT
EASIER FOR COMMUNITIES UP AND
DOWN THE RIVER TO SEND DELEGATES

(06:44):
TO THE NEW LEGISLATURE.
>> SO FRANKFORT OUT BID ALL THE
OTHER TOWNS AND BECAME THE
CAPITAL.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CAPITOL
BUILDING?
THE STRUCTURE WE KNOW TODAY HAS
BEEN AROUND FOR OVER A CENTURY
BUT IT'S THE FOURTH CAPITOL
BUILDING IN FRANKFORT'S HISTORY.
>> THE FIRST TWO CAPITOL

(07:05):
BUILDINGS DID NOT COME TO GOOD
ENDS.
BOTH BUILDINGS WERE LOCATED ON
BROADWAY IN DOWNTOWN FRANKFORT
ON WHAT WAS KNOWN AS THE PUBLIC
SQUARE.
>> THEY WERE REALLY DEVELOPING
AT A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE THERE
WAS A LOT OF REALLY RAPID
DEVELOPMENT AND NOT ANY
REGULATION.
>> BOTH THE FIRST AND SECOND
CAPITOL BUILDINGS BURNED DOWN.

(07:27):
THE THIRD CAPITOL BUILDING WAS
USED FROM 1830-1910 WHEN THE
GOVERNMENT SIZE OUTGREW THE
STRUCTURE THAT LED TO THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE FOURTH AND
CURRENT BUILDING.
IN THE EARLY 1800s, FRANKFORT
HAD ONE OF THE LARGEST
POPULATIONS IN THE STATE.
INDUSTRIES BOOMED FROM LUMBER TO
THE RAILROAD TO BOURBON.

(07:47):
>> IF YOU VISITED FRANKFORT
DURING THE MID-19TH CENTURY THE
SMELL OF BOURBON AND WHISKEY
BEING DISTILLED WOULD HAVE BEEN
THICK IN THE AIR BECAUSE OF THE
NUMBER OF DISTILLERIES HERE IN
THE AREA.
AND YOU HAD TOBACCO AND HEMP AND
HORSES AND MANUFACTURING WHICH
MADE THIS A BUSTLING HUB.

(08:08):
AS RIVER TRAFFIC AND RAIL
TRAFFIC SHIFTED TO HIGHWAYS AND
OTHER WAYS OF GETTING GOODS
AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT AFFECTED
THE WAY THAT FRANKFORT'S ECONOMY
OPERATED.
>> TODAY THE CAPITAL CITY'S
POPULATION IS AROUND 28,000.
WHICH MAKES SOME PEOPLE WONDER
WHY IT REMAINS THE CAPITAL.
Dr. STIVERS SAYS FRANKFORT

(08:29):
REPRESENTS THE MAJORITY OF SMALL
TOWN KENTUCKIANS.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT THE
STATE CAPITAL IN KENTUCKY IS NOT
ONE OF THE BIGGER CITIES IN THE
STATE.
IT HAS SO MANY SMALL TOWNS AND
FRANKFORT IS EMBLEM ATTIC OF
THAT HERITAGE.
>> I'M EMILY SISK.

(08:52):
>> DRAW
DRAWING ON MORE THAN 40 YEARS OF
LEGAL EXPERTISE, DENIS FLEMING
GIVES CREDENCE TO A LONG-HELD
BELIEF THAT ONE OF THE NATION'S
FOUNDING FATHERS AUTHORED OR
INSPIRED PART OF KENTUCKY'S
CONSTITUTION.
USING FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS FROM
JEFFERSON AND TWO OF KENTUCKY'S
EARLIEST LEADERS AND
CONSTITUTION FRAMERS - GEORGE
NICHOLAS AND JOHN

