Information
Landmark: Kentucky Historical SocietyCity: Frankfort
Country: USA Kentucky
Continent: North America
Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort, USA Kentucky, North America
Overview
The Kentucky Historical Society, or KHS, plays a vital role in keeping Kentucky’s history alive-preserving old letters, digging into the past, and sharing those stories with the public.Founded in 1836, it runs as a state agency under the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, holds accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, and carries the distinction of being a Smithsonian affiliate.Its mission is to spark curiosity and connect with people through Kentucky’s history, linking a dusty Civil War diary or a faded map to the challenges we face today and the ones still to come.The society aims to lead the way in helping people understand, treasure, and pass along Kentucky’s stories-whether it’s a miner’s dusty boots or a front-porch fiddle tune.In downtown Frankfort, KHS runs several important sites that come together as a full history campus-brick buildings, shaded by old oaks, stand just steps apart.Thomas D. The Clark Center for Kentucky History serves as KHS’s flagship, welcoming visitors to explore its museum exhibits and dig into archives in its bright, paper-scented research rooms.The center features both permanent and rotating exhibits, including *A Kentucky Journey*-a signature display covering 12,000 years of the state’s history.Visitors can see more than 3,000 artifacts, from flint arrowheads and bourbon bottles to jockey silks and other pieces of Kentucky’s rich culture.The Toyota Kentucky Hall of Governors displays portraits and detailed biographies of the state’s leaders, their legacies framed in rich wood, offering a clear window into Kentucky’s political history and governance.At the Keeneland Changing Exhibits Gallery, you’ll find rotating displays that dive into everything from Kentucky’s horse farms and local traditions to pivotal social movements.Martin F. The Schmidt Research Library holds the state’s largest trove of genealogical and historical treasures, with more than 90,000 books and periodicals, 30,000 neatly packed vertical files, and over 200,000 historic photographs you can almost hear rustle when turned.The library welcomes casual researchers and professional historians alike, and you can even browse many of its collections online-right down to scans of handwritten letters.The center features a cozy gift shop, bright classrooms for learning, and open halls where lectures and programs come to life.The design blends sleek museum comforts with quiet, well-lit rooms made for research and scholarly work.Number two’s next-like the second step on a creaky wooden stair.The Old State Capitol, a stately Greek Revival landmark with white columns gleaming in the sun, housed Kentucky’s government from 1830 until 1910.Gideon Shryock designed it, and today it stands as a National Historic Landmark, restored with care to match the mid-19th-century look-right down to the warm glow of its oil lamps.The exhibits highlight Kentucky’s legislative history, fiery political debates, and the workings of state government in that era, from handwritten bills to worn leather chairs in the old capitol.Visitors can step into the original chambers and offices, running a hand over worn wooden desks as they get a feel for the political and social climate of the time.Number three stands out, a small mark like a black pebble on the page.The Kentucky Military History Museum, tucked inside the 1850 State Arsenal with its thick brick walls, tells the story of the state’s role in America’s wars.Perched above downtown Frankfort, the fortress-like building showcases artifacts, faded uniforms, gleaming weapons, and personal stories from soldiers who served in wars across the years.In 1974, it joined the Army Museum System, spotlighting local military history alongside the wider role Kentuckians have played in defending the nation-from the quiet hills of home to distant battlefields.The Research, Archives, and Digital Collections at KHS form a vital hub for discovery, where old letters crackle softly under careful hands.The collection features manuscripts and personal papers-letters with faded ink, worn diaries, and official documents-from some of Kentucky’s most notable figures.Photographs and Visual Archives hold more than 200,000 historic images-postcards, prints, and photos that capture Kentucky’s social and cultural story, from crowded street fairs to quiet front porches.Rare Books and Periodicals explore Kentucky’s past-its history, family roots, and the stories of local life, from faded courthouse records to century-old town newspapers.Many artifacts and documents have been digitized, so you can browse research catalogs, sift through family records, and study archival images from home-even zoom in on the faded ink of a century‑old letter.KHS shares its research through *The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society*, a scholarly journal it’s been publishing without interruption since 1903, its pages often smelling faintly of fresh ink.It offers research articles, essays, and reviews that explore every corner of Kentucky’s past, from Civil War battlefields to the scent of fresh tobacco leaves in the summer air.KHS staff and fellows also write for books, essays, and other publications, helping the public see the state’s heritage more clearly-like the scent of old paper in a century‑old diary bringing history to life.The society runs educational programs for schools, families, and adults, from lively classroom workshops to evening talks that fill the hall with quiet chatter.The programs range from lively lectures and small-group seminars on Kentucky history to school field trips that tie directly into state lessons.There are hands-on workshops in genealogy and archival research, community events that celebrate Kentucky’s rich heritage-think bluegrass music drifting through the air-and a membership that offers perks like free or discounted admission, special event access, and early news on upcoming exhibitions and programs.Members help keep Kentucky’s history alive, preserving its stories and artifacts so future generations can see, touch, and understand the past.You can visit at 100 West Broadway, Frankfort, KY 40601, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.-the library’s open Wednesday through Saturday.Buy tickets online or at the door, and keep in mind some special exhibits or programs may cost extra.The Kentucky Historical Society preserves the state’s heritage and brings its rich, varied history to life through exhibitions you can wander, research rooms lined with old maps, thoughtful publications, and lively educational programs.
