Explore KY's Civil War

100 Locations ~ Curated by Kentucky Historical Society

This Kentucky Historical Society curated tour takes information from many of our Civil War related historical markers, adds artifacts and items from our digital collections and combines them to paint a more complete picture of the Civil War in our Commonwealth.

Explore KY's War of 1812

53 Locations ~ Curated by Kentucky Historical Society

The War of 1812, which pitted the fledgling United States against Great Britain, greatly impacted Kentucky. Approximately sixty percent of the war's total casualties were Kentuckians, meaning that the Bluegrass State suffered more casualties than all other states combined. Furthermore, nearly 25,000 Kentuckians--about one in six--had some type of military service during the war, which impacted the Kentucky home front. The War of 1812 was a political proving ground for many of the state's…

Explore Danville, Kentucky

20 Locations ~ Curated by Kentucky Historical Society

Known as the City of Firsts, Danville, Kentucky, is known for its varied history. Historical markers in the community commemorate Kentucky's pioneer past, the state's founding, early medical advancements, education, the Civil War, and more. All of these markers are located within walking distance of Constitution Square and Grayson's Tavern, which houses the offices of the Danville-Boyle County Convention and Visitors Bureau. We hope you will use this app to explore Danville's rich…

Explore KY's Abraham Lincoln

32 Locations ~ Curated by Kentucky Historical Society

Abraham Lincoln traveled an uncommon course from the Kentucky frontier to the highest office in the nation. At a critical time in our history, Lincoln preserved the Union, led America out of slavery and shaped the destiny of millions. In telling Lincoln's Kentucky story, we sense the ambition, perseverance and moral courage of this remarkable leader. In addition to being the birthplace of Lincoln, Kentucky was home to his wife, best friend, law partners and business associates. Although he…

Explore the University of Kentucky

21 Locations ~ Curated by Kentucky Historical Society

The history of the University of Kentucky (UK) is intimately connected to the commonwealth's past, present, and future. To commemorate that history, in 1994, UK and the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) created the UK Senior Challenge Historical Marker Project. This program, which allows each graduating senior class to leave a memorial to the university, creates a special historical marker that notes important people and places affiliated with the history of the university. Each year a UK…

Explore KY's Slavery and Emancipation History

43 Locations ~ Curated by Kentucky Historical Society

A history of Kentucky would be incomplete without mentioning the significant role that slavery played in creating the Commonwealth and crafting the culture of the state. Long before Kentucky became the 15th state in the Union, slavery was introduced into the region by its earliest settlers. From the beginning, enslaved people sought freedom. From those early years until slavery was ultimately outlawed by the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Kentuckians have helped, hindered,…

Explore KY's House Museums

16 Locations ~ Curated by Kentucky Historical Society

The Explore Kentucky’s House Museum tour highlights the great collection of house museums across the commonwealth. Each site has an historical marker commemorating its history. All of these homes are affiliated with a person or event that was significant to Kentucky's rich past. We hope you will use this app to explore the rich history within these house museums.

Explore KY's Mexican-American War

14 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Kentucky’s long history of military service is evidenced by the many monuments found across the commonwealth. When the state’s military history is studied, however, Kentucky’s role in the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) is often forgotten. This conflict not only vastly expanded the geographical size of the nation, but the U.S. victory essentially ensured that the nation would ultimately become split over the issue of slavery. Scholars widely recognize the Mexican-American War’s influence on…

Explore the Kentucky Historical Society

10 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) was formed in 1836 by a group of prominent Kentuckians intent on preserving the history of the commonwealth. It was chartered as the state society in 1838 and began to collect books and printed materials. KHS became an agency of Kentucky state government in the early 1950s. An agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, KHS has more than 3,300 members to whom it provides support and educational services. Outreach programs collaborate with…

Explore Adair County, Kentucky

10 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Adair County, named for John Adair, a Revolutionary War and War of 1812 soldier, and governor from 1820-1824, has a wealth of history shared on its historical markers. Over the years Adair County as served as the home to noted pioneers, politicians, soldiers, and writers. It has been the scene of war, as well as promoter of education. We hope you will use this app to explore Adair County’s rich history and cultural contributions