(09:13):
BRECKINRIDGE... FLEMING PIECED
TOGETHER JEFFERSON'S ROLE IN
DRAFTING THE FUNDAMENTAL LAWS
AND PRINCIPLES OF HOW KENTUCKY
WOULD BE GOVERNED.
I SPOKE WITH FLEMING ABOUT HIS
NEW BOOK... THOMAS JEFFERSON AND
THE KENTUCKY CONSTITUTION... FOR
OUR SEGMENT ON BOOKS AND
AUTHORS, WE CALL... TURNING THE
PAGE.
>> GEORGE WAS ORIGINALLY IN THE

(09:35):
VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DAKS AN
ASSOCIATE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON,
BORN IN WILLIAMSBURG VERGE VERGE
AND HE WAS A LAWYER.
HE STUDIED UNDER GEORGE BY
AGENT.
HE WAS THE PREEMINENT LEGAL
SCHOLAR OF HIS DAY AT THE
COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY.
HE IS THE FELLOW AS HE STUDIED
UNDER JEFFERSON WHEN A MEMBER OF

(09:56):
THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES WITH
JEFFERSON GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA
THEY BEGAN TO LEARN JEFFERSON'S
THINKING ON CONSTITUTIONAL
CONSTRUCTS AND WHAT SHOULD BE IN
THE STATE AND FEDERAL
CONSTITUTION.
I CAME ACROSS LETTERS WHERE HE
IS WRITING JAMES MADISON WHO
BECAME A PRESIDENT,

(10:17):
COMPLIMENTING NICHOLAS SAYING
NICHOLAS IS GOING TO GO TO
KENTUCKY AND HELP THEM PUT
TOGETHER THEIR CONSTITUTION.
WE HAD THE HARDEST TIME
DEVELOPING OUR CONSTITUTION IN
KENTUCKY.
WE STARTED IN 1784 WITH THE
SERIES OF CONVENTIONS.
EVERY YEAR IN DANVILLE.
BUT WHEN GEORGE NICHOLAS SHOWED
UP, AND I FOUND NICHOLAS AND

(10:38):
BRECKINRIDGE IS THE FATHER OF
THE SECOND CONSTITUTION BUT THEY
ARE BOTH BRILLIANT.
BRECKINRIDGE HAS MORE POLITICAL
AMBITION.
NICHOLAS THOUGHT HE COULD MAKE
MONEY IN KENTUCKY.
AND HE WROTE HIS BROTHER
KENTUCKY IS BEAUTIFUL.
YOU NEED TO COME TO LEXINGTON
AND YOU WOULD LOVE IT BUT DON'T
BUY ANYTHING FROM SOMEBODY THAT
YOU SEND.

(10:58):
YOU HAVE TO COME SEE IT FIRST.
SO HE GOT BACK INVOLVED IN
POLITICS AND EVERYBODY IN
KENTUCKY KNEW HE HAD WORKED WITH
JEFFERSON ALREADY KNOWN TO BE A
BIG DEAL.
BUT WHAT I RAN ACROSS IS THE
PAPERS OF NICHOLAS THAT ARE UP
AT THE VICARTY OF CHICAGO IN THE

(11:19):
COLLECTION OF PAPERS.
DURIC WAS A RETIRED LAWYER AND
WENT AROUND KENTUCKY AND
COLLECTED HISTORICAL LETTERS AND
OLD NOVELS AND ALL SORTS OF
THINGS.
HE HAS THOUSANDS OF PAGES AND HE
COLLECTED GEORGE NICHOLAS'
PAPERS.
AS I STARTED TO SCROLL THROUGH
THOSE THEY RECENTLY CAME ACROSS

(11:42):
BOXES LABELED SPEECH BEFORE 1792
CONVENTION DANVILLE.
NOTES ON THE KENTUCKY'S
CONSTITUTION.
CHECKS AND BALANCES OF POWERS.
AND AS I SCROLLED THROUGH THE
BOXES, IT WAS ALL DIGITIZED YOU
CAN SEE IT ON-LINE, I BEGAN TO
SEE WHERE NICHOLAS WOULD HAVE A
SO LITTLE QUESTION HOW WE NEED

