Kentucky History Podcast

Kentucky History Podcast

The Kentucky History Podcast is a narration and discussion of the History of Kentucky. Our great state has a lot of historical value to offer. https://linktr.ee/Kyhistorypod

Episodes

October 26, 2025

In this first episode of our two-part series, we sit down with historian Jerry Fischer to explore the early history of Meade County, Kentucky. From its founding along the Ohio River to the lives of its first settlers, we discuss how geography, frontier challenges, and community building shaped Meade County’s identity. Discover the county’s role in Kentucky’s growth and...

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In Part 2, Gwinn Thompson continues the conversation by exploring the broader, lesser-known story of the Lincoln family. From disputed family records to forgotten homesteads, Gwinn reveals the people, places, and events that historians have often overlooked or misunderstood. This episode uncovers the complex and sometimes controversial legacy of the Lincolns in Kentuck...

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In Part 1 of this special two-part series, we’re joined by Gwinn Thompson, author of The Lincoln Family: Its Lost & Hidden History, for a deep dive into Abraham Lincoln’s earliest days in Kentucky. Drawing from years of research, Gwinn shares new insights about the Lincoln family’s roots in Mill Creek, Hardin County, and Beechland in Washington County, shedding lig...

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October 5, 2025

In this episode, we’re joined by Matthew Bailey, Executive Director, to explore the remarkable history of Green River Academy, located in Elkton, Kentucky. Founded in the 19th century, this historic institution played a vital role in shaping the educational and civic life of Todd County and the surrounding region.

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In Part 2, Gwen Thompson returns to discuss Mary Todd Lincoln’s life as First Lady, her personal struggles, and the lasting impact of her legacy. We examine her time in the White House during the Civil War, her profound grief after the loss of family members and President Lincoln, and the controversies that surrounded her in the public eye.

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September 21, 2025

In Part 1 of our special two-part series, Gwen Thompson, Executive Director of the Mary Todd Lincoln House, joins us to explore the early life of Mary Todd Lincoln in Lexington, Kentucky. From her upbringing in a prominent and politically connected family to the cultural and social influences that shaped her worldview, this episode offers a fascinating look at the form...

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In part two, we turn our attention to the deeply personal story of Dinah, a pregnant enslaved woman caught up in the Greenup Slave Revolt. With Professor Andrew Feight and Marlitta Perkins, we explore her life, her choices, and the extraordinary circumstances she faced during one of the most dangerous uprisings in Kentucky history.

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In this first part of our two-part series, Professor Andrew Feight and Marlitta Perkins join the Kentucky History Podcast to tell the dramatic story of the Greenup Slave Revolt. This powerful but often overlooked event highlights the courage of enslaved Kentuckians who risked everything in pursuit of freedom along the Ohio River.

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In part two, Professor Doug Cantrell returns to discuss Cassius Clay’s political career, his diplomatic service under President Abraham Lincoln, and his lasting legacy as a progressive voice in a conservative time. From defending emancipation to serving as Ambassador to Russia, Clay’s fearless pursuit of justice took him far beyond Kentucky.

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In this episode, we dive into the early life and rise of Cassius Marcellus Clay, one of Kentucky’s most controversial and influential figures. Guest Professor Doug Cantrell joins us to explore Clay’s privileged upbringing, his education at Yale, and the ideological transformation that led him to become a staunch emancipationist in a deeply divided state.

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In this final installment of our three-part series on Alexander Keene Richards, we explore the lasting legacy of one of Kentucky’s most visionary horsemen. Author Gary A. O'Dell helps us reflect on how Richards’ bold efforts to revive the American Thoroughbred through Arabian and English bloodlines continue to influence modern horse racing.

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In Part 2, we continue the fascinating tale of Alexander Keene Richards and turn to his second journey in 1855, accompanied by famed equine artist Edward Troye. This episode examines how Richards’ breeding innovations and Troye’s artistry combined to preserve the beauty, heritage, and stamina of the horses they encountered.

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In this episode, we begin the extraordinary story of Alexander Keene Richards, a 19th-century horse breeder from Georgetown, Kentucky, whose bold vision reshaped American horse racing. Drawing from Gary O’Dell’s newly published book, Reinventing the American Thoroughbred, we explore Richards’ belief that American Thoroughbreds had lost their endurance and need...

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In this compelling episode, historian James Prichard returns to explore a turbulent and often overlooked chapter in Kentucky history: the rise of vigilante justice in the late 1800s. As Kentucky struggled with post-Civil War lawlessness, economic transition, and rural isolation, citizens in several counties took the law into their own hands—forming vigilante g...

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Part 2 of our Butler County series with guest Tommy Hines continues the journey through the county’s rich and often dramatic past. We explore the impact of the Civil War, how Butler County navigated its divided loyalties, and the transformation that followed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

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Welcome to Part 1 of our deep dive into Butler County, Kentucky with special guest Tommy Hines, Executive Director at South Union Shaker Village. In this episode, we explore the early history and settlement of Butler County. From Native American presence and frontier migration routes to the founding of towns and the evolution of agriculture and trade, Butler County has...

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In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, we’re joined by Waylon Humphrey, Chief of Operations for the Louisville District, to explore the Corps’ enduring presence and impact in Louisville, Kentucky.

Our Links: https://linktr.ee/Kyhistorypod

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As we reach the final chapter of our three-part series on the Civil War in Lincoln County, Kentucky, we're honored to have David Gambrel back as our guide. Join us for a deep dive into the legacy, reflections, and enduring impact of this pivotal period in American history. In this concluding episode, we'll explore the lasting reverberations of the Civil War on Lincoln County and its people....

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In this episode, we explore the remarkable story of Christopher Greenup, Kentucky’s third governor. Greenup played a vital role in the early years of the Commonwealth, transitioning from Revolutionary War soldier to influential politician. We’ll discuss his contributions to Kentucky's statehood, his time in the U.S. House of Representatives, and how his leader...

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In this episode, we dive into Jasper et al. v. Quarles (1808), a landmark Kentucky land dispute that sheds light on the challenges of frontier settlement. In the late 1700s, settlers like Andrew Jasper worked hard to improve and claim land in Pulaski County, only to face competing claims from military land warrants granted to Revolutionary War veterans. This c...

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