Explore Letcher County, Kentucky

11 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Letcher County, named for Robert Perkins Letcher, a state legislator, governor from 1840-1844, and U.S. minister to Mexico, is known for its scenic beauty, rich mountain culture, and heritage. Much of the area’s local history is on display on highway markers throughout the county. From early settlement at the beginning of the nineteenth century to industrialized coal mining in the twenty-first century, Letcher County has witnessed an enormous amount of change. The people and places of…

Explore KY Artist Paul Sawyier

11 Locations ~ Curated by Amy Roe

The paintings of artist Paul Sawyier are highly popular in Kentucky. In part, Sawyier's renown is due to the recognizable local landmarks and landscapes that are the subject of much of his work. Although Sawyier was not born in Kentucky, he lived the majority of his life in Frankfort with brief periods spent in Covington and on a houseboat on the Kentucky River. Although Sawyier’s final years were spent in the Catskills of New York, the beautiful landscapes of the Bluegrass State continued to…

Explore Marion County, Kentucky

16 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Marion County in central Kentucky boasts a diverse history. Although actually explored and settled long before Kentucky attained statehood, the county was officially founded in 1834. Named for Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion, Lebanon serves as the county seat. Marion County's history includes stories of early settlers, Catholic pioneers, Civil War raids, railroads, future governor J. Proctor Knott, and distilleries. With such a rich heritage, it is easy to see why Marion County…

Explore KY's New Historical Markers

29 Locations ~ Curated by Becky Riddle

The Kentucky Historical Society approves 30 new marker applications each year. After working on and finalizing the text, the markers are fabricated and dedicated the following year. This tour includes the most recently dedicated historical markers around the state. Unlike the other tours on the app, the subjects of these markers are varied, but it will give the reader a good idea of the many subjects that are deemed worthy of an historical marker. We hope that you will enjoy exploring…

Explore KY's Civil Rights History

23 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

The struggle for citizenship, respect, opportunity, and equality by Kentucky's African Americans is as old as the state itself. Long denied chances to prove themselves worthy of citizenship by the institution of slavery, and thus denied the ability to obtain the rights which it entails, black Kentuckians have always found ways to be active agents in seeking freedom and equality. The current trend in Civil Rights history rightly takes the "long" approach to the subject. Historians widely…

Explore KY's Horse History

19 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Kentucky’s close association with horses and horse racing has a long legacy. Many early pioneer settlers, especially those from Virginia and Maryland, brought their love of horse breeding and racing with them when they came west. However, it took both time and favorable circumstances for Kentucky to truly become the premiere region for the horse industry. Several important factors contributed to the rise of the Bluegrass Region’s prominence for equine raising and racing. First, the…

Explore KY's Women's Reform Movements

14 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

This tour honors the Kentucky women and men who conquered political, legal, and social obstacles in order to improve the lives and opportunities available to Kentucky's women. They were notable reformers of health standards, education, worker's rights, child labor, and even prisons. Many of these reforms succeeded during a time in which efforts were aggressively being made for women's suffrage nationwide. Kentucky suffragists, including Laura Clay and Madeline McDowell Breckinridge, were…

Explore Kenton County, Kentucky

12 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Kenton County, named in honor of pioneer Simon Kenton, became Kentucky's nineteenth county when it was formed by the legislature in 1840. The county seat is Covington, a lively town located on the Ohio River. Kenton County has been home to noted politicians, world-renowned artists, and breathtaking architecture throughout its rich history. We hope you will use this app to explore Kenton County’s rich history and cultural contributions.

Explore Johnson County, Kentucky

12 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Formed in 1843, Johnson County is located in eastern Kentucky along the Big Sandy River. Johnson County has a rich history to explore including the improbable story of Jennie Wiley, important Civil War action, and much more. We hope you find this app helpful in exploring the people, places, and stories of Johnson County.