(12:03):
BARRIERS BETWEEN THE BRANCHES OF
GOVERNMENT.
THAT IS THE DEFINITION IF ONE
BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT ASSUMES THE
OTHER BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.
AND HE WOULD WRITE THIS NAME AND
JEFFERSON AND A NUMBER LIKE 195.
SO I BEGAN TO WRITE THE
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND CALLED

(12:24):
THEM LET US LOOK INTO THAT.
AND THEY GOT BACK TO ME AND SAID
HERE IS WHAT HE IS DOING.
HE IS NOT ONLY REFERENCING
JEFFERSON BUT PAGES FROM
JEFFERSON'S BOOK NOTES ON THE
STATE OF VIRGINIA AND THE REASON
WE KNOW THIS HE HAD TWO COPIES
OF THE ORIGINAL THAT EDITION IN
HIS PAPERS.
AND I ACTUALLY TOOK I HAVE THAT

(12:46):
IN THE BOOK AND I PRINTED OUT A
COPY OF THEM HERE.
YOU CAN SEE, THERE IN
JEFFERSON'S NICHOLAS'
HANDWRITING AND DOWN HERE HE
REFERENCES JEFFERSON 195 AND
THEY MATCHED UP AND THEY SENT ME
A PAGE ON THE NOTES OF STATE OF
VIRGINIA HE IS TALKING ABOUT HOW

(13:07):
HE PUT THE CLAUSES IN THE STATE
CONSTITUTION OF VIRGINIA AND HOW
THEY SHOULD BE IN KENTUCKY'S
CONSTITUTION.
THE REASON HE WAS INTERESTED IN
THESE CLAUSES WHY DID HE DO THAT
WHY IS HE OBSESSED WITH THAT, IF
YOU LOOK AT THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE HE WAS AN
ANTI-ROYALIST HE WAS WORRIED
ABOUT EXCESSES IN THE EXECUTIVE

(13:27):
BRANCH.
THE LEGISLATURE'S WILL BUT HE
THOUGHT IT WAS CRITICAL TO HAVE
THAT CLAUSE IN WRITING AND HE
TRIED BUT FAILED TO PUT IT IN
THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.
WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE WHEN WE
LOOK AT THE FEDDALLIST PAPERS
THAT THEY WROTE THERE ARE TWO
ESSAYS THEY HAVE NUMBERS 47 AND
48 AND WRITTEN ANONYMOUSLY IN

(13:49):
1787 TO SUPPORT THE FEDERAL
CONSTITUTION.
SO THE PUBLIC COULD READ AND
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE GOVERNMENT
WAS DOING.
BUT IN THOSE PAPERS, HE REFUTES
JEFFERSON'S NOTION ABOUT HAVING
A SPECIFIC SEPARATION OF POWERS
CLAUSE IN OUR CONSTITUTION AND
HE MENTIONED JEFFERSON BY NAME.
THOSE ARE WORDS ON PARCHMENT IT
DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING.

(14:09):
JEFFERSON DISAGREED TO THE POINT
WHERE HE GOT THE CLAUSES PUT IN
KENTUCKY'S CONSTITUTION THROUGH
HIS GOOD FRIENDS BRECKINRIDGE
AND NICHOLAS AND HE PREDICTED
THE COURTS COULD USE THE CLAUSES
TO PROTECT ONE BRANCH FROM THE
OTHER AND THEY WEREN'T JUST
WORDS ON PAPER THEY COULD BE
INTERPRETED TO PROTECT THE

(14:29):
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AND THE
PUBLIC.
>> IT IS AN INTERESTING READ.
>> FLEMING PLANS TO DONATE ALL
ROYALTIES FROM THE BOOK, WITH A
MATCHING GIFT, TO THE UNIVERSITY
OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF LAW, OF
WHICH HE IS AN ALUM... FOR A
SCHOLARSHIP FUND.
DO YOU KNOW THE MAN CREDITED
WITH FOUNDING NORTHERN KENTUCKY
CITIES LIKE NEWPORT, BELLEVUE,

