Blog
Banjo Ukulele
Making History Today
Music is a common thread that binds many Kentucky families together. While Steve from Lexington has ancestors from Ohio, he is still connected to them through music. This banjo ukulele belonged to his grandfather who played it to make money during the depression. He…
Family Quilt
Making History Today
Heirloom quilts like this one, submitted by Susan from Lexington, have long been passed through families. This hand-tacked scrap quilt was made by her great-great grandmother and passed from mother to daughter until it reached Susan. These threads bind the family across time and space and…
Childhood Home Painting
Making History Today
Gaynell from Greenville, KY was born in Ohio County in a house that her grandparents previously operated as a hotel and riverboat stop on the Green River. They called it The Barnard House. Later, her parents purchased it and turned…
Liberty Hall Clock
Making History Today
There are many museums in Kentucky that, like Ashland, make history every day. One that has many connections with Ashland is Liberty Hall Historic Site in Frankfort, the home of Kentucky’s first United States Senator, John Brown. John Brown’s brother James…
Campaign Medal
Making History Today
One of the great constants of U.S. history is politics. As long as there has been a United States, there have been presidential elections and many families have a tradition of participating in them. Mary from Lexington sent in this…
Pocket Watch
Making History Today
For many years, people have kept time with pocket watches. Brad Clay from Ohio (a distant relative of Henry Clay) inherited this one. It was given by his great–great grandfather in Carter County, KY to his great-grandfather when he returned from World War I. Brad’s watch serves…
Racing Silk Quilt
Making History Today
Few things are more “Kentucky” than Thoroughbreds and the quilt submitted by Sue from Lexington was meant to convey that Kentucky spirit. Though Sue is not a native Kentuckian, she has lived in the Commonwealth for many years and helped co-curate an exhibit on Ashland’s…
Milking Stool
Making History Today
Kentucky has a long and rich artistic tradition and often Kentuckians make gifts of their art to people they care about. Diana from Lexington received this beautiful milking stool from her grandfather, an excellent woodworker from Carter County, KY. He…
Sideboard
Making History Today
This sideboard (larger image on top) was made by Henry Clay’s brother Porter Clay. Sideboards were used to put out food or drink to be served in the dining room and to store silverware and dishes. Henry Clay’s…