Explore McCracken County, Kentucky

18 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

McCraken County is located in the Jackson Purchase region of western Kentucky. The county seat is Paducah. The home of a United States Vice President, a teacher who got into some "monkey business", and important Civil War action, McCracken County has a rich history waiting to be explored. We hope this app helps you to better understand the social, political, and cultural contributions of McCracken County.

Explore Warren County, Kentucky

15 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Established in 1796, Warren County is located in southern Kentucky along the Barren River. Warren County has a rich and diverse history to explore that includes its involvement in the Civil War, being the home of innovator Duncan Hines and much more. We hope you find this app helpful in exploring the people, places, and stories of Warren County.

Explore Henderson County, Kentucky

13 Locations ~ Curated by McKenzie Martin

Henderson County, established in 1798, and named for Col. Richard Henderson, is located in western Kentucky along the Ohio River. Henderson County has a rich and diverse history to explore that includes its famous people, such as governors Chandler and Stanley and artist John James Audubon. The county is also known as the birthplace of Mother's Day, and much more. We hope you find this app helpful in exploring the people, places, and stories of Henderson County.

Explore Jefferson County, Kentucky

48 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Jefferson County was established in 1780, along the banks of the Ohio River. It is the largest county in the state. In 2003, the Jefferson County government merged with that of Louisville, its largest city and county seat, forming the Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government, known as Louisville Metro. Jefferson County is the birthplace of boxer Muhammad Ali, baseball great Pee Wee Reese, and the 12th President of the United States, Zachary Taylor. It is, also, home to…

Explore Boone Trace

13 Locations ~ Curated by Friends of Boone Trace, Inc.

Boone Trace was the first road opened into what was to become Kentucky. Carved out by the legendary explorer Daniel Boone and his party of trailblazers during March and April 1775, the route was created for the specific purpose of introducing settlers to the new western lands. It is, therefore, of enormous historical significance. In addition to being important to the founding of Kentucky, it is also the opening of the early American West. The route began on Long Island on the Holston…

Explore KY's Bourbon and Distillery History

13 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

After horses, Kentucky’s best-known commodity is probably bourbon whiskey. That distinction has been well earned. The state's association with distilling spirits goes back as far as 1775 and the first permanent white settlements. From those early days to the present, Kentucky's connection with bourbon and distilling only continues to grow. Recognized as a distinctly original American product by Congress in 1964, bourbon is composed of a fermented mash consisting of at least 51% corn and…

Explore Bourbon County, Kentucky

25 Locations ~ Curated by Hopewell Museum

Bourbon County lies in the heart of the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky. The area is well known for its fertile soils, rolling landscapes, and bluegrass pastures. Formed from Fayette County, Virginia in 1786, Bourbon County originally encompassed all or parts of 32 later counties, taking in much of eastern and northeastern Kentucky. Before European settlers arrived, the landscape was open forest punctuated by acres of native cane and occasional grassy openings. Farmers cleared most of the forest…

Explore Frankfort, Kentucky

38 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Frankfort, the Capitol of Kentucky, is a picturesque town set on the banks of the Kentucky River. It was home to the artist, Paul Sawyier, who painted many scenes of Frankfort and the surrounding countryside. Frankfort has many historic buildings and sites, as well as being home to the Kentucky Historical Society. We hope you will enjoy exploring the rich history of Frankfort.

Explore KY's Steamboat History

13 Locations ~ Curated by Tim Talbott

Rivers define Kentucky. The Bluegrass State can claim three different bodies of water as its directional borders. The Ohio River serves as the northern border of the state, while the eastern border is formed by the Big Sandy River and one of its tributaries, the Tug Fork. On the west, the mighty Mississippi flows southward. Within the state are numerous other navigable rivers. The Cumberland River starts in Kentucky, dips into Tennessee, and then enters the state again before making…

Explore Bath County Kentucky

10 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Bath County, which was named for the numerous mineral springs that populate the area, is located in northeastern Kentucky, where the rolling hills of the Bluegrass Region transition to the Appalachian Mountains. Today, the county is renowned for its scenic beauty; those same natural features, however, have also greatly influenced Bath County’s history. Originally part of neighboring Montgomery County, Bath County was formed in 1811. Even before it was founded, the area was involved in…