(14:50):
AND DAYTON?
WELL, HIS NAME IS GENERAL JAMES
TAYLOR.
WE TAKE YOU INSIDE HIS HOME NOW
AND LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS
INFLUENCE.
>> THIS WAS ACTUALLY THE WESTERN
FRONTIER.
THE COUNTRY STOPPED BASICALLY AT
KENTUCKY.
IT WAS THE 1790S, AND THAT

(15:10):
WESTERN FRONTIER SOON
TRANSFORMED INTO A PROSPEROUS
AREA, WITH MUCH CREDIT TO
GENERAL JAMES TAYLOR V WAS A
WEALTHY BUSINESSMAN FROM
VIRGINIA WHO HAD INHERITED
THOUSANDS OF ACRES IN WHAT WE
NOW KNOW AS NORTHERN KENTUCKY.
>> HE CAME OUT HERE TO CARVE OUT
OF THE WILDERNESS A CITY.

(15:30):
DIDN'T COME WITH THE IDEA OF
OPENING A PLANTATION LIKE THEY
HAD BEEN DOING IN VIRGINIA, BUT
TO ACTUALLY MAKE A CITY.
>> GENERAL JAMES TAYLOR AND HIS
WIFE KETURAH WERE WELL-CONNECTED
IN HIGH SOCIETY.
TAYLOR WAS RELATED TO PRESIDENT
JAMES MADISON, CONNECTED TO
PRESIDENT THOMAS JEFFERSON AND
PLENTY OF OTHERS.
HE USED HIS INFLUENCE TO

(15:51):
CONVINCE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
TO ESTABLISH AN ARMY BARRACKS IN
NEWPORT.
>> THEY WERE ACQUAINTED WITH
GEORGE, GEORGE WASHINGTON.
SO HE WAS A VERY PROMINENT
KENTUCKIAN, NOT ONLY IN KENTUCKY
BUT IN THE UNITED STATES.
>> HE ESTABLISHED A FERRY THAT
RAN BETWEEN NEWPORT AND
CINCINNATI.
HE SET UP A ROAD THAT WENT FROM

(16:13):
NEWPORT INTO LEXINGTON--WE NOW
KNOW IS ROUTE 27.
>> TAYLOR WAS ALSO A
SLAVEHOLDER.
DR. DAVID CHILDS, A PROFESSOR AT
NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY,
SAID TAYLOR MAY HAVE OWNED MORE
THAN 50 ENSLAVED PEOPLE.
>> IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT OF
LABOR FROM HIS ENSLAVED PEOPLE

(16:33):
TO HELP CLEAR LAND, CUT DOWN
TREES, ESTABLISH WHAT WE KNOW
TODAY AS NEWPORT.
>> ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF
GENERAL TAYLOR'S INFLUENCE, AND
A LOCATION ON THE NATIONAL
REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, IS
THE TAYLOR MANSION... RIGHT IN
THE HEART OF NEWPORT.
>> THE TAYLOR MANSION IS

(16:57):
PROBABLY THE OLDEST CONSTRUCTION
SURVIVED CONSTRUCTION IN THIS
AREA.
IT GOES BACK TO 1803, THAT'S
DURING THE ANTEBELLUM PERIOD.
THAT'S WAY BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR.
THE CIVIL WAR WAS NOT TIL THE
1860'S.
>> THE MANSION WOULD HAVE BEEN
ONE OF THE LARGEST HOMES IN THE
ENTIRE REGION, WITH 40 ROOMS AND
17FT CEILINGS.
THE ARCHITECT WHO DESIGNED THE