Explore Floyd County, Kentucky

10 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Located in eastern Kentucky, Floyd County was named for early Kentucky explorer and surveyor, John Floyd. The county was established by an act of the Kentucky legislature in December 1799, and was formed the following summer from parts of Fleming, Montgomery, and Mason counties. The rugged Appalachian Mountains and the tributaries of the Big Sandy River have influenced much of Floyd County's history. Floyd County's early history includes the famous frontiersman Daniel Boone, who discovered…

Explore Calloway County, Kentucky

12 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Located in southwestern Kentucky, Calloway County was established in 1822. Calloway County was one of eight counties formed from the Jackson Purchase, which is the area west of the Tennessee River that was bought from the Chickasaw Indian Nation in 1818. The county was named for early Kentucky settler Richard Callaway (spelled differently), who was killed in a Native American attack at Fort Boonesborough in 1780. The history of Calloway County that is explored here, and is on the county's…

Explore Campbell County, Kentucky

25 Locations ~ Curated by ExploreKYHistory Team

Campbell County, located in northern Kentucky, and founded in 1794, was the state's nineteenth county. It was formed from portions of Harrison, Mason, and Scott Counties and named for Revolutionary War veteran Colonel John Campbell. Much of the history explored on Campbell County's highway markers are the people, places, and events of its early settlement. Before Campbell County was established, its location at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking Rivers made it a natural point of entry for…

Explore Clinton County, Kentucky

9 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Located in south-central Kentucky along the Tennessee state line, Clinton County was named for early-nineteenth century New York political icon DeWitt Clinton. The county was formed from parts of Cumberland and Wayne Counties in February 1835. The area that became Clinton County was settled later than the Bluegrass Region. Pioneer families began establishing homesteads there in the 1790s. Albany, the county seat, was incorporated in 1838 and quickly developed into the county's commercial…

Explore KY's Coal History

12 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Kentucky is almost as well known for its coal production as it is for its horse and bourbon industries. When one thinks of Kentucky coal, the mountains of the state's eastern counties most often come to mind. But, the Commonwealth's western coal fields have a long history, too. Coal's influence has been and continues to be felt across the state. Coal mining has been a part of Kentucky's story since its earliest days of settlement. However, it was in the late-nineteenth century and into the…

Explore Lincoln County, Kentucky

22 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Lincoln County is home to some of Kentucky's earliest and most fascinating history. It was originally one of the first three counties formed in what would become the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Lincoln County was home to some of the state's most influential early settlers and leaders. Men such as Isaac Shelby, who was a future two-time governor, and Benjamin Logan and William Whitley, both of whom paved the way for thousands of the state's first pioneers. They all made history in Lincoln County.…

Explore KY's National Historic Landmarks

28 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Visiting historic sites often helps one better understand the history that happened there. Direct physical experiences with places that are deemed historically important provide an additional layer of knowledge that one cannot obtain just through reading or other forms of media. Since 1935, the Department of the Interior—and later the National Park Service specifically—has been listing historic places deemed to be important to the history of the United States. According to the National…

Explore KY's Native American History

26 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Long before the first Euro-American hunters and explorers ventured through the Cumberland Gap and down the Ohio River into what became Kentucky, Native American people lived, hunted, and traveled through the region. The same bountiful natural resources that drew in the early white settlers also made Native Americans fight to keep what was theirs first. Much of Kentucky's early history has centered on those early settlers and explorers like Daniel Boone, Simon Kenton, John Floyd, and Benjamin…

Explore Webster County, Kentucky

6 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Located in north-western Kentucky, Webster County was named for celebrated nineteenth century political statesman Daniel Webster. The county was formed from parts of Henderson, Hopkins, and Union Counties in July 1860. Today, Webster County is bounded by Union, Henderson, Hopkins, McLean, and Crittenden Counties. Although smaller than the older town of Providence, Dixon, serves as the Webster County seat. Dixon was incorporated in 1861 and was named for Archibald Dixon, a former lieutenant…