(17:18):
HOME ALSO WORKED ON THE WHITE
HOUSE.
>> WHEN HE BUILT THE TAYLOR
MANSION, HE INTENTIONALLY BUILT
IT TO LOOK RIGHT OVER THE RIVER.
>> THIS HOUSE WAS BUILT FOR
LIVING AND FOR ENTERTAINING.
>> TAYLOR ENTERTAINED MANY AT
THE MANSION UNTIL HE DIED IN
1848.
>> HE ACTUALLY DIES UPSTAIRS AT

(17:40):
THE MANSION AFTER HAVING CAST A
VOTE FOR HIS COUSIN, ZACHARY
TAYLOR, IN THE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTIONS OF 1848.
>> YEARS LATER, IT BECAME KNOWN
THAT THE TAYLOR MANSION WAS A
STATION IN THE UNDERGROUND
RAILROAD.
WHILE IT'S STILL NOT CERTAIN
EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEANS,
HISTORIANS HAVE CLUES.
RESIDENTS MAY HAVE SIGNALED WITH

(18:00):
A LANTERN FROM THE ROOF OF THE
HOME, OR USED FERRY BOATS TO GET
ENSLAVED INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE
RIVER.
>> NOBODY WOULD QUESTION THEM
BECAUSE THEY WERE ENSLAVED
PEOPLE OF THE MOST PROMINENT
FAMILY IN THE AREA, ONE OF THE
RICHEST FAMILIES IN THE COUNTRY.
>> IF YOU SEE A LANTERN IN THE
SKY IN THE TOP OF THIS BUILDING,
THAT TELLS YOU THAT IT COULD BE

(18:22):
SAFE TO CROSS HERE AND GET
CROSSED TO FREEDOM.
>> WHILE THE LEGACY OF GENERAL
JAMES TAYLOR V IS COMPLICATED,
MARRED BY ENSLAVEMENT AND MIXED
WITH WEALTH, NORTHERN
KENTUCKIANS STILL FEEL HIS
IMPACT.
>> I THINK WE WOULD SEE A VERY
DIFFERENT NORTHERN KENTUCKY
RELATIONSHIP WITHOUT JAMES
TAYLOR.

(18:45):
WITHOUT THAT VISION FOR
ENVISIONING A CITY, IF HE TURNED
IT INTO A FARM OR A PLANTATION,
WE MIGHT NEVER HAVE SEEN THE
TYPE OF BUILD THAT WE HAVE SEEN.
>> FOR KENTUCKY EDITION, I'M
EMILY SISK.
>> THANKS TO EMILY.
>> GENERAL TAYLOR'S MANSION HAS
BEEN PRIVATELY OWNED FOR THE

(19:05):
LAST SEVERAL DECADES.
THE CURRENT OWNERS PLAN TO OPEN
THE RESTORED HOME FOR TOURS AND
SPECIAL EVENTS IN THE COMING
MONTHS.
>> SEVERAL MUSEUMS AND
HUMANITIES GROUPS IN THE STATE
HAVE JOINED FORCES TO TRY TO
PRESERVE KENTUCKY'S HISTORY.
THE EASTERN KENTUCKY HUMANITIES
COMMISSION GATHERED FOR ITS
FIRST CONFERENCE IN MOREHEAD...
AT A TIME WHEN MUSEUMS AND

(19:26):
LIBRARIES ARE FACING FEDERAL
FUNDING CUTS.
>> I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM A
GENTLEMAN DUSTIN, AND HE JUST
WANTED TO VISIT THE MUSEUM.
HE SAID I WANT TO MEET YOU.
GET SHARE IDEAS AND I SAID SURE.
SO WE SETUP A MEETING AND THEY
WANTED TO GET THE MUSEUMS AND

(19:46):
HISTORICAL SOCIETIES CONNECTED
TOGETHER SOMETHING WE'VE NEEDED
FOR MANY YEARS.
I'M IN AND THAT IS A FANTASTIC
IDEA.
>> TODAY IS OUR INAUGURAL
CONFERENCE OF THE EASTERN
KENTUCKY HUMANITIES COMMISSION.
10 YEARS AGO WE EMBARKED ON A
JOURNEY AND WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW.