Explore Fayette County, Kentucky

53 Locations ~ Curated by ExploreKYHistory Team

Located in central Kentucky, Fayette County was established in 1780. Along with Lincoln and Jefferson counties, Fayette was one of the first three counties created from Kentucky County, Virginia. Fayette County was named for General Marquis de Lafayette, a French officer who was one of General George Washington's most trusted advisors during the Revolutionary War. The county seat of Lexington also has roots in the American Revolution, as it honors the April 19, 1775, battle fought in…

Explore McLean County, Kentucky

9 Locations ~ Curated by ExploreKYHistory Team

McLean County, located in the state’s Western Coal Region, was created in 1854. The county was formed by taking land from three other counties- Daviess, Muhlenberg, and Ohio. The county was named for Judge Alney McLean. He traveled from North Carolina to Kentucky and settled in the McLean County area around the turn of the nineteenth century. Alney McLean became a prominent politician for the area. Other famous Kentuckians connected to McLean County include Charles Hansford, William Worthington,…

Explore Daviess County, Kentucky

16 Locations ~ Curated by Ashlee Chilton

Daviess County, located between Hancock and Henderson counties and along the Ohio River in the western half of the state, was founded in 1815. The fifty-eighth county to be formed, it was named for local landowner and lawyer, Col. Joseph Hamilton Daveiss, who was killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. Although named for Daveiss, when the county was officially enrolled the clerk misspelled the name. Therefore, today it is spelled Daviess. The city of Owensboro serves as the county seat.…

Explore Grayson County, Kentucky

11 Locations ~ Curated by Ashlee Chilton

Grayson County is located in west-central Kentucky and is bordered by the Rough River on the north and the Nolin River on the southeast. Formed in 1810, it was the fifty-fourth county established from land given by Hardin and Ohio counties. The county is named for William Grayson, a United States Senator from Virginia and a Revolutionary War colonel. Leitchfield, named for Major David Leitch the original owner of the town site, is the county seat. The town was formally incorporated in…

Explore Knox County, Kentucky

7 Locations ~ Curated by Kentucky Historical Society

Knox County, located in state’s southeastern region, was created in 1799. The county was formed from parts of Lincoln County. Over the course of the nineteenth century, Knox County was broken up to create the counties of Clay, Rockcastle, Whitley, Harlan, Laurel, and Bell. The Cumberland River runs through the mountainous county. Daniel Boone and Dr. Thomas Walker both explored this area with expeditions in the eighteenth century. The county is named after Henry Knox, the famed…

Explore Washington County, Kentucky

12 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Washington County was the first county created by the Kentucky State Legislature and named for the first President, George Washington. It was established in 1792 from land given by Nelson County. The Washington County Courthouse, completed in 1816, is the oldest courthouse still in use in Kentucky. Residents enjoy the many stories and legends passed down from generation to generation about to the Lincoln family in Washington County. They are also fortunate that the relics and artifacts still…

Explore Boone County, Kentucky

23 Locations ~ Curated by Boone County Public Library

Boone County, formed in 1798 from Campbell County, and named after Colonel Daniel Boone, is located in the northern most part of the state. It is bordered by the Ohio River to the north and west for a little over 39 miles, which has helped lend to the rich history to be found here. The county seat, Burlington, has a charming, historic downtown that welcomes residents and visitors alike. Boone County has a fascinating history to explore from being the birthplace of American paleontology to…

Explore Oldham County, Kentucky

10 Locations ~ Curated by Helen McKinney

Oldham county was formed in 1824, and named in honor of Revelotionary War soldier Lt. Col. William Oldham. Westport was chosen as the county seat in 1823 because of its proximity to the Ohio River and was a bustling river city in the early 1800s. However, by 1838, the courthouse was moved to LaGrange, and it has been the county seat since then. When the Louisville and Frankfort Railroad Company introduced rail lines in the area in the 1850s, many new towns and communities to sprung up.…

Explore KY's Aviation History

10 Locations ~ Curated by Explore Kentucky History Team

Some interesting things have happened as a result of aviation in Kentucky. There are stories of the lives of private and military pilots, airplane crashes, and aviation pioneers. Aviation has always been important to Kentucky, whether it is used as entertainment, a mode of transportation, or for a military maneuver. We hope you will enjoy exploring the history of aviation in Kentucky.

Explore Whitley County, Kentucky

15 Locations ~ Curated by Whitney Todd

Whitley County, located in state’s southeastern region, was created on January 17, 1818. The county’s southern edge borders Tennessee. In addition, Whitley County contains part of the Daniel Boone National Forrest and the Cumberland River. Several of the historical markers focus on the Cumberland Falls State Park area, such as the natural phenomenon of the Moonbow, and the construction of access to the park in the early twentieth century during the Great Depression. Both the county and…

Explore Simpson County, Kentucky

13 Locations ~ Curated by Tim Talbott

Located along the Tennessee state line in south-central Kentucky, Simpson County was established in 1819. Simpson County was formed from parts of neighboring Warren, Logan, and Allen Counties. Named for Captain John Simpson, who was killed at the Battle of River Raisin in the War of 1812, Simpson County was Kentucky’s sixty-second county. The history of Simpson County that is explored here, and is on the county's highway markers, includes people and places that have influenced local, state,…

Explore Garrard County, Kentucky

12 Locations ~ Curated by Ashlee Chilton

Garrard County, created on December 17, 1796, was the twenty-fifth county formed in Kentucky. Named for James Garrard, an early governor, it was formed from three surrounding counties, Lincoln, Mercer, and Madison. Garrard County was settled primarily because of its proximity to the Wilderness Trail. It is bordered by Paint Lick Creek on the east, Dix River and Herrington Lake on the west, and the Kentucky River on the north; the land is mostly rolling hills with the Palisades of the…

From Bois de Forges to Breathitt County: Kentucky's World War I History

20 Locations ~ Curated by Kentucky Historical Society

This tour highlights historical markers that commemorate significant people and places to Kentucky's history during the World War I era. The tour includes markers that celebrate famous heroes of the war, such as Willie Sandlin and Samuel Woodfill, but also touches on lesser known soldiers, such as the volunteers from Breathitt County. It visits important places where Kentuckians drilled and trained to prepare themselves for war, such as Camp Zachary Taylor and the Buell Armory, but also…

Hatfields & McCoys

13 Locations ~ Curated by Kentucky Historical Society

Stops on this tour reveal some of the complicated history of the Hatfield-McCoy feud. From the Civil War backstory and violent clashes to doomed love affairs and courtroom drama, the historical markers dedicated to the feud paint a colorful portrait of a region in transition.

Freetowns of Kentucky

19 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Across the Commonwealth of Kentucky, men and women who survived the institution of slavery came together to build communities that often came to be known as "freetowns." In conjunction with the exhibit "Photographing Freetowns: African American Kentucky Through the Lens of Helen Balfour Morrison," on display in the Keeneland Gallery of the Kentucky Historical Society during 2018, this tour provides just a partial glimpse of the diverse communities and institutions that the formerly enslaved and…

Explore Scott County

14 Locations ~ Curated by ExploreKyHistory Team

The earliest inhabitants of the land that would become Scott County, Kentucky were Native Americans. European explores moved into the area in the 1770s and in 1783, Robert and Jemima Johnson built Johnson’s Station near the north fork of Elkhorn Creek, about five miles west of present-day Georgetown. Scott County was formed in 1792 through one of the earliest acts of the newly formed Kentucky state legislature. Divided from Woodford County, it was named after General Charles Scott, who…

Dedications - 2018

19 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

These markers were dedicated by the Kentucky Historical Society during 2018.