(20:09):
AND WE HAVE SEVERAL OF OUR
ORGANIZATIONS OVER EASTERN
KENTUCKY THAT ARE 60 OUT OF
ORGANIZATIONS OUT OF 40 COUNTIES
THAT WE TRY TO COVER AND SEVERAL
ARE HERE TODAY.
NOT ALL OF THEM.
WE HAVE BATH, CARTER COUNTY,S
TELL COUNTY, MASON, ASHLAND TO
THEY WILL A FEW ALL THESE

(20:31):
ORGANIZATIONS HUMANITIES,
HISTORICAL SOCIETIES, MUSEUMS
AND DIRECTORS ARE HERE,
SCHOLARS, HISTORIANS YOU NAME IT
THEY ARE HERE TODAY AND WE FEEL
LIKE IT IS A VALUABLE THING TO
PRESERVE AND PROMOTE AND BRING
AWARENESS OF IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND WITH THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE,
NETWORKING TODAY AS WE SEE

(20:52):
WORKING TOGETHER POOLING
RESOURCES AND IDEAS AND
DIFFERENT THINGS OF THAT NATURE
WE CAN SEE US BECOME A GREATER
FORCE THAN WHAT WE HAVE BEEN.
>> WE NEED TO STICK TOGETHER
WITH THE FEAR OF THOSE BUDGET
CUTS.
IT HASN'T AFFECTED OUR MUSEUM
DIRECTLY SO FAR SO WE'RE
THANKFUL FOR THAT.
BUT I KNOW THERE ARE

(21:14):
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL BE
HURTING.
YES, HAVING THESE FRIENDSHIPS
AND HELPING EACH OTHER REACH OUT
TO GRANTS AND POTENTIAL FUNDING
IS VERY IMPORTANT.
SOMETHING LIKE THIS COMMISSION
WHERE THERE'S ALL NEW FRIENDS
THAT I'VE MADE TODAY, I THINK
WILL BE BENEFICIAL.
DUSTIN TOLD ME WE'RE HOPING IF
YOU DO THE PROGRAM HEY THIS WILL
BE A GREAT PROGRAM AT YOUR

(21:35):
MUSEUM AS WELL.
OR I HAVE A TRAVELING EXHIBIT
AND IT WILL WORK WONDERFULLY.
THIS IS BENEFICIAL TO EVERYBODY.
>> A LOT OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS
ARE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
THEREFORE THEY BASICALLY RUN ON
FUNDS AND DONATIONS FROM THEIR
COMMUNITIES AND FROM PRIVATE
CORPORATE DONORS WHAT HAVE YOU.
AND WE ARE JUST WORKING TOGETHER

(21:57):
TO POOL OUR RESOURCES FOR GRANT
WRITING, NETWORKING, THINGS THAT
PEOPLE ARE IN THE KNOW OF THAT
OTHER PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY
KNOW.
AND HOPING TO ENSURE THE
LONGEVITY OF OUR HISTORY AND OUR
CULTURE.
>> MY HOPE AFTER TODAY IS THAT
EVERYONE THAT ATTENDED KNOWS WE

(22:17):
ARE NOT ALONE WE ARE AN ARMY
AFTER TODAY.
WE HAVE PEOPLE TO TURN TO WHEN
WE HAVE QUESTIONS, WHEN WE HAVE
PROBLEMS WE HAVE THE RESOURCES
AVAILABLE.
>> WE HAVE TRAVELED 32 OUT OF 40
COUNTIES IN THE LAST 10 MONTHS
AND EVERY COMMUNITY HAS A
PERSONAL STORY.
EVERY COMMUNITY HAS SOMETHING
THAT THEY CAN BRING TO THIS
REGION.

(22:38):
JUST RESOURCES ALTOGETHER THAT
WE CAN POOL FROM ONE ANOTHER AND
WE CAN MAKE THIS REGION BIGGER
AND BETTER THAN WHAT WE ARE
TODAY.
>> THE EASTERN KENTUCKY
HUMANITIES COMMISSION PLANS ON
RECRUITING MORE GROUPS TO ITS
CAUSE THIS SUMMER.
>> YOU CAN SEE KENTUCKY
HISTORY... EVERY TIME YOU HIT

(23:00):
THE ROAD.
THAT'S THANKS TO 2,400
HISTORICAL MARKERS IN ALL 120
KENTUCKY COUNTIES.
IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF A
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE KENTUCKY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND THE
KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS
THAT'S NOW 76 YEARS OLD.
>> THE WHOLE POINT OF KENTUCKY'S
HISTORICAL MARKER PROGRAM IS TO
CREATE ON-THE-GROUND EDUCATIONAL

(23:21):
ENCOUNTERS WITH HISTORY WHERE IT
HAPPENED.
AND SO OFTEN PEOPLE WILL TELL ME
AND I'VE HEARD THIS THROUGHOUT
MY LIFE, PEOPLE ALWAYS THINK
HISTORY HAPPENED ELSEWHERE.
IT'S ALWAYS SURPRISING WHEN THEY
DISCOVER THAT HISTORY HAPPENS
RIGHT HERE AS WELL.
AND THAT'S REALLY THE DRIVING
FORCE BEHIND THIS STATE PROGRAM,
IS TO GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND
AND APPRECIATE THAT KENTUCKY HAS

(23:42):
VERY MUCH BEEN A LEADER IN A LOT
OF NOT ONLY STATE DEVELOPMENTS,
BUT NATIONAL HISTORICAL
DEVELOPMENTS AS WELL.
KENTUCKY IS BLESSED TO HAVE ONE
OF THE OLDEST AND LARGEST STATE
MARKER PROGRAMS IN THE NATION.
THE EARLIEST MARKERS ON THE
LANDSCAPE THAT WE MANAGE DATE TO
AROUND 1936, BUT THOSE WERE PUT
UP BY A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION IN

(24:04):
THE LEXINGTON AREA IN 1949.
THAT'S WHEN THE STATE GOVERNMENT
ENTERED THE SCENE.
SO WE LIKE TO THINK THAT WE'RE
IN THE 76TH YEAR OF OUR
PROGRAM'S EXISTENCE.
ONE OF THE CORNERSTONES OF OUR
PROGRAM IS THAT IT IS
COMMUNITY-DRIVEN.
SO I ALWAYS SAY THAT IT IS NOT
KENTUCKY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
STAFF WHO DECIDE WHICH TOPICS
MATTER THE MOST.

(24:28):
RATHER, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY
APPROACH US WITH TOPICS THAT
THEY NOMINATE.
THEY GO THROUGH A VERY RIGOROUS
NOMINATION PROCESS.
THOSE TOPICS ARE EVALUATED BY A
COMMITTEE OF HISTORIANS FROM
ACROSS THE STATE WHO SELECTS
APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 TOPICS
PER YEAR TO ADVANCE TO BECOME
NEW STATE HISTORICAL MARKERS.

(24:49):
IF A TOPIC IS APPROVED, THE
STATE GOVERNMENT WILL COVER THE
ENTIRE COST OF THE MARKER DESIGN
AND INSTALLATION.
AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IT LEVELS THE PLAYING
FIELD AND MEANS THAT AS LONG AS
SOMEBODY APPROACHES US WITH A
REALLY GOOD TOPIC, THERE WILL
NOT BE ANY BARRIER TO
PARTICIPATION.
IF YOU LOOK AT PREVIOUS
GENERATIONS OF THIS PROGRAM,
THERE WAS A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON

(25:10):
FRONTIER HISTORY, CIVIL WAR
HISTORY.
BUT IT'S REALLY GREAT WHEN
PEOPLE THINK EVEN BIGGER THAN
THAT, NOT JUST BATTLES AND
THINGS OF THAT NATURE, ALTHOUGH
THOSE ARE CERTAINLY SIGNIFICANT
IN THEIR OWN RIGHT.
BUT TO GET PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT
TOPICS LIKE KENTUCKY FOODWAYS,
WHAT WERE PEOPLE EATING AND
DRINKING.
TO GET PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT

(25:33):
KENTUCKY MUSIC, CULTURE, AND,
YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALWAYS EXCITED
WHEN WE GET TOPICS THAT DEAL
WITH THE HISTORY OF WOMEN IN
KENTUCKY, AFRICAN-AMERICAN
HISTORY IN KENTUCKY, LGBTQ
HISTORY IN KENTUCKY, THINGS THAT
REALLY SHOW ALL THE DIFFERENT
ELEMENTS THAT MAKE THE
COMMONWEALTH BOTH SIGNIFICANT
AND UNIQUE.
LAST YEAR WE HAD A MARKER
DEDICATION IN VAN LEER,
KENTUCKY, JOHNSON COUNTY ABOUT

(25:54):
THE WEBB FAMILY.
NOW, YOU MAY NOT KNOW THE WEBB
FAMILY WHEN I SAY THAT, BUT YOU
WILL LIKELY KNOW SOME OF THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE MEMBERS OF IT.
THE WEBB FAMILY GAVE RISE TO
COUNTRY MUSIC SINGERS LIKE
LORETTA LYNN AND CRYSTAL GAYLE.
AND IT'S BEEN REALLY EXCITING TO
WORK WITH THAT COMMUNITY TO HELP
SHARE HOW JOHNSON COUNTY HAS

(26:16):
PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE
HISTORY OF AMERICAN MUSIC.
FUNDAMENTALLY, IT'S A PIECE OF
METAL ON THE LANDSCAPE THAT
PEOPLE OFTEN PASS GOING 50, 60,
70 MILES PER HOUR.
BUT FOR THOSE QUIET MOMENTS
WHERE YOU GET TO SLOW DOWN, GET
OUT OF YOUR CAR AND CONNECT WITH
THE COMMONWEALTH'S PAST, I THINK
THAT'S REMARKABLE.

(26:37):
AND I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 125 WORDS
THAT I CAN FIT ON A STATE
HISTORICAL MARKER.
SO I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE IT'S NOT
THE END OF THE CONVERSATION.
IT'S THE BEGINNING.
AND IF IT INSPIRES YOU TO GO AND
READ A LITTLE BIT MORE ON YOUR
OWN, THAT'S GREAT.
>> JEFFERSON COUNTY HAS THE
HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF

(26:57):
HISTORICAL MARKERS, FOLLOWED BY
FAYETTE COUNTY, MCCRACKEN
COUNTY, AND FRANKLIN COUNTY.
>> WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN
MONDAY NIGHT AT 6:30 EASTERN,
5:30 CENTRAL FOR "KENTUCKY
EDITION" WHERE WE INFORM,
CONNECT AND INSPIRE.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR KENTUCKY
EDITION EMAIL NEWSLETTERS AND
WATCH FULL EPISODES AND CLIPS AT
KET.ORG.
YOU CAN ALSO FIND KENTUCKY
EDITION ON THE PBS VIDEO APP ON
YOUR MOBILE DEVICE AND SMART TV.
SEND US A STORY IDEA AT

(27:18):
[e-mail].
AND FOLLOW KET ON FACEBOOK, X
(FORMERLY KNOWN AS TWITTER), AND
INSTAGRAM TO STAY IN THE LOOP.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
TAKE GOOD CARE.