Explore the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights Hall of Fame

15 Locations ~ Curated by Kentucky Commission on Human Rights and Amanda L. Higgins

The Kentucky Commission on Civil Rights (KyCHR) was created in 1966 with the passage of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act--the first statewide Civil Rights Act in the South. KyCHR's mandate is to safeguard all individuals within the state from discrimination because of familial status, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age 40 and over, or because of a person's status as a qualified individual with a disability as defined in KRS 344.010 and KRS 344.030; Thereby to protect their interest in…

Kentucky's National Register of Historic Places

27 Locations ~ Curated by ExploreKyHistory Team

This state-wide tour includes nearly thirty markers of Kentucky sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The National Register of Historic Places is the nation's official list of historic and archaeological resources deemed worthy of preservation. Administered by the National Park Service and state historic preservation offices (in Kentucky, the Kentucky Heritage Council), the National Register recognizes districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects significant in…

Explore KY Innovators

15 Locations ~ Curated by Christopher Beebout

For centuries, Kentucky’s lands have been home to generation after generation of artists, inventors, developers, politicians, activists, and all manner of creative people. Kentucky innovators have enriched their state, nation, and world with dazzling scientific advancements, progressive social policies, and invaluable new community resources. These brilliant individuals have come from every corner of the state—East, West, North, South, Central—and have persevered through poverty, tragedy, and…

Explore KY Food and Drink

9 Locations ~ Curated by Christopher Beebout

Each culture, across all of humanity’s eras and habitats, develops its own unique, vibrant culinary traditions over time. These traditions arise from the diverse climates, regions, and technologies that people groups live with, and how their creativity inspires them to combine the ingredients they have on hand to create flavorful recipes and dishes that are passed on from generation to generation. The Kentucky Historical Markers Program, created and managed by the Kentucky Historical Society,…

Explore KY's Muhammad Ali

6 Locations ~ Curated by The ExploreKYHistory Team

Kentucky has been home to some of the United States greatest athletes, politicians, artists, and change makers. Very few Kentuckians could claim to be all of those things—a great athlete, a savvy political figure, an artist, and a change maker—and none other can claim the title of Greatest of All Time. That title belongs to Louisville’s own Muhammad Ali. Born on January 17, 1942, and named Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., Muhammad Ali grew up in Louisville’s West End, attending segregated…

Explore Boyle County

26 Locations ~ Curated by ExploreKyHistory team

Boyle County, Kentucky, was formed from sections of Lincoln and Mercer Counties in 1842. The county was named in honor of John Boyle (marker #1218), a US Congressman, Chief Justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals, and US District Judge. The county covers 180 square miles and includes the towns of Danville, Perryville, and Junction City. Danville, the county seat, is known as the City of Firsts. Home to Centre College, the town has hosted some of Kentucky’s elite jurists, doctors, and…

Explore the History of Kentucky’s Veterans

15 Locations ~ Curated by Olivia Dale (Intern at the Kentucky Historical Society)

This tour will take you across the state to learn about the brave Kentuckians that served in the armed forces during the twentieth century. Countless Kentuckians chose to serve in the United States armed forces during the 1900s. The twentieth century was littered with conflict - from the Great War to World War II, to the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and the Cold War. Kentuckians were instrumental in all of these wars. They gave their lives for others, made advancements for the United…

Explore the History of Epidemics in Kentucky

10 Locations ~ Curated by Olivia Dale (Intern at the Kentucky Historical Society)

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way Kentuckians live and interact with one another, but this was not the first time civilians have been forced to adapt due to health concerns. This tour will take you across the state and share the narratives of talented physicians, caring inn-keepers, and prominent politicians, among countless other Kentuckians, who sought to serve those around them during some of the most devastating epidemics in our history.

Explore Harrodsburg's 250th Anniversary Marker Tour

29 Locations ~ Curated by the staff of the Kentucky Historical Society

In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Harrodsburg's founding in 1774, this tour highlights the history of the town and surrounding sites in Mercer County. The tour includes all of the Historical Markers within Mercer County, providing digital users and visitors to the area with locally grounded narratives that connect the county and Harrodsburg to wider stories about Kentucky, its past, and its future.

Explore KY's People of the Revolution

34 Locations ~ Curated by Kentucky Historical Society

This marker tour, curated by the Kentucky Historical Society, recognizes veterans of the Revolutionary War who settled in Kentucky. The individual entries highlight historical markers dedicated to Kentuckians who served in the American Revolution and later had a significant impact upon the Commonwealth of Kentucky in various